Is the new Isuzu D-MAX Australia's safest ute?

Isuzu UTE Australia says the all-new third-generation Isuzu D-MAX "represents the pinnacle of safety in the ute category". And thanks to the brand's new Intelligent Driver Assistance System (IDAS) safety suite, it's no outlandish claim.

Until recently, light commercial vehicles have lagged behind passenger cars when it came to safety, but Isuzu has firmly relegated that notion to history with its new D-MAX, which goes on sale nationally from September 1.

The IDAS package brings together a swathe of active and passive safety features and numerous driver aids. What's more, IDAS is standard across the D-MAX range, from the new flagship X-Terrain down to the now-not-so-humble SX workhorse.

The system is sure to catch the eye of 'lifestyle' ute buyers in particular. Recreational buyers have long favoured the D-MAX for towing duties, citing the D-MAX's gutsy and robust truck-derived 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel and 3500kg braked towing capacity, while the platform has also proven popular among recreational off-roaders.

The new and markedly more sophisticated Isuzu D-MAX, which is essentially an all-new product from tip to tail, now places safety at or near the very top of its priority list, with IDAS complementing a new, stronger ladder-frame chassis and body.

Key to the new safety suite is a 3D stereo imaging system from Hitachi, which employs twin cameras positioned just forward of the D-MAX's rear-view mirror. Combined with new electric power steering and a rear radar sensor, IDAS unlocks a raft of new safety features.

"The IDAS is a binocular stereo camera, so it uses two cameras and can accurately measure depth and velocity and all sorts of parameters that a monocular system could not," says Isuzu UTE Australia PR manager, Mark Harman.

Smarter, safer, pricier new Isuzu D-MAX unveiled

As a result, IDAS builds on staples like stability control, traction control and anti-lock braking with the latest automotive safety technologies including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, forward collision mitigation and lane departure warning.

New to Australia's ute category is D-MAX's centre airbag – one of a total of eight – which helps prevent the driver's and front passenger's heads colliding in the event of an impact, especially a side impact.

Meantime, the AEB system is enhanced with Turn Assist, which automatically brakes the vehicle when turning left or right if it detects a potential collision with an oncoming vehicle. And Post Collision Braking automatically stops the vehicle after it registers a serious impact.

Models with six-speed automatic transmissions also receive adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go traffic functionality, Misacceleration Mitigation (to prevent moving off and hitting a vehicle in front) and Lane Keep Assist (to help keep the vehicle in its lane).

The arrival of electric power steering is key to the adoption of Lane Keep Assist as well as Emergency Lane Keeping, which prevents the ute from changing lanes into the path of an adjacent vehicle.

The driver always retains the ability to override D-MAX's lane-keeping technology by steering against the light pressure exerted by the steering wheel, while the IDAS system can be switched off if required (although it always reverts to a default 'on' setting each time the vehicle is keyed on).

Then there are items like Driver Attention Assist fatigue alert, blind spot monitoring and, thanks to radar in the rear bumper, rear cross traffic alert, the latter alerting the driver to any passing hazard when reversing.

A traffic sign recognition feature has been honed for Australian signage and conditions, says Isuzu, and works in conjunction with an Intelligent Speed Limiter to adjust the upper permitted speed depending on detected posted limits.

And country drivers will appreciate the auto high-beam feature, which automatically dips the D-MAX's headlights when it detects a vehicle ahead within a certain range.

Country drivers and off-roaders alike will also appreciate the full compatibility of Isuzu's factory accessory bullbars and nudge bars with the IDAS system.

Naturally, Emergency Brake Assist, Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control are included.

In addition, all Isuzu D-MAX models receive a reversing camera, its output displayed on either a 7.0-inch or 9.0-inch multimedia touch-screen. LS-U variants also get rear parking sensors and the flagship X-Terrain adds front sensors.

However, automatic parking assistance and tyre pressure monitoring aren’t available on the 2020 Isuzu D-MAX, only automatic versions of which come with Misacceleration Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist, while the base SX misses out on bi-LED headlights and LED DRLs.

Safety, once little more than an afterthought across Australia's hay-haulers, is now seen as a key selling point for utes, and especially with recreational and family buyers flocking to the segment in droves in recent years.

Enabling auto versions of the Isuzu D-MAX to accelerate, brake and steer themselves, the IDAS package will now allow Isuzu to take the fight to top-selling rivals like the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton, which offer many (but not all) of its advanced safety features.

The 2020 Isuzu D-MAX is yet to be assessed by ANCAP due to COVID-19-related delays, but Isuzu says it is confident of achieving a full five-star ANCAP safety rating.

"This new model pioneers active and passive safety technology previously unseen in a ute, striving to achieve the highest possible ANCAP safety rating," says Isuzu UTE Australia managing director Hiroyaso Sato.

The all-new 2021 Mazda BT-50 is based on the new D-MAX and is expected to borrow all of its safety features when it arrives late this year.

Until then, even if some safety features aren’t fitted to all variants, the new Isuzu D-MAX is the new benchmark when it comes to safety in the ute sector.

What are the new Isuzu D-MAX's safety features?
Electronic stability control
Electronic traction control
Anti-lock brakes
Emergency Brake Assist
Hill Start Assist
Hill Descent Control
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
Turn Assist with AEB
Post Collision Braking
Forward Collision Warning
Misacceleration Mitigation (auto only)
Adaptive Cruise Control (auto only)
Traffic Sign Recognition
Intelligent Speed Limiter
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Keep Assist (auto only)
Emergency Lane Keeping
Trailer sway control
Driver Attention Assist
Blind Spot Monitoring
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Reversing camera
Rear parking sensors (LS-U/X-Terrain)
Front parking sensors (X-Terrain)
Eight airbags, including centre airbag
Two child seat tethers/ISOFIX child seat/capsule mounting points
Bi-LED headlights with auto levelling (excl SX)
LED DRLs (excl SX)