The Isuzu Thread

Isuzu D-Max & MU-X Gain New Diesel Engine

Isuzu has updated its D-Max and MU-X powertrain lineup; replacing the 1.9-litre unit with a more powerful 2.2-litre. But will it come to South Africa?

Isuzu has handed the D-Max and MU-X an update – though no changes have been made to the exterior or interior; instead revisions lie beneath the bonnet. Indeed, replacing the 1.9-litre turbocharged oil-burner, the Japanese automaker’s popular bakkie and its seven-seater SUV sibling has received a 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel mill, which joins the 3.0-litre unit in the range.

The new 2.2-litre engine produces 120 kW and 400 N.m – the full complement of the latter available from 1 600 r/min. Compared to the outgoing, 1.9-litre oil-burner, the new powerplant delivers an additional 10 kW and 50 N.m of torque. The 2.2-litre engine is exclusively coupled with a new Aisin eight-speed automatic transmission; replacing the manual gearbox across the D-Max and MU-X lineups.

Isuzu claims a 6.6 L/100km average fuel consumption for the 4×4 D-Max SX double-cab bakkie – thus offering improved fuel efficiency compared to the 6.9 L/100km of the equivalent variant powered by the 1.9-litre engine. The 2.2-litre MU-X LS-U 4×4 has a claimed average fuel consumption of 6.7 L/100 km, an improvement of 0.7 L/100 km over the 1.9-litre model’s 7.4 L/100 km.

www.carmag.co.za

Isuzu D-Max & MU-X Gain New Diesel Engine

Isuzu has updated its D-Max and MU-X powertrain lineup; replacing the 1.9-litre unit with a more powerful 2.2-litre. But will it come to SA?
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za
 
Why Isuzu SA hasn’t (yet?) launched the new 2.2TD engine

Isuzu’s local boss says the company is “looking at when” it can offer the new 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine in South Africa, but adds the brand doesn’t want to “move too fast”…

- Isuzu’s local boss hints at new 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine
- Likely to replace 1.9-litre oil-burner in D-Max and MU-X
- Isuzu Motors SA will eventually “consider” D-Max EV, too

The head of Isuzu in South Africa has suggested the Japanese brand’s new 2.2-litre turbodiesel could be on the cards for the D-Max bakkie and MU-X adventure SUV, saying the company’s local division is currently “looking at” when it can offer the new engine. However, he adds the brand doesn’t want “to move too fast”.

Billy Tom, CEO of Isuzu Motors South Africa, was speaking during an interview conducted in Cars.co.za’s custom-built podcast booth at Naamsa’s recent South African Auto Week 2025 in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.

“There are newer engines – you would have seen, we’ve got a new [2.2-litre turbodiesel] engine – and we’re looking at when we can bring them. But we also don’t want to move too fast. We want to ensure that they’ve been tested, because we need to play to our strengths,” he said, referencing the Japanese brand’s long-held reputation for reliability and durability.

In November 2024, Isuzu revealed a newly developed 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine and 8-speed automatic transmission in Thailand. The “2.2 Ddi MaxForce” motor – which bears the “RZ4F” internal designation – generates 120 kW and 400 Nm. For the record, that’s an extra 10 kW and 50 Nm compared to the current 1.9-litre powerplant (but 20 kW and 50 Nm lower than the 3.0-litre unit’s outputs).

 
Driven: Isuzu D-Max X-Rider Black Edition – the perfect blend of style and substance

Verdict

Our final leg on day three, from Clarens to Johannesburg, gave me time to reflect on how well the X-Rider fits into South Africa’s bakkie culture.

It’s not trying to compete with the luxury of high-end variants, nor does it feel stripped-down like an entry model. Instead, it hits the balance many buyers want: style, comfort, and reliability at a price that makes sense.

Beyond its mechanics, the X-Rider represents something bigger for Isuzu. It’s a reminder that bakkies aren’t just about load bins and towing figures anymore; they’re also about lifestyle. The Black Edition, with its bold looks and road presence, embodies that shift perfectly.

With prices starting at R664,100 and topping out at R770,400 for the top-of-the-range 4x4 model, it’s a solid middle ground between entry-level workhorses and high-end lifestyle bakkies.

It looks the part, performs with typical Isuzu grit, and after a long, scenic drive from the coast to the highveld, it’s a reminder of what local motoring is all about.

 
My old man has Isuzu M-UX, the new, but not latest model. I must say, I am impressed with the vehicle. It is lazy, but once it gets going, it gets going. You know that it is made to pull a load. It is not bloated inside, nor is it tight.

What convinced me that it is a good car is that it turns exceptionally well. For a big vehicle, it is not a hassle to get into spaces or corners. I can't say that about a Fortuner, nor an Everest (though I only have experience with the pre-2022 model).

Overall, a lovely car. Underappreciated. Isuzu should improve its marketing, because you only know about them when you see them, and that is not common.

Oddly enough, I think it is Australia's best-selling SUV, sorry, UTE, in this segment.
 
Isuzu D-Max V-Cross & Arctic Trucks AT35 Gain New Paint Option

Following keen interest from customers, Isuzu Motors South Africa has added Onyx Black metallic to the colour palettes of D-Max V-Cross and Arctic Trucks AT35.

Isuzu Motors South Africa has announced the introduction of a new colour option – Onyx Black – for the D-Max V-Cross and Arctic Trucks AT35 models. According to Isuzu SA, the decision to introduce Onyx Black metallic to the V-Cross and AT35 D-Max derivatives is based on the success of the MU-X Onyx, which we evaluated for a road test in 2025, and D-Max X-Rider Black, and following keen interest from customers, the automaker decided to make this hue available for the D-Max V-Cross and AT35 variants.

As a reminder, the D-Max V-Cross is powered by Isuzu’s long-standing 3.0-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, which churns out 140 kW and 450 N.m of torque – the latter available from a mere 1 600 r/min. Power is transferred to either a 4×2 or 4×4 drivetrain via a six-speed automatic transmission. The Japanese marque claims an average fuel consumption of 7.9 and 8.1 L/100 km for the 4×2 and 4×4 derivatives, respectively.

www.carmag.co.za

Isuzu D-Max V-Cross & Arctic Trucks AT35 Gain New Paint Option

Following keen interest from customers, Isuzu SA has added Onyx Black to the colour palettes of D-Max V-Cross and Arctic Trucks AT35...
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za

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