Isuzu D-MAX X-Rider Black: Knight Rider's back, but as a bakkie!

Eighties kids may remember a youthful David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight in his highly-customised black 1982 Pontiac Firebird affectionately known as KITT, an artificially intelligent, self-driving car that had a weapons system as well as razor-sharp wit as standard. While the Isuzu X-Rider may not have any semi-autonomous equipment, it may just bombard you with its rock-star looks and bad-boy attitude. Let's see what else makes the X-Rider special.

Ané Albertse

21 Nov 2019 · 16:36Automotive News

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3 Pros

*Looks like The Godfather of the bakkie world

*Standard specification level for its price

*Isuzu reliability

3 Cons

*Noisy engine compared to some rivals

*Only two airbags & lap belt on middle rear seat

*5-speed gearbox remains in X-Rider while higher-spec D-MAX bakkies get the 6-speed

Styling

What I love most about the X-Rider is its lack of additional wannabe-tough-guy tupperware and mud-splatter / aggressive lettering decals. The X-Rider pretty much comes out of the factory the way it looks on this photo below. It's based on the 4x2 Isuzu D-Max and has black side steps, blacked out alloy wheels with 255/ 60R18 All Terrain Tyres as well as black roof rails. Red top-stitching and X-Rider lettering adorn the standard black leather seats and leather steering wheel.

Ground clearance is a generous and a tow-bar is fitted as standard. A sports bar adds further rough-and-tumble macho-cred and the loading bay is factory-fitted with a lockable tonneau cover, but it is a little finicky to unlock and open. Daytime running lamps and a smidgen of matte black cladding around the headlamps makes the X-Rider's 'face' look mean and purposeful. Black is truly a fantastic colour on this bakkie!

The X-Rider black has just enough machismo to make the owner look naturally cool. #NoFilterNeeded!

Space and comfort

The interior is spacious and typical Isuzu, it's a hard-wearing cabin with plastics that look as if they can handle a bit of mistreatment. New piano black accents at the edges of the front fascia adds a bit of modern glamour but it's still a dark and somewhat basic cabin. A radio/Bluetooth/AUX port are a given, but should you want a touchscreen and everything that goes along with it, it's standard in X-Rider models built from August 2019 and onward. (The larger, 9-inch screen is optional on the more expensive D-Max models.) Dual cubby holes still feature if you have extra paraphernalia that needs to be stowed.

The standard leather seats are suited to the X-Rider's outdoorsy nature (should Dad accidentally drive through the mud with the windows open, for example) and there's plenty of space for the people in the back. The rear bench backrests are not too upright and the seats are supportive. There's room for a third adult in the middle, but he or she will have to make do with a lap belt. Rear passengers should be able to travel for many kilometres before feeling the need to stretch those legs.

X-Rider models built from August 2019 onward will also get a touchscreen as standard.

Plenty of knee-room behind the driver's seat, who happens to have long legs.

Drive and performance

Isuzu's hardy 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine continues to do the job via a five-speed gearbox that still feels a little agricultural vs. the new Ford Ranger and Toyota manuals. Power is rated at 100 kW from 3400 rpm with 320 Nm of torque between 1 800 rpm and 2800 rpm. It is sufficient for day-to-day use and you can tow a trailer or caravan of up to 2.1 tonnes. The ride itself is a little jittery over the speed bumps in town but is more settled on dirt and gravel, and even better when there are a few bags of potting soil in the loading bay. There was slight rattle that emanated from the centre fascia which is a slight concern, since our test model had less than 2500 km on the clock.

The X-Rider prefers dirt or gravel, and feels stable thanks to ESP and traction control.

Fuel consumption

Isuzu rates the X-Rider's fuel consumption at 7.7 litres per 100 km but it's closer to 8-10, depending on how hard you drive it and what you have in the loading bay. Emissions are 203 grams per km and the engine is nowhere as refined as the Ranger, Hilux, and Amarok — it sounds gruff and clattery, and it still gives off those nasty diesel fumes when you leave it running. The upside to this is that the Isuzu engines are better suited to our dirty South African diesel and it may outlive its more refined German and American counterparts, especially if you plan on driving it for a long time. Isuzus also hold on to their value rather well because they're so reliable, and finding a buyer usually happens easily.

How to work out your car's fuel consumption

The 2.5-litre turbodiesel is economical, even when there's a heavy load in the back.

Safety

The X-Rider has ABS with EBD, brake assist, stability and traction control, two frontal airbags, and side-impact protection bars. The 2012 model scored four stars at EuroNCAP and 5 stars at the 2016 ANCAP crash tests— the only difference is that the models tested had side as well as curtain airbags, since they were top-spec D-MAX variants. Traction and stability control already go a long way in keeping you safe because it helps you to remain in control of your vehicle.

Price

The X-Rider offers plenty of style, spec, and capability, without breaking the bank. Just by looking at it, you'd easily expect it to cost upwards of R 600 000, but it's priced at an affordable R 462 000. This makes it a bit of a bargain compared to similar offerings from Toyota, Ford and Volkswagen that look quite bland in comparison, even if they do offer a bit more safety equipment. The Hilux DC 2.4GD6 RB SRX MT (R454 700) would be my no. 1 alternative in this segment, but when you start looking at Ford Rangers you also realize there's a lot of bakkie to be had for R 470 200 if you opt for the 2.2TDCi double cab 4x4 XL!

The X-Rider boasts plenty of cool lifestyle kit as standard, like this sports bar and lockable tonneau cover.

Verdict

The X-Rider is all about looking good while getting down and dirty. I have always been fond of the Isuzu bakkie because it's such a down-to-earth vehicle that makes no bones about its humble roots and work-horse intentions. Now that it looks this attractive I can't help but give it extra points. A fantastic all-round family vehicle — if only it had a few more airbags. Definitely one to shortlist if you're looking for a well-priced lifestyle vehicle that won't let you down in the long run.

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Written by Ané Albertse

Ané was bitten by the motoring bug at a very young age. Her mom recalls her sitting in her stroller as a 3-year old, naming every car that came past. She was creating content for various publications within Media24 when AutoTrader nabbed her for good, and is one of the longest-standing members of the AutoTrader team. She prefers dirt roads to tar and SUVs/bakkies to sports cars, but her greatest passion is helping people find the perfect car for their budget, lifestyle, and personality.Read more