{"id":864,"date":"2025-12-08T14:17:55","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T14:17:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/?p=864"},"modified":"2025-12-08T14:17:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T14:17:55","slug":"driven-isuzu-d-max-lse-4x4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/?p=864","title":{"rendered":"DRIVEN: ISUZU D-MAX LSE 4X4"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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One of the most impressive features<\/strong> about the current-generation Isuzu D-MAX<\/strong> is not even a feature. Isuzu sells only two vehicles<\/strong> we would call cars in Mzansi<\/strong>. Apart from those, which are the D-MAX<\/strong> and mu-X<\/strong>, the company sells trucks<\/strong>. But in spite of this extremely limited<\/strong> range, Isuzu constantly features in the top 10 best-selling<\/strong> manufacturers in the country. In fact, the D-MAX \u2013 and this is the impressive<\/strong> bit \u2013 is Mzansi\u2019s 3rd<\/sup>-best selling<\/strong> bakkie of all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I once asked the company CEO Billy Tom<\/strong> how they manage to do this, especially in an ever-expanding sea<\/strong> of new products and tough competition<\/strong>. Tom said their customers are very loyal, and their dealerships<\/strong> know what they are doing. Not hard to believe, given the results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By now we have become quite familiar<\/strong> with the D-MAX, having first driven it at its launch in Gqeberha<\/strong> back in April 2022<\/strong>. That was quite a huge event for Isuzu, if not their biggest<\/strong> to date. Why? Because even President Cyril Ramaphosa<\/strong> was in attendance. Not only was it a \u201cmere\u201d<\/strong> vehicle launch, but it was actually a change of shift for Isuzu in more ways than one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A brand new<\/strong> product was being launched<\/strong>, yes. But it was going to be produced at the company\u2019s production Plant<\/strong> just outside of Gqeberha, thus replacing the old model. Important that, because it meant jobs that could have been lost had the car been a fully import, were kept. It was also a time when the local Isuzu outfit was transforming<\/strong> itself from within, in order to reflect much more clearly the demographics<\/strong> of Mzansi. They succeeded<\/strong> tremendously in this aspect. Isuzu Motors South Africa<\/strong> is now the most transformed automotive manufacturer in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The D-MAX LSE 4×4<\/strong> \u2013 priced at R887 000<\/strong> in standard form – that is the subject of this article is therefore the product of quite a lot of thought and care. We had the white model<\/strong> with LED headlights<\/strong>, daytime running lights and 18-inch all-terrain tyres. By the way, the current D-MAX has been affectionately<\/strong> dubbed \u201cunogwaja<\/strong>\u201d or rabbit by the adoring<\/strong> public, thanks to the front end that resembles<\/strong> a rabbit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our unit came with two double blade, faux chrome<\/strong> pieces on the grille, with the Isuzu emblem perched atop. Those nogwaja LED headlights<\/strong> are prominent, while the colour-coded<\/strong> bumper gives the car a premium look. The side profile features faux chrome door handles, 18-inch alloy wheels<\/strong> in dual colour. Wrapped<\/strong> around them are all-terrain General<\/strong> grabbers measuring 265\/60 R 18<\/strong>. They are extremely capable<\/strong> off the road, and comfortable<\/strong> on it. Black sidesteps<\/strong> are a permanent and useful feature, while a sports bar brushed in black with Isuzu writing on the sides give the car a sportier<\/strong> look. The D-MAX was also fitted with a manual tonneau cover<\/strong> and a tow bar, not just for show but for actual practical use. Isuzu listed this D-MAX LSE 4×4<\/strong> as having a braked towing capacity of 3 500kg.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Under the bonnet lies Isuzu\u2019s trusted and solid 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel<\/strong> engine. In this application it produces 140kW<\/strong> of power, as well as 450Nm<\/strong> of pulling torque. We found the torque more than adequate for daily use, while loads are easily taken care of to the tune of around one tonne.<\/strong> Mated to this motor is a 6-speed automatic<\/strong> transmission that connects to all four wheels. After all, this is a 4×4 off-road<\/strong> vehicle as well. Speaking of which, Isuzu assures us that the water wading depth<\/strong> of 800mm<\/strong> is super safe and can be counted on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As far as the interior is concerned, Isuzu installed leather-covered<\/strong> seats, with the driver\u2019s side electrically-adjustable<\/strong>. The leather-covered steering wheel \u2013 adjustable for height and reach – is the multifunction<\/strong> type, offering adjustment for functions like music, voice instruction<\/strong>, phone access, menu reading and others. One of my favourite<\/strong> features is the underrated cup holder<\/strong>, which sits on the right hand side<\/strong> of the steering wheel for the driver, left<\/strong> for the front passenger. It works well because when it is hot or warm and the air con is set to cold, it keeps the drink cold<\/strong>. The opposite applies on cold days<\/strong> when the air con is warm or hot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conventional charging ports<\/strong> front and rear are available for mobile phones. Same mobile phones<\/strong> can be used to connect to Apple Carplay<\/strong> or Android Auto<\/strong> via the 22.8cm<\/strong> infotainment<\/strong> touch screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Isuzu has played its cards<\/strong> pretty well with the D-MAX, particularly in this LSE 4×4 guise. Customers get the legendary utility<\/strong> and reliability<\/strong> of the Isuzu bakkie, combined with modern comfort creatures<\/strong> that the daily user would demand. No wonder they sell so many<\/strong> of these every month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the most impressive features about the current-generation Isuzu D-MAX is not even a feature. Isuzu sells only two…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":866,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_regular_price":[],"currency_symbol":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[160,80],"tags":[376,163,374,375],"class_list":["post-864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-isuzu","category-news","tag-d-max","tag-isuzu","tag-isuzu-d-max","tag-isuzu-d-max-lse-4x4"],"post_slider_layout_featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IN4RIDE-Isuzu-D-MAX-LSE-4x4-2-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"post_slider_layout_landscape_large":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IN4RIDE-Isuzu-D-MAX-LSE-4x4-2-1200x800.jpg",1200,800,true],"post_slider_layout_portrait_large":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IN4RIDE-Isuzu-D-MAX-LSE-4x4-2-1200x1800.jpg",1200,1800,true],"post_slider_layout_square_large":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IN4RIDE-Isuzu-D-MAX-LSE-4x4-2-1200x1200.jpg",1200,1200,true],"post_slider_layout_landscape":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IN4RIDE-Isuzu-D-MAX-LSE-4x4-2-600x400.jpg",600,400,true],"post_slider_layout_portrait":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IN4RIDE-Isuzu-D-MAX-LSE-4x4-2-600x900.jpg",600,900,true],"post_slider_layout_square":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IN4RIDE-Isuzu-D-MAX-LSE-4x4-2-600x600.jpg",600,600,true],"full":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IN4RIDE-Isuzu-D-MAX-LSE-4x4-2.jpg",1920,1920,false]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=864"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":886,"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864\/revisions\/886"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}