Currently reading: New 2021 Isuzu D-Max pick-up truck due in UK dealerships

Third-generation truck promises better on-road refinement and off-road ability, overhauled interior and exterior

The new Isuzu D-Max will arrive in UK showrooms in March, featuring extensive styling and mechanical changes over the current decade-old pick-up truck.

The Mk3 D-Max has been on sale in Thailand, where it's built, since October 2019. It was restyled for a "more distinguishable and powerful appearance," according to Isuzu. 

A preview image shows that the truck retains its chunky, high-riding silhouette, but there's an entirely new front end housing new LED headlights and a significantly larger grille dominated by a pair of thick chrome bars across its width. 

Described changes to the rear end are more subtle, but a new design for the vertical tail-light clusters and the addition of an integrated step into the bumper help to set it apart from the current D-Max.

The interior is a radical departure from that of the current D-Max. The rotary controller-based control panel has been swapped for a more conventional, horizontal control panel, while the 7.0in infotainment touchscreen has been swapped for a 9.0in display. 

Soft-touch panelling and "elegant detailing" are among the additions that Isuzu says have transformed the cabin into a "premium" yet "fuss-free" environment. 

The D-Max remains available exclusively as a diesel, with a Euro6d-compliant engine of undisclosed capacity producing 162bhp and 266lb ft - slightly less torque than the outgoing version. Both six-speed manual and six-speed automatic gearbox options are available. 

Underneath, the truck adopts redesigned suspension at the front and rear, promising boosted on-road refinement in conjunction with improved sound deadening and speed-sensitive power steering.

Isuzu claims off-road functionality has been improved, too, with the aid of a faster-engaging four-wheel drive system and a differential lock on the utility-oriented All-Purpose and Adventure trims. 

The D-Max's ladder chassis also benefits from extra reinforcements and a new protective panel to minimise the risk of damage from large obstacles, while a more comprehensive suite of advanced driver aids helps to improve on-road safety.

Prices will be confirmed closer to the D-Max's on-sale date, but a small premium over the current £17,400 start price is to be expected.

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Felix Page

Felix Page
Title: Deputy editor

Felix is Autocar's deputy editor, responsible for leading the brand's agenda-shaping coverage across all facets of the global automotive industry - both in print and online.

He has interviewed the most powerful and widely respected people in motoring, covered the reveals and launches of today's most important cars, and broken some of the biggest automotive stories of the last few years. 

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