The Isuzu D-Max 2.2 has received a new larger engine, new gearbox, mild facelift and technology updates, Swedish pick-up expert Stephan Boman has a drive of the new D-Max in Malmo.
Isuzu speaks clearly that this is a car that is not ashamed of dirty cuticles. The Isuzu D-Max 2.2 is built to be a workhorse in tough conditions.
Robust, durable and functional with 1000kg payload weight on the bed and 3500kg towing weight. Now the updated model is being released in Sweden and the big changes are under the hood.
New 2.2-litre engine replaces the previous 1.9-litre variant. It is still a straight-four with a turbo of 163hp which is the same power as before but the torque has increased from 360Nm to 400Nm. Max torque comes at 1,600rpm, a reduction of 200rpm so here we have a clear improvement which is appreciated, especially when driving with a heavy trailer.
The technology is shared with their 7-seat SUV (MUX), which is not sold in Europe, but mainly in Asia and Australia.
The engine also comes with a new 8-speed automatic transmission that replaces the previous 6-speed. The new transmission has a 1:1 ratio in sixth gear and the two higher gears that overdrive, compared to the previous 1:1 ratio in fifth gear and only one overdrive.
The final gear ratio in the highest gear is similar in both cases, around 0.65:1, but two overdrive gears instead of one provide significantly better conditions for utilising the engine's power range and reducing fuel consumption. Especially when driving on the highway, where Isuzu states a 10 percent reduction.
But even when driving in the lower gears, the new transmission offers an improvement. The ratio in first gear is 4.90:1 compared to 3.60:1 previously, which provides more power when starting with a heavy trailer but is also appreciated when driving off-road.
Read our review of the Isuzu D-Max Commercial
Other news includes mandatory adaptation to GSR 3 regulations on safety and assistance systems.
This is EU legislation and since all new cars have these, we do not list it as unique news for this particular car. But the background is that the majority of all traffic accidents are due to the human factor and therefore all systems are activated every time the car is started.
Sometimes you want to be able to turn them off and Isuzu has a shortcut to the menu on the car's infotainment screen. This has also grown in size as a novelty and now measures 10 inches compared to 8 or 9 previously depending on the version.
A 360-degree camera is also a welcome addition, especially when driving off-road to keep an eye out for nasty rocks and other obstacles outside the natural field of vision. It is started with a button on the steering wheel or automatically at speeds below 20 km/h or when you put the car into reverse.
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On the outside, there are some cosmetic updates with changes to the grille, new taillights, rims and new paint shades.
We tested the car on a variety of road types and surfaces from highways to forest roads and advanced off-road driving.
For this, there are three different driving modes to choose from with a dial on the dashboard. 2H stands for two-wheel drive (rear wheels) and high gear, which is normal operation, and 4H is the same for various loose surfaces, which includes winter driving in Sweden. 4L means four-wheel drive and low gear, where on top of this it is possible to lock the rear differential with an extra button next to the gear selector.
There is no built-in speed limiter in 4L mode, but “L” should be taken literally in this context.
The Isuzu D-Max 2.2 offers a pleasant driving experience. Steering and road feel are good, legroom and seating comfort are good, where the seats' ample lateral support was useful on the bumpy off-road track.
The increased torque combined with the new gearbox is a clear improvement over before. 163 hp is a bit on the low side when we tested overtaking at motorway speeds, but it is a balancing act to also offer low fuel consumption and meet tough emissions requirements. Stated fuel consumption is 0.89 liters per mile in mixed driving and 234 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
If you want to reduce this further, the car is compatible with both HVO, but Isuzu also offers an alternative that mixes diesel and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), which they call a CNG package. This reduces CO2 emissions to 194 grams per kilometre.
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In Sweden, since the road tax is based on CO2 levels, the car ends up in a different tax class, and the road tax goes from SEK 23,800 to SEK 4,268 per year. This means that the option itself, which costs 39,000 SEK, pays for itself in less than two years.
But the benefits are not only reducing CO2 and road tax, but also increasing range. It is impossible to specify exactly how much less fuel is used as the mixture ratio is not constant, but the car's range increases by approximately 180 kilometres.
The Isuzu D-Max has received a number of updates, both cosmetic and technical. Most notably, the all-new 2.2-liter engine and 8-speed automatic transmission. The color of the test car is called Inishmore Green and is also new.
Ground clearance is 240 mm and wading depth is a full 800 mm. The test car is also equipped with an auxiliary spring package that raises the car an additional 50 mm.
Inside the car, the dashboard has a new, larger 10-inch infotainment screen in the middle, but otherwise it looks basically the same as before. Functional and easy to understand, but with physical buttons for all basic functions.
The flatbed measures 1571 x 1530 x 490 cm (LxWxH), which gives 1.17 cubic meters with a payload of 1,000kg.
Get more size information and date in our Isuzu D-Max dimensions guide
The new 2.2-liter engine with 163 hp and 400 Nm of torque meets the latest Euro6e-bis emissions requirements, but the test car is also equipped with a CNG package that mixes diesel and gas. This reduces CO2 from 234 to 194 grams per kilometre. The package cannot be retrofitted but is offered as a new car accessory that then affects the car's tax classification when it is registered.
