Pickup trucks aren’t nearly as popular here in the UK as they are across the pond, but if we Brits had to pick one that would be Britannia’s Ford F-150; the Isuzu D-Max would easily slot in as a worthy contender. It’s super reliable, uber-practical, and as I’ve experienced in the past, it’s also massively versatile, capable of being turned into everything… From an arctic exploration vehicle to a camper truck and a dependable blue-collar workhorse. However, if you need a pickup truck that offers a touch of luxury and refinement, but still retains its truck-ness, there’s also this, the refreshed and updated 2025 Isuzu D-Max V-Cross. But, is it really that good?
What Is The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross About?
Of course, if you’ve been here a while, you might know that I’ve driven and reviewed a few D-Maxes in the past. This includes the outgoing and current generations of the Isuzu D-Max. Admittedly, this new and updated one is pretty similar to the old D-Max V-Cross, and you would need to whip out that magnifying glass to even spot any of the differences. This refreshed model at least retains some of the things that I really liked from the old D-Max V-Cross, such as that sharp and sporting front fascia. Granted, this 2025 model does feature slight updates to its Bi-LED headlights, a two-tone dark grey front grille, and a revised tailgate, emblazoned with V-Cross branding.
Speaking of grey, this D-Max V-Cross that I have here comes with additional greyed-out styling touches, such as the dark grey metallic exterior trim and side steps, as well as the matte dark grey 18-inch alloy wheels. As you’d be able to tell, this particular D-Max isn’t exactly bone-stock either, as it features a few accessories. As far as glammed-up adventure trucks go, the Isuzu D-Max has always been a superb blank canvas to truly make one your own, and this one even looks ready for an expedition around the world in 80 days. It has a nice bonnet deflector and a rather fashionable ARB Ascent truck bed canopy, as well as a BedRug truck bed liner.
Plus, you might’ve spotted the pretty conspicuous Lazer Lamps LED lightbar at the front, tucked neatly alongside the ARB roof rack. On that subject, that aforementioned LED lightbar is, by far and away, the brightest unit that I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s ridiculous when you turn it on, turning the grim darkness of the night into daytime. I quite like those aftermarket wind deflectors by the windows, too. All in all, it showcases just how modular the D-Max platform is, and by extension, how much you’re able to modify and build it to your liking. Better yet, there’s the Isuzu D-Max’s tried and tested powertrain, which, thankfully, is retained from the previous model years.
How Does It Drive?
As they say, don’t fix what isn’t broken, and clearly, Isuzu has taken that to heart, as they’ve kept the immensely capable beating soul of the old Isuzu D-Max, the engine! Specifically, you’re getting their 1.9-litre inline-4 ‘RZ4E’ turbo-diesel, handily putting down 164 PS and 360 Nm of torque. That’ll yield you a 0 to 62 mph time of around 12.7 seconds or 13.0 seconds for the D-Max V-Cross in Double Cab spec, depending on whether you’re choosing the 6-speed manual or the 6-speed automatic transmission, respectively. Speaking of, that 6-speed auto comes with noteworthy improvements over the older Isuzu D-Max models, namely the 25% speedier gear shifts.
Another highlight of this engine is no doubt the fuel economy figures. With 30+ MPG (combined) for this slightly refreshed Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, it can be shockingly light on fuel, despite its capability. If you take a peek further below, you’ll notice that Isuzu has further fine-tuned the D-Max’s suspension. It now has better front suspension, helping you with reduced body roll, decreased vibrations, and yielding better tyre contact during hard cornering. Meanwhile, they’ve been tweaking the rear leaf spring suspension as well to get you improved ride quality and comfort, and better road holding, too. Equally, they’ve made loads of changes to the D-Max’s steering set-up.
So, despite this being a hardy truck, you don’t need to compromise with the barebones nature of a truck either, thanks to upgrades to the D-Max’s chassis cab mounts for fewer NVH levels intruding into the cabin. That ought to reward you with a quieter, more refined and more relaxed driving experience. Unfortunately, there’s a bit of a catch, as for the purposes of turning the specific Isuzu D-Max V-Cross that I have here into an adventure-ready truck, those add-ons do result in some compromises. For example, the LED lightbar and the ARB roof rack tend to catch a lot of wind once you get over 60 mph, creating a lot more wind noise than I’d ideally like.
