Toyota Hilux vs Isuzu D-MAX

Toyota Hilux vs Isuzu D-MAX

The world of dual-cab 4x4 utes is a battlefield of high stakes and fierce loyalties, and for 2023, two of the heaviest hitters—the Toyota Hilux and the Isuzu D-MAX—have both received updates to maintain their positions as top contenders. While the Toyota Hilux has long been the sales king, frequently vying with the Ford Ranger for the top spot, the third-generation Isuzu D-MAX, launched in 2020, has seen its popularity skyrocket. This article provides a comprehensive comparison between these two icons, drawing on extensive testing from professional reviewers across various global markets.
Market Positioning and Pricing
The Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-MAX represent two distinct approaches to the modern utility vehicle. The Hilux, currently in its eighth generation (launched in 2015), is a veteran that is nearing the end of its life cycle but remains a formidable force. In contrast, the current D-MAX is a more recent platform that feels slightly more modern in its execution.
When comparing specific trims, such as the Hilux SR5 against the Isuzu D-MAX LSU Plus, pricing remains highly competitive. Stripped of optional extras, the Hilux often holds a price advantage of roughly $1,000 over its Isuzu rival. However, the D-MAX fights back with a longer warranty, although it is often capped by distance, whereas its service intervals are longer than those of the Toyota. Interestingly, when averaging out capped-price servicing costs per year, the two vehicles are very close, though a Hilux owner will generally visit the dealership more frequently. In South African markets, a similar pattern emerges where the Hilux 2.4 GD Raider and Isuzu D-MAX 1.9 LS are priced within a close range of each other, typically between 700,000 and 750,000 Rand.
Exterior Design and Aesthetics
The exterior of the Toyota Hilux is described as "absolutely familiar" to anyone on the road, featuring traditional SR5 identifiers like LED headlights, fog lights, side steps, a stainless steel sports bar, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Its design is utilitarian and rugged, favoring function over flair.
The Isuzu D-MAX received minor aesthetic tweaks for its 2023 update, including a revised grill (a combination of gray and chrome for the LSU Plus) and newly designed 18-inch alloy wheels. Some regional variants, such as the X-Rider, add sporty touches like red stitching and special badging. Despite these updates, the D-MAX remains a "pretty familiar" sight, emphasizing its rugged roots while attempting to appeal to the "lifestyle pickup" market.
Interior Comfort, Layout, and Technology
The interior is where these two vehicles begin to diverge significantly. The Toyota Hilux's cabin is often criticized for its "dog's breakfast" layout, with various trims and components seeming "tacked on" as an afterthought. The 8-inch touchscreen is a primary example of this, though it does offer practical physical buttons and rotating dials that are easy to operate while driving. The Hilux’s workspace is functional, offering reach and rake steering adjustment and a large front seat, though power adjustment is often an optional extra. A standout feature is the double glove box with a cooling function in the upper compartment. However, the digital displays can be difficult to read in direct sunlight, and the 360-degree camera resolution is described as "pretty grotty" and small.
The Isuzu D-MAX interior is generally seen as better resolved in terms of styling and design than the Hilux, though it remains "dark and conservative". The D-MAX features a larger 9-inch touchscreen, but its interface is less impressive than the Toyota's, with menu items appearing randomly and the lack of physical volume knobs making it harder to use on the go. Like the Hilux, the D-MAX has a double glove box, but it lacks the cooling function found in the Toyota.
Rear seat comfort is a clear win for the Isuzu. In a "six-footer behind a six-footer" test, the Hilux is described as "squeezy," particularly regarding knee space. The D-MAX offers more knee room and better leg support. Reviewers have noted that if you intend to transport adults in the rear regularly, the D-MAX is the superior choice. Both vehicles offer rear air vents and convenient "shopping bag" hooks on the seatbacks, which are highly praised for their practicality.
Powertrain and On-Road Performance
Both utes utilize robust four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines paired with six-speed automatic transmissions and 4x4 systems with low-range gearing and rear diff locks.
• Toyota Hilux Performance: The Hilux's 2.8L engine is frequently praised for being "up and about" and "energetic," providing a crisp response whether the vehicle is laden or unladen. Even with a 650kg load, it copes well, though the engine can become "raucous" when pushed hard. The Hilux's steering is described as having "some nimbleness," but the rear end is notably stiff when unladen.
• Isuzu D-MAX Performance: The D-MAX's engine—whether the 1.9L or the larger 3.0L—is often characterized as "slow-revving" and "chatty". It doesn't quite match the "toe response" or enthusiasm of the Toyota. However, its electric-assist steering is much lighter at low speeds, making it feel more manageable in urban environments and for parking.
On the road, the D-MAX is generally considered a better handler when unladen, as it exhibits less reactivity in the rear and settles more evenly across the axles when weight is added. The Hilux's ride is notorious for being "truck-ish" and bouncy on light trails. In contrast, the D-MAX ride is "much softer" and more comfortable for long-distance travel.
Off-Road Capability
When the pavement ends, both vehicles are highly capable, but their electronic systems behave differently. The Toyota Hilux is often considered to have the edge off-road due to its superior traction control calibration. In testing, the Hilux's "smarter" off-road settings allowed it to negotiate tough obstacles more easily than the Isuzu.
The D-MAX is equally capable of reaching the same destinations but often requires more mechanical assistance, such as engaging the rear diff lock or low-range gearing sooner than the Toyota. Its traction control system is not as intuitive as the Hilux's in extreme terrain. Both vehicles typically come equipped with highway-terrain tires, which can be a limiting factor in slimy or muddy conditions.
Payload and Practicality
Practicality is the soul of a dual-cab ute. The Toyota Hilux claims more load bed length and a wider maximum width, but its bed is basic—often lacking a liner or lighting in standard trims. The Isuzu D-MAX, while offering a slightly different bed dimension, often includes a standard drop-in bed liner, which is a significant value add.
In terms of payload, the D-MAX can actually carry more than the Hilux if the Hilux is fitted with certain optional covers like a roller cover. Neither vehicle, however, is wide enough to fit a standard Aussie pallet between the wheel arches.
A unique observation regarding the Hilux surfaced in towing tests; some versions reportedly lack a rear towing eye, and the owner's manual in specific regions suggests the vehicle is not intended for towing in certain configurations, which is unusual for a pickup. Despite this, in a "tug of war" demonstration, a Hilux was successfully used to pull a heavy Mercedes X-Class, demonstrating significant pulling power.
Fuel Economy and Running Costs
Fuel efficiency is a significant factor for those using these vehicles as daily drivers or workhorses. The Isuzu D-MAX is the clear winner in terms of fuel economy. Consistently and clearly ahead of the Hilux in both laden and unladen testing, the D-MAX offers a definitive running-cost advantage.
In specific testing of smaller engines, the Hilux 2.4 GD Raider averaged 10.9L/100km, while the Isuzu D-MAX 1.9 LS averaged 11.5L/100km. The discrepancy here highlights that "downsized" engines often have to work harder, negating their supposed efficiency benefits when pushed, though the larger Isuzu engines typically outperform the Toyota 2.8L in efficiency.
Safety Features
Both vehicles hold five-star ANCAP safety ratings, though the Hilux's rating is based on older 2019 protocols, while the D-MAX's is based on more recent 2022 standards. The Hilux's safety suite was boosted in 2023 to include blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. It also includes a three-year subscription to Toyota Connected Services, which provides automatic collision notification.
The Isuzu D-MAX counters with tire pressure monitoring, a feature notably absent from the Hilux. Both vehicles provide a high level of standard safety tech that would have been unimaginable in utes a decade ago.

