2022 Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain review

I really like the pumped-up, hardcore 4x4 ute options from the various manufacturers at the moment, be it the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain tested here or the Ford Ranger FX4 Max, Toyota HiLux Rugged X and Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior.

They’re all examples of what Australians do when they buy a dual-cab ute. They lift it, they put an aggressive tyre on it, they add light bars and a bullbar; they make it theirs.

Most of those things are already done on these off-road-focused models and, while you do pay a premium for it, they’re things we’d be spending money on anyway, so it makes sense.

The X-Terrain is Isuzu’s top-spec model option for the D-Max range and it’s not too over the top compared with its competition. It doesn’t run aggressive tyres, it isn’t lifted – the suspension remains unchanged – but it does show off just a bit with flares, an aero sports bar, underbody bash guards and plenty of badging. It’s a relatively conservative off-road base, but the visual improvements have been taken care of.

UPDATE, October 2022: MY23 D-Max pricing announced

The updated 2023 D-Max has been detailed, with tweaks to styling, equipment and engine options. Get the full story at the link below. We'll be driving the updated models as soon as they reach Australia, but mechanically they're largely unchanged.

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The D-Max X-Terrain is cheaper than other hardcore model options out there, at $64,990 drive-away, most closely matched by the Ford Ranger FX4 MAX starting from $66,190 before on-road costs and the Isuzu-based Mazda BT-50 Thunder with automatic transmission is priced another five grand north of the Ford.

Nissan's Premcar-pumped Navara PRO-4X Warrior starts at $67,490 with a manual box and the auto-only Toyota Hilux Rugged X is a few bucks more than an automatic Navara at $70,750 (both before on-road costs).

It’s horses for courses here, because a big part of the decision comes down to personal preference, but the X-Terrain stands out with its competitive drive-away price and styling that isn’t too in your face.

Who’s the X-Terrain for, in our opinion? Families, tradies, or weekend warriors wanting a range-topping 4x4 dual-cab ute ready for adventure. If you like standing out from the crowd, it ticks that box too.

Tech and features

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The X-Terrain features the same Intelligent Driver Assistance System (IDAS ) shared across the entire D-Max line-up, with the new-for-2022 ‘lane support switch’ to turn some of the safety systems off if desired.

Isuzu's IDAS system covers all bases and works well, featuring auto emergency braking with Turn assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring.

Visually it’s the most standout model within the D-Max line-up, with front and rear underbody spoilers, flares, aero sports bar, black roller tonneau cover and a unique colour scheme. The Volcanic Amber model we tested looks the part, whether clean as a whistle or covered in mud, and is complemented by a two-tone colour scheme with grey paintwork on the sports bar, flares, grille, wheels and mirrors.

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Besides being a pain to clean, the aero sports bar adds design flair to the X-Terrain, without looking outlandish. We like it, a lot.

The 4x4 system is the same as the rest of the range, although the bigger flared guards will make fitting a more aggressive tyre a bit easier with 5mm extra width on each side.

Stock highway terrain tyres are not as aggressive as the BF Goodrich K02 all-terrains on the Ford Ranger FX4 Max, but they’re more comfortable around town and don’t come with the tyre noise of more off-road focused rubber.

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Inside the cab, the changes are equally noticeable. The X-Terrain has beautiful red stitching throughout the black leather and hard plastic interior trim, as well as black pillars and headliner. The typical grey headliner in lower-spec models is nowhere near as slick as this fit-out.

This cab is properly blacked-out, but with plenty of X-Terrain branding to let you know it’s the top dog. An all-black interior with plenty of leather goes beyond just looking premium, too, offering plenty of smudge and grime protection in an off-road focused vehicle. Nothing beats leather seats for easy wipe down.

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The nine-inch infotainment system works as it should, and the wireless Apple CarPlay flicks over within a minute of start-up. There is no wireless charging pad, and it’s not the first time we’ve mentioned it, but it’s not something we’ll get for now – more a want than a need.

The Bi-LED headlights with daytime running lights offer a strong presence on-road while throwing plenty of light at night, though spotlights or a light bar wouldn’t go astray for buyers looking to make their rig even more adventure-ready.

Other in-car perks include an auto-dimming rear vision mirror, heated front seats and eight-way electric adjustment for the driver’s seat.

Comfort and practicality

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The X-Terrain is obviously a ute, so is it a practical one? The style tray loading area is 1570mm long, 1530mm wide and 490mm deep, so you’ll fit plenty under the sliding hard cover.

This tester didn’t have the optional electric sliding tonneau cover, coming standard with the pull cord that works well and doesn’t take up as much tray space as the electric option.

If you’ve got anything that sits above that 490mm tray depth, you’ll be leaving the sliding cover open – a downside of all sliding covers.

