Isuzu D-MAX LS-U Crew Cab Chassis 2025 Review
The ute market is swelling with fresh metal by the day, which means the Isuzu D-MAX has more new threats to its sales volume than ever. Now at about the halfway mark of this model’s shelf life, the D-MAX is one of few brands offering a diverse model range including the LS-U Crew Cab Chassis reviewed here. A relatively simple, proven powertrain, ample safety and competitive standard features give the D-MAX a shine only dulled primarily by pricing not as sharp as it once was and an engine a little less refined than other diesel utes.
How much does the 2025 Isuzu D-MAX LS-U Crew Cab Chassis cost?
The 2025 Isuzu D-MAX LS-U tested here as a Crew Cab Chassis, starts at $61,000 (plus on-road costs). The test vehicle was fitted with a bunch of Isuzu accessories, such as a General Purpose Alloy Tray ($3269), Tow Bar Tongue ($219), 12-Pin Plug ($427), Electronic Brake Controller ($948), and Rubber Mats at $218 (all prices rounded to nearest dollar). As tested (with accessories fitted including stamp duty), all up the test vehicle was $71,298.
The D-MAX is covered by a six-year/150,000km warranty, while capped price servicing is $469 per service for five years. The first 3000km service inspection is free, then paid services are due every 15,000km/12 months.
This second-generation D-MAX dropped in 2020, but Isuzu has chipped away with regular updates since then. Last year the biggest change was exterior and interior design improvements as well as a bump in safety, technology and other minor, general upgrades.
The D-MAX LS-U is parked at the mid-point of the D-MAX model walk, and offers as key features 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, walk-away door locking, electric folding heated side mirrors, dual-zone climate control, powered lumbar support for driver’s seat and a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear selector.
Outside, you’re also treated to welcome lighting, chrome doorhandles, silver side steps and a tow bar receiver.
Inside, there’s also auto-dimming rear-view mirror, driver and passenger vanity mirrors and, would you believe it, carpet flooring.
Technology is served up with a double dose of digital screens – one 7.0-inch colour LCD screen incorporated within the dash display, while a 9.0-inch centre infotainment LCD colour touchscreen housing wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and off-road angle displays.
Also incorporated in the infotainment set-up are 4x4 driveline details, DAB+ digital radio and three USB-C ports – two in the front row, one in the second row. There’s also tyre pressure monitoring info, as well as tyre reinflation assist when for example airing up after off-roading.
The D-MAX has eight airbags (front, front-side, side-curtain, front-centre and driver’s knee), anti-lock brakes, electronic traction and stability control, hill start assist, hill descent control, trailer sway assist and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with junction assist and day/night pedestrian and cyclist detection.
Other driver assist tech fitted to all D-MAX models includes auto headlights with high beam assist, rain-sensing wipers, blind spot and driver attention monitoring, emergency lane keeping, lane keep assist and lane departure warning and prevention.
There’s also a manual speed limiter, traffic sign recognition, stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, post-collision braking, forward collision warning, rear collision warning and braking and mis-acceleration mitigation. A rear camera and rear parking sensors are also part of the deal.
The heart of the 2025 Isuzu D-MAX LS-U Crew Cab Chassis is a 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel driving through a six-speed automatic, dual range part-time 4x4 transmission.
What’s good about the 2025 Isuzu D-MAX LS-U Crew Cab Chassis?
The one thing that makes the 2025 Isuzu D-MAX LS-U Crew Cab Chassis appealing is that Isuzu didn’t just bake in its features back in 2020 and leave it there. Regular subtle improvements have helped make a pretty solid truck better.
For example, the new tyre inflation system makes D-Max one of the best choices for reinflation after airing down. Meanwhile, Rough Terrain Mode is a sophisticated traction control for slippery climbs that takes the hard work out of the job.
The 3.0-litre is an economical engine with strong (if not class-leading) torque, and is quiet on the highway.
Inside, the cabin is comfortable and spacious, front and back.
Fuel consumption is quite reasonable, with an average of 10.3L/100km on test with a mix of freeway and city work. The official claim is 8.0L/100km.
With the 119kg alloy tray fitted and allowing 80kg for an occupant, the handy Isuzu payload calculator gives the vehicle we tested 936kg for payload, and a GCM of 3836kg. Towing capacity is 3500kg, but as with any heavy trailer towing, always check exact weights before you tow.
What’s not so good about the 2025 Isuzu D-MAX LS-U Crew Cab Chassis?
With a lighter aluminium tray on the back (lighter than the steel pick-up tub, that is) the D-MAX’s rear suspension feels quite unyielding when unladen.
This is not really a criticism as such; you would assume that ticking the alloy tray option means you’re going to regularly load stuff back there, which adds weight over the back axle and improves ride.
The alloy tray overhang does impede the towbar though, something to keep in mind of towing a caravan for both hitching up and when doing sharp turns (the tray may make contact with the van).
The 3.0-litre diesel is noisy when revved and you even get odd engine vibrations though the pedals sometimes.
While a one-week Quick Spin is no place to prove such a thing, Isuzu’s argument is that being based on a truck engine increases confidence of engine longevity. So maybe, if what Isuzu claims is true, this is the robust engine you want if you want to keep a ute for a long time.
While the six-speed auto performs well, it is starting to look low tech against up to 10-speed units in competitors.
The active safety tech mostly worked as it should, but the new for 2024 ADAS camera system didn’t like it when driving into a setting sun. The dash warning then popped up saying it was disabled, because it can’t ‘see’. This is a problem we’ve noted before on D-MAX.
Although the D-MAX was once a bargain alternative to more popular utes, now not so much. Prices are up, and it is very close to the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux on sticker price, and there are also whole bunch of new utes that are much cheaper.
Should I buy a 2025 Isuzu D-MAX LS-U Crew Cab Chassis?
The 2025 Isuzu D-MAX LS-U Crew Cab Chassis is a solid offering among dual cab utes, with a good amount of tech, good fuel economy and performance.
While we can’t prove it on a one-week test, the lack of sophistication in some areas might actually be exactly what you want in a reliable workhorse.
On face value though, this isn’t the most advanced, sophisticated or cheapest ute on the market, if any of these specific metrics are important to you.
2025 Isuzu D-MAX LS-U Crew Cab Chassis at a glance:
Price: $61,000 or $71,298 as tested (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 140kW/450Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 207g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2022)
Related: Isuzu D-MAX 2024 Review
Related: 2024 Isuzu D-MAX: Australian pricing and specs
Related: Facelifted 2024 Isuzu D-MAX gets safer and more capable
- Strong technology and safety bundle
- Relatively light on fuel
- Good performance
- Engine is not the smoothest diesel around
- ADAS camera system not as good as it could be in poor visibility conditions
- Becoming expensive for what was once seen as a value offering
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