What's new: 2021 vs 2022 Isuzu D-Max
Can you spot the differences between the 2021 and 2022 D-Max?
Compared to other countries, the Philippines got the new Isuzu D-Max a bit late. The popular pick-up truck made its global debut in 2019, but it wasn't until earlier this year did Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) launch the D-Max locally.
Over in Thailand, it seems Isuzu has already given the D-Max a facelift for the 2022 model year. But rather than a major refresh, the company kept the design changes to a minimum.
If you don't look closely, it's difficult to see what Isuzu changed between the 2021 and the 2022 D-Max. Place them side-by-side, though, and the differences are somewhat easier to spot. But what exactly did they change?
Look at them from the front, and the most obvious difference would be the grille. For the 2022 model, the upper half of the grille appears to be carried over from the 2021 model. But instead of silver, it's now finished in dark chrome. Isuzu did change the lower half of the grille; it no longer adopts a mesh design and now consists of black horizontal slats. The bumper, headlights, and fog lights are unchanged from the 2021 model.
Isuzu didn't make any changes to the side of the pick-up truck but they did fit new 18-inch matte black wheels to match the darker look. Like the front end, the rear of the 2022 D-Max looks essentially the same as the 2021 model – from the tailgate to the bumper. The only visual difference is the trim pieces for the LED taillights. Instead of chrome, these are now finished in black. Possibly the only other exterior change would be the new paint – Islay Gray Opaque.
Inside, there are minimal changes to the 2022 D-Max's cabin. The layout of the dashboard, center console, and steering wheel are the same. Rather than overhauling the interior, Isuzu changed the color scheme. There's a new two-tone black-brown leather upholstery found on the seats, sidings, and even the steering wheel. While a bit harder to spot, Isuzu says the front seats are now ventilated as well. Hopefully, the ventilated seats make their way to the Philippine-spec units.
Depending on the variant, the 2022 D-Max still comes with numerous amenities, including a large touchscreen infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual-zone climate control, 7-airbags, and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assist System).
Under the hood, the engines from the pre-facelift model are carried over without change – a 1.9-liter or a 3.0-liter turbo diesel. The former produces 150 PS and 350 Nm torque, while the latter outputs 190 PS and 450 Nm torque. Transmission options remain unchanged, a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. 4WD is available as an option.
Following the debut of the 2022 D-Max in Thailand, it might not be long before Isuzu Philippines also brings in the updated models to the country. With that, we hope the changes we see here make it into the local models, especially the ventilated front seats. Those would be very helpful with the heat we experience.