The Arctic Trucks Specialty Comparison
For enthusiasts seeking extreme performance, Arctic Trucks offers modified versions of both vehicles, significantly enhancing their off-road credentials with 35-inch tires and lifted Bilstein suspension.
In a head-to-head "Arctic Challenge," the modified Hilux utilized its 2.8L engine (204hp / 500Nm) to great effect against the D-MAX's smaller 1.9L unit (164hp / 360Nm).
• Maneuverability: The D-MAX was unexpectedly easier to turn around in tight wooded trails, beating the Hilux in a maneuverability test.
• Hill Descent: The Hilux won the "slowest down the hill" challenge, with its hill descent control proving more effective at maintaining a crawl.
• Rock Crawling: The Hilux's higher front ground clearance (310mm vs. the D-MAX's 266mm) allowed it to navigate rocky terrain with fewer underbody strikes.
• Speed Challenges: While the D-MAX won a traction-based drag race up a slippery hill, the Hilux won the final flat-ground drag race.
Ultimately, the Arctic Trucks Hilux narrowly defeated the D-MAX in a points-based competition, 11 to 10, largely due to its superior power and ground clearance.
The Verdict: Which is Better?
Choosing between the Toyota Hilux and the Isuzu D-MAX is a matter of prioritizing specific needs:
• Choose the Toyota Hilux if: You prioritize a proven, energetic engine, superior off-road traction control, and the "invincible" feeling of the Hilux brand. It is the "no compromise" truck for those who value toughness and off-road prowess above all else.
• Choose the Isuzu D-MAX if: You want better on-road comfort, a more spacious rear cabin for passengers, superior fuel economy, and a slightly more modern interior design. It is the more compelling package for the "lifestyle" buyer who uses their ute as a family vehicle.
However, reviewers frequently point out a significant "elephant in the room": the Ford Ranger. In multiple comparisons, while the Hilux and D-MAX are praised for being "earnest hard workers," the Ford Ranger is described as being more refined, better to drive, and featuring vastly superior interior technology, such as its portrait-style infotainment system. One reviewer even suggested that neither the Hilux nor the D-MAX updates in 2023 did enough to knock the Ranger off its perch as the favorite in the segment.
In conclusion, both the Hilux and D-MAX remain exceptional examples of the dual-cab 4x4 genre—rough around the edges but reliable and capable. The D-MAX is arguably the better all-rounder for 2023, but the Hilux’s reputation for durability and its superior off-road electronics ensure it remains a heavyweight champion that cannot be ignored.