New Isuzu D-Max X-Rider Black (2025) Roadtrip Review
Isuzu took the X-Rider, which you already know, and gave it the full Darth Vader treatment. Meet the 2025 X-Rider Black, of which only 150 exist. We drove the double cab from Durban to the Drakensberg foothills and then into sunny (and then rainy) Gauteng.
We took the red-eye from Cape Town to Durban to go on a three-day road trip with the Isuzu team to experience the latest version of the limited-run Isuzu D-Max X-Rider black and the lifestyle that accompanies it, proving that a bakkie can look the part without sacrificing substance.
Styling
Isuzu has applied several styling touches for a completely murdered-out aesthetic. Everything that could be blackened has been blackened. The 18-inch alloys are Gloss Black with cheeky red ISUZU lettering on the centre caps. The sports bar is tubular black with a laser-cut red 'X' that whispers, rather than screams. Even the grille surround gets the Gun Metallic treatment, a subtle nod to the higher-spec V-Cross models.
Door handles, mirrors, B-pillars, and tailgate handles have all gone dark. The only splashes of colour come from that bold red ISUZU script on the grille and some patterned body decals that add just enough flair without looking over-embellished. Dark grey roof rails are standard because Isuzu knows you'll eventually want to strap something up there.
Related: Isuzu D-Max 3.0 Double Cab 4x4 V-Cross Review
Day one: Clifton Canyon to Brahman Hills
We started in Hillcrest at the Clifton Canyon 4x4 track, where the pretenders are separated from the contenders.
The Isuzu's 1.9-litre turbodiesel kicks out 110 kW and 350 Nm from 1 800 to 2 600 r/min. It's not exactly earth-shattering, but perfectly adequate for what most people do daily and on weekends. In 4H, we traversed the long sandy road up to the viewpoint, almost with our eyes closed.
The six-speed auto is no slouch either. It thinks ahead, drops gears when it should, and doesn't hunt around. Shift-on-the-fly 4x4 means you can swap from tar to trail without stopping, and those General Grabber AT3s (265/60 R18) grip the way they should. My co-driver preferred driving in tiptronic mode while I just put the lever in Drive and let the Suzy do the thinking.
Hill Descent Control keeps you composed on the steep bits, there's a rear diff lock for when things get technical, and 227 mm ground clearance with approach/breakover/departure angles of 30/22.5/23 degrees means you can tackle more than you'd expect.
Interior
Inside, it's the usual X-Rider recipe with some extra attitude. Supportive, form-hugging leather seats with red contrast stitching, embroidered red 'X' headrests, and graduated red accents scattered around the cabin. The piano black trim might show some fingerprints, but it looks the part. The steering wheel gets red stitching and a red ISUZU logo.
It's also practical, with loads of rear-seat space for actual humans, as I discovered when I scooched into the rear for the last leg of the third day. The second row is higher for better visibility, and I could easily see myself riding in the back on more extended road trips; it's that comfy.
There are also ISOFIX points for the kids' seats, and a coat hook that came in handy for my denim jacket. The X-Rider floor mats make cleaning easy; you shake them out if your feet brought gravel and dust into the cabin.
Day two: Brahman Hills to Clarens
Day two was officially a long-distance day, and the 1.9 Ddi proved its mettle. This engine's party trick isn't raw power; instead, it saves you diesel at the pump without losing capability, as we discovered when we took an X-Rider sand driving last year.
With cruise control locked and loaded, Apple CarPlay feeding directions through the 7-inch screen, and the six-speaker sound system handling Spotify duties, we made our way through the most scenic parts of the Eastern Free State, including the almost turquoise-coloured Sterkfontein dam to picturesque Golden Gate. (The X-Rider black is also Wi-Fi compatible.)
The ride quality is where the D-MAX earns its keep on long hauls. It's planted enough to feel secure at highway speeds but won't rattle your fillings loose on patched tar. Trailer Sway Control is reassuring when the headwinds try to push you around, and the stability systems stay quietly in the background unless you do something silly, or find yourself briefly aquaplaning through a shallow sheet of water on the road surface. Park Assist and a rearview camera take care of slotting into parking spaces more easily.
Real-world fuel consumption ranged from 13.2 km/l (our best: 7.6 l/100 km) on the gentle stretches to 10.4 km/l (9.6 l/100 km) when we were hurrying to the airport. With a 76-litre tank and Isuzu's claimed 7.6 l/100 km average, you're looking at a 1000 km range if you can exercise self-control.
Day three: Clarens to Jo'burg
Day three was supposed to be a leisurely cruise from Clarens to OR Tambo, as we had to drop off a colleague before reconvening for lunch with the Isuzu team. Instead, the partly cloudy Gauteng weather suddenly turned into a monsoon.
Visibility dropped to 25 metres, where the X-Rider Black's high-quality windscreen wipers and electronic safety systems earned their keep. ABS and Electronic Brake Distribution kept the stops predictable on the slick tar. Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control worked overtime without being intrusive. The LED headlamps cut through the gloom better than expected, and those tyres held their ground. Most importantly, the cabin stayed calm and composed. There was no stress, no white knuckles, just steady progress through conditions that would otherwise have been hair-raising.
Isuzu does it again
Isuzu took its proven formula and gave it a visual makeover that works. At R770 400, you're paying a reasonable premium for exclusivity, some genuinely cool styling touches, and the satisfaction of knowing yours is one of only 150.
Worth it? If you like your bakkie with a side of attitude and appreciate limited-edition appeal, absolutely. If you need a workhorse and couldn't care less about numbered plaques and red stitching, the standard X-Rider will do you just fine.
Either way, you get a bakkie that handles everything from crawling over obstacles and cruising to weekend camping spots to keeping you safe in nasty weather - or just doing the school run or helping a friend move house.
Pricing including VAT:
1.9 Ddi D/Cab HR X-RIDER BLACK: R664.100.00
1.9 Ddi D/Cab HR X-RIDER BLACK AT: R685 600.00
1.9 Ddi D/Cab 4x4 X-RIDER BLACK AT RHD: R770 400.00 (tested)
The ISUZU D-MAX range comes with ISUZU’s standard five-year/90 000 km service plan, five-year/120 000 km warranty including roadside assistance, and a five-year/unlimited distance anti-corrosion warranty. Service intervals are scheduled every 15 000 km or 12 months.