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If you’re hungry for maximum tray space, you’ll probably opt for an alloy tray or single cab option (the X-Terrain is dual cab only), so this amount of space is more aimed at your weekend adventures, Bunnings runs and children’s sports equipment.

Payload drops slightly compared with LS-U and LS-U+ models, but at 935kg it’s more than most will need. A 3500kg maximum braked towing capacity and tow ball receiver as standard will keep 'vanners happy. The increased GCM (6000kg) on the '22 line-up leaves more load capacity when hitched up, too.

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The interior definitely feels – while refined – like it’s still designed to get dirty. The rubber floor mats are the biggest giveaway there, which is just what you want in an off-roader.

Soft, supple leather seats offer great bolstering while still feeling hardwearing, and electric adjustability with impressive lumbar support further improves them.

The second row is big enough for a couple of adults, even three at a pinch, so you’ll have no issues fitting a full family in this dual-cab.

How’s it drive?

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In terms of ride, comfort, and practicality, the X-Terrain is a very pleasant place to be. The cab strikes a nice balance between luxury and rugged hard-wearing materials to further enhance the driving experience.

It drives like a D-Max, feeling really no different to other variants as you’d expect. The 4JJ3, heavily redeveloped for last year’s new model range, produces 140kW at 3600rpm and 450Nm between 1600-2600rpm. It’s plenty of power, but still down on the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. The six-speed automatic does its job well, matched appropriately with the engine’s torque spread and never hiccuping over gear selection.

The D-Max is a pretty frugal sipper when driven conservatively, but expect it to drink a bit more diesel around town when constantly moving this two-plus-tonne 4x4 from a standstill.

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After a few trips to the family farm, a bit of commuting, and a day of off-road fun, we got an average fuel use figure of 8.2L/100km against the claimed 8.0L/100km. It’s actually exactly the same fuel use figure I got in the LS-U+ I tested previously, so how’s that for repeatability? Likely more a fluke than anything else, but it does prove that with a decent chunk of highway driving, the D-Max isn’t far off its claimed figures.

We never put enough weight in this tray to see what difference it makes, but with a couple of hundred kilograms it would no doubt improve the ride further given its leaf-sprung rear.

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The only load the X-Terrain did get the pleasure of carrying, was a 30-year-old Greenfield push mower pinched from the family farm – still going strong on the original spark plug, too.

On the highway the D-Max munches miles with ease, which it feels more at home doing than inner-city errands or stop-start traffic commutes. In saying that, it’ll do it all in a fairly refined manner.

It’s definitely a ute made to be used off-road, which is just what we did. We managed to sneak out early on a Monday morning to the Glasshouse Mountains north of Brisbane. The tracks were empty and we managed to avoid getting bogged, despite super muddy conditions.

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We quickly found the clearance limits of the X-Terrain, being the side steps, and we did scrape the front bash plate over soft muddy rises a couple of times. We were taking it on tracks a lot of people might not take a brand-new X-Terrain to – in the name of science – so clearance for most won’t be a concern.

Tyres also struggled, being a fairly road-biased highway-terrain, but the rear locking diff and onboard smarts got us out of trouble even when the going got slippery. The X-Terrain is an extremely capable 4x4 that is just a small lift kit and better tyres away from going anywhere you’d need to.

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The theme of maintaining all-round comfort is present throughout the X-Terrain. It’s still a really pleasant everyday dual-cab ute, while offering off-road-focused aesthetics. However, we’d forgo some comfort and take on some road noise in favour of slightly more off-road focused tyres on this model.

It steers well, it stops well, and offers ample punch if you need to overtake. The electric steering on this latest generation of D-Max is spot on, light when manoeuvring but plenty firm as the speedo climbs.

Overall liveability is fantastic, and while most of the 4x4 dual-cab options are similarly liveable day-to-day, the X-Terrain is one of the best value propositions across top-spec models.

VERDICT

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The X-Terrain is offered with a special drive-away price of $64,990, but our tester came in at a total of $67,283.04. That price is made up of the base price ($64,990), metallic paint ($650), tow tongue kit ($195.80), electronic brake controller ($820), 12-pin tow bar wiring harness ($359) and stamp duty ($78.24).

Isuzu’s aftercare package across all D-Max models consists of a six-year/150,000km warranty, seven years of capped-price servicing and up to seven years' roadside assistance, with services every 15,000km/12 months.

If you’re in the market for a more hardcore 4x4 ute, you’re looking at the aforementioned off-road-focused options of which the X-Terrain is a compelling buy. It’s not the most hardcore, but you’ll save a buck over most of the other options, leaving change to put towards tyres and perhaps a lift kit.

The X-Terrain offers a well-priced top-of-the-range dual-cab ute option with a good amount of flair, or, if you’re into tricking 4x4s out, a strong base vehicle to customise and adventure-proof.

2022 Isuzu D-MAX 4x4 LS-U+ 4x4 Crew Cab specifications