Buffeting sounds aside, this isn’t a fault with the Isuzu D-Max itself, of course, or even ARB and Lazer Lamps. Yet, it is something worth bearing in mind if you’re thinking of modifying yours down the line and tacking on all those extra bits and bobs. Another sacrifice worth thinking about is the inclusion of that fabric bed liner. If compared to your typical plastic or rubber truck bed liners, which is what comes as standard on the D-Max, using fabric does make it unsuitable if you’re chucking muddy or dirty stuff back there, and it’s way harder to clean! Then again, it is an add-on to make your bed look and feel more like a regular car boot, with extra cargo protection.
Nevertheless, while the V-Cross models might be more posh and upmarket compared to those ‘regular’ working-class D-Maxes, make no mistake, it’s still a hugely competent and powerful truck with no compromises. As such, you can still make great use of its 3.5-tonne towing capacity and be able to haul up to a tonne of payload. It comes courtesy of the new Isuzu D-Max’s strengthened ladder frame chassis for improved rigidity, and you could also find a bunch of other goodies elsewhere, too. For instance, all 4×4 models, including the V-Cross, come with a rear differential lock as standard, as well as trailer sway control to reduce your speed if there’s trailer sway.
Furthermore, you get Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control as standard on all models, and I’m definitely a fan of Isuzu’s clever 4WD Shift-On-The-Fly system. The latter even has a new and improved actuator in mind, as you are now able to more rapidly and smoothly engage the transfer case between the drive modes – 2H, 4H, and 4L. On that note, if you want to take your new D-Max off-roading, then worry not about what goes on underneath you, as it has an abundance of underbody protection. This includes a 1.5mm steel skid plate and a 1.0mm steel guard for the engine sump, transmission, and transfer case, as well as a 5.0mm reinforced resin air deflector.
On the other hand, among the new additions that we get on this updated 2025 model year D-Max is Isuzu’s new Rough Terrain Mode. It’s essentially an extension of the regular traction control system, helping to reduce wheel spin and allocate power to the wheels with the most traction during off-roading scenarios or tricky situations. In addition, if worst comes to worst, this system could even work in conjunction with your rear diff locks to get you out of between a rock and a hard place. Now, in the real world, this Isuzu D-Max, despite the flurry of tweaks and enhancements made to it, still feels somewhat agricultural, though not necessarily in a bad way.
It does move decently quickly enough if you need to get going at speed, though it’ll emit a very distinctive turbo-diesel soundtrack. Besides its gruff engine note, though, the D-Max doesn’t try to hide its working-class roots. So, while it’s certainly not as refined as something more pedestrian or luxurious, you do get this feeling that it would do anything you ask of it… Whether it’s regularly towing a camper or hauling a bed full of building materials with five hard-hat wearing blokes inside! Plus, I know that this is a powertrain that’ll keep running fine basically forever, reliably, dependably, without a fuss, powering this beast of a truck, so I’m more than happy with its roughness.
What Is It Like Inside?
Stepping inside this new and gently refreshed Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, once again, reminds me of just how similar it is to what I drove a couple of years ago. The V-Cross trims, in particular, even come with leather upholstery and heated front seats by default, as well as 8-way electrically adjustable driver seats. With ample soft touch panels and extremely comfortable seats, the D-Max, with or without the V-Cross upgrades, has a surprisingly plush and cosy cabin for what is otherwise a practical, do-everything work truck. Crucially, with a 30mm longer wheelbase than the pre-2021 last-gen D-Maxes, it allows for more spacious seating in the rear for the Double Cab models.
There’s a generous amount of tech that you get in this new D-Max, especially once you upgrade to the top-spec V-Cross. Right up front, while you’re offered a 4.2-inch semi-digital dash on the lower trim levels, the V-Cross nets you a huge 7.0-inch fully digital gauge cluster. This has now even been slightly revised once you compare it to the D-Max that I drove back in 2023, with a bigger, more high-tech, and arguably more legible set of screens and user interface. Meanwhile, there’s that huge infotainment system – another gargantuan upgrade over the old Isuzu D-Max, now offering you an 8.0-inch touchscreen display on most D-Max trim levels.
