Isuzu D-Max LSE 45 4x4 Special Edition vs 1.9TD LS X-Rider 4x4 auto

Isuzu D-Max LSE 45 4x4 Special Edition

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For: Capable off-road. Exclusive accessories are good value. 

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Against: Noisy engine. Rivals boast plusher interiors. 

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Rating: 7/10

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Price:  R906 100

‍Powertrain

3.0-litre 4-cyl turbodiesel 

Power

140kW & 450Nm

Transmission

6-speed auto

0-100km/h

n/a

Top speed

n/a

Fuel Consumption

9.9l/100km (tested)

CO2

208g/km

Isuzu 1.9 X-Rider 4x4 

For: Looks good. Very frugal.  

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Against:  Agricultural engine. Interior straight out of Plastic Land. 

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Rating: 6/10

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Price:  R750 200

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Powertrain

1.9-litre 4-cyl turbodiesel 

Power

110kW & 350Nm

Transmission

6-speed auto

0-100km/h

n/a

Top speed

n/a

Fuel Consumption

7.9l/100km (tested)

CO2

190g/km

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The year 1972 was a whirlwind of change and excitement in South Africa, but more to the point, it was also the launch of its first one-tonner bakkie, initially badged as the Chevrolet LUV. It was a sturdy vehicle that later became known as the Isuzu KB, which was changed to D-Max in 2018 to align with its global naming convention. Now, 45 years later, Isuzu celebrates this milestone with two distinct models: the X-Rider and the D-Max 45 Special Edition.

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Style vs. Heritage

Firstly, the D-Max 45 Special Edition is a tribute to Isuzu’s proud legacy, boasting exclusive accessories that give it well-deserved bragging rights: a stylish Rhinoman X-Pedition canopy, a gloss black front grille with contrasting lower fog light fascia accents, 18-inch black alloys with distinctive silver ring centre caps, and a 45-year commemorative badge on the tailgate that proudly highlights its special edition standing. 

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The X-Rider, on the other hand, was developed on the basis of the D-Max 1.9 Double Cab and then upgraded with a variety of trim and aesthetic options to produce a vehicle that looks significantly better than the one on which it is based. The X-Rider has the requisite style-frills to make it a head-turner (as far as bakkies go) with diamond-cut two-tone alloy wheels, X-Rider stickers, gloss black B-pillars and grille, plus large red I-S-U-Z-U lettering on the front. Add some fog lamps and DRL's, and you have a design winner. At a fraction of the price, the X-Rider is almost as good-looking as the V-Cross flagship… almost.

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But it's also not just about a few stickers and splashes of red. The X-Rider has some practical, unique selling points, like the integrated roof rails, side steps, and towbar. It makes a lot of sense as the Isuzu bakkie that ticks the box of real-world usefulness and decent design appeal. It will attract buyers of a lifestyle nature, as well as some of those looking for something with more business and workhorse capability.

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Practicality vs. Aesthetic Appeal

Inside the D-Max 45 SE, the focus is squarely placed on practicality. With the exception of Bundu Basher rubber mats, it remains a relatively straightforward space with plenty of physical controls for key functions such as climate control and four-wheel-drive selection. If we're nitpicking, more USB ports would go amiss—the existing two, one in front and one in the rear, feel stingy.

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Step inside the X-Rider, though, and it's a bit of a different story. The X branding is peppered throughout the cabin in red and black in the name of adding some aesthetic appeal. You’ll notice pleather seats and red trims with the embroidered ‘X’, red stitching across the gear shifter and steering wheel, and bold red inlays on the dash—all bold brand cues, and like the exterior add-ons, the interior is certainly a more interesting place to be than say a standard 1.9-litre Double cab. 

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Power and Modesty

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Under the bonnet, Isuzu utilised the same range-topping 3.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine found in other D-Max models, producing 140kW and 450Nm of torque. In terms of refinement, it still has that agricultural idling quality and finish that certainly nods to its workhorse roots. While it's far from the most powerful diesel mill on the market, it still manages to deliver a confidence-inspiring torque curve and rapid acceleration from standstill. That workhorse character certainly isn't lost on the X-Rider either; powered by the smaller 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine, it produces 110kW and 350Nm of torque. But it was created with specific objectives other than just on-paper performance. A bakkie capable of towing 2.1 tonnes with a large loadbin and ladder-frame chassis that shouldn’t be able to achieve fuel economy figures in the 7l/100km region. It’s unheard of, but the X-Rider can accomplish this since our time with the car saw us stay within Isuzu’s claimed 7.6l/100km figure, and I can attest that if we tried hard, we’d certainly see figures below the 7.0l/100km mark. 

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Nits and Grits

The D-Max 45 Special Edition is priced at R906,100, a R36,600 premium over and above the LSE 4X4. But it's also here where things get interesting; for only R10,300 more, you can upgrade to the V-Cross variant. In contrast, the X-Rider 4×4 offers an exceptional balance of value and style at a more accessible price point of R750,200. And while both feel lacking on the refinement front with hard-plastic interior trimmings and powertrain noise seeping into the passenger space, especially given how far diesel engine refinement has come, the choice ultimately boils down to your personal preferences. If you're after exclusivity, heritage, and a special model that celebrates Isuzu's local legacy, the D-Max 45 SE is for you. If you're shopping for style, practicality, and that value-for-money aspect, the X-Rider is certainly worth considering. Either way, both models are backed by Isuzu's hard-earned reputation for durability, and in SA's fiercely competitive bakkie segment, that still means something.

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Words: Avon Middleton & Ntsako Mthethwa

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