By the time you read this, the new Isuzu D-Max has made its local debut. It’s a far more comprehensive one than the one we got in October 2023. The exterior differences are far more obvious, and there are interior upgrades too.
It’s safe to say that the facelift took several years off the D-Max. After all, this generation was the first of the new wave of pickups we’re seeing this decade. With newer and stiffer competition on the horizon (the next-gen Hilux is coming soon), it was a much-needed update.
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For the most part, it’s mechanically unchanged. It still uses the same 1.9-liter and 3.0-liter turbodiesel. That said, there are improvements to the chassis, along with the addition of a Rough Terrain Mode that was lifted from the MU-X. There’s now also a feature that we’ve long been asking for, a rear differential lock.
Finally, after years and years of asking, and it’s not just us, the D-Max finally gets that crucial feature. Why is it a big deal, you ask? Simply put, all of its competitors have it standard in their respective 4x4 variants. But that’s not the only reason why.
A rear differential locker further improves a 4x4’s capabilities on tougher terrain. It works by ‘locking’ the axle to provide drive to the wheel that needs traction the most. It’s a huge advantage to have when driving on axle breakers that lifts one of the rear wheels up. Without it, the wheel on the ground can’t creep forward as the rear diff defaults to sending power to the wheel with the least resistance…which is up in the air.
Still finding it hard to comprehend? Here’s a video from Isuzu to see it in action.
The rear differential lock is a feature that has been available in the D-Max for a long time. But it’s only now that the Philippine version finally gets it. It’s about time, we say, and we can’t wait to take it off road. Now, we’re wishing the facelifted MU-X for the Philippine market gets that feature too.
