Isuzu D-Max - A new X Rider in town
It's no secret South Africans love double cabs for obvious reasons. Manufacturers have taken advantage of this love affair and offered double cabs in various special edition variations for years. Many of these variations have strayed into luxury territory and have now breached the 6 figure mark. The Isuzu X Rider, however, has shirked this and continues to offer a capable yet stylish double cab for good money, and now there's a new model coming.
X is back
First released back in 2016 as a special edition to bolster the KB / D Max lineup, the X Rider shot to the top of the sales charts, becoming one of the most desirable models. This led to Isuzu making it a permanent staple of the model line, giving customers a statement-making double cab.
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Subsequent models have done very well and have cemented the X Rider as a beneficial model for the Gqeberha-based manufacturer. The 2023/24 model has just been announced and, in true Isuzu fashion, has once again set the bar high for stylish yet capable double cabs in South Africa. We take a look at what the new model has to offer in what is fast becoming a very competitive market segment of luxury double cabs.
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Exterior features
Those with a keen eye will quickly spot the small esthetics that make up the X Rider nameplate. Starting with the 18" diamond cut wheels with black and red Isuzu centre caps, the motif is continued upward with X Rider badging prominently displayed on the tailgate and front fenders. Small touches like the blacked-out door handles and B pillars lend the X Rider an aggressive appearance, which is only reinforced by the black mirror caps and sports bar behind the cab.
The X Rider receives LED lighting all around which when paired with one of the four striking colors of Spinel Red, Islay Grey, Splash White or Mercury Silver, really set off the exterior as a complete package.
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Interior appointment
Regarding the interior, the X Rider theme is red on black across the board. The headliner, door cards, dashboard and seats are all black with red elements in the form of stitching. The seats have red contrasting red stitching with red "X" embroidery on the headrests, while the centre console gets the same treatment in the form of red stitched gear selector and handbrake boots.
The dashboard gets a red separator panel emblazoned with the X Rider logo above the glovebox, and the driver gets the piece de resistance with a leather-wrapped steering wheel stitched with red. The interior design is cohesive and stylish, even sporty and lets occupants know they are driving in something special.
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Power to deliver
The powerplant of the X Rider is the popular 1.9 Ddi common rail diesel engine, the intercooled turbo unit delivers a maximum 110 kW of power at 3 600 r/min and peak torque of 350 Nm from 1 800 to 2 600 r/min. This is more than enough for most day-to-day applications and serves the X Rider well for when drivers want to go off the beaten track.
The X Rider is also available in two drive train options, those being 4x2 and 4x4, with either six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
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Verdict
Isuzu has yet to release a full grade walk and pricing, but if the new models are anything like the outgoing versions, consumers will be able to get the drive and cab spec that they need at an appropriate price. The X Rider seems to be the perfect fit for the South African market and competes well with the current lineup of 1 million rand double cabs.
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