However, move up to the V-Cross, and it gives you all the bells and whistles, including an upgraded 9.0-inch unit. Look around, and you’ll find a vast number of pages and menus in the system, including some rather useful ones, particularly if you’re going off-road. Some of my favourites are the built-in inclinometer and the TPMS read-outs, as well as being able to quickly turn on and off the ADAS systems. Regardless, both systems also get you wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to Bluetooth, DAB radio, and a whopping 8-speaker sound system in the V-Cross. Alongside dual-zone climate control, the hugely accessible collection of USB-C ports is nice to see.
Beside the steering wheel, there’s also a tiny on/off switch that you won’t find in most D-Maxes, as that allows you to turn on and off that gigantic LED lightbar on the roof. Linking the light bar with the high beams when needed. Considering all these minor changes and added refinement, my impressions of the D-Max V-Cross’s cabin remain just as glowing as the 2023 model that I last drove. Even on this top-of-the-line V-Cross, the Isuzu D-Max is fantastically easy to hop into, and it’s endlessly utilitarian. Everywhere you look and touch, it comes with hard-wearing materials and upholstery that’ll last you a long time, even when it’s hard at work.
Aside from that, should you need to tuck away anything, the interior of the D-Max alone – not counting the bed – has bucket loads of storage compartments and little cubbies to store stuff. Accompanying the two gloveboxes there are plenty of cup holders spread throughout the cabin. Practicality and versatility are one area where we’ve seen a significant evolution from work trucks of old, in addition to comfort, and this Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is really quite a nice place to spend time in. Besides that, even as a simple work truck, the 2025 D-Max has a host of different driver aids and safety systems to keep you safe on the road, all included as standard.
The Experience
In other words, all Isuzu D-Max trim levels, from the Utility to the V-Cross, come with a forward collision warning system, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and a lane-departure prevention system. More than that, you get a traffic jam assist system, traffic sign recognition, with adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alerts, and much more! If you pick the 6-speed auto, you also get an AT Pedal Misapplication Mitigation system, suppressing your engine torque and providing you with an auditory and visual warning if the system detects that you’re suddenly accelerating with something in front of you.
Granted, the ADAS suite on the D-Max, from what I’ve experienced, can at times be a tad sensitive, so make sure to turn some of them down in the settings, like the speed alarms. Moving on, the 2025 model year updates come with further improvements to the D-Max’s active and passive safety systems, too. Notably, the set of front-facing stereo cameras, which monitor the road ahead and power many of those ADAS systems that I mentioned earlier, has been redesigned for better and more reliable performance. Isuzu has even added a heater to the housing for enhanced visibility if the windshield steams up. There’s a lot more attention to detail elsewhere, too.
The D-Max’s auto emergency braking system has been improved, as has the ADAS suite’s target recognition, for better speed and accuracy. Additionally, you now get an expanded set of functions for its traffic sign recognition system. Even simple upgrades could make a huge difference, too, such as how the horizontal field of view for the ADAS cameras and sensors has been widened from 40 degrees to 120 degrees, with its sensing distance upped from 120m to 150m. With no less than eight airbags in the Double Cab versions, such as this V-Cross, it’s no wonder that it boasts a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating, making this one of the safest pickup trucks you can buy.
Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Cost
The updated 2025 Isuzu D-Max V-Cross range starts from £45,516 for the 6-speed manual version, or £47,916 if you want to get the 6-speed automatic. That is a pretty sizeable increase from the £32,916 starting price for the D-Max range as a whole, including the entry-level, 4×2 Single Cab Utility model. Nevertheless, the V-Cross would cocoon you with more luxury and refinement, so the extra cost might still be worth it for the right customer. And, to make that price tag a bit easier to swallow, you also get a 5-year or 125,000-mile warranty (whichever comes first), a 5-year roadside assistance package for UK and EU buyers, alongside a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty.
Verdict
There is not much to say about this new Isuzu D-Max V-Cross that I haven’t already praised it for a couple of years back. Sure, there are other trucks that you might want to cross-shop for the same money, but when you need to go back to basics and find a truck that excels at truck-like performance, the D-Max is in a league of its own. You get immense capability, whether it’s towing, hauling, or even going off-roading, and loads of tuning potential if you want to build a bespoke one for your needs. Plus, with the V-Cross in mind, you have a truck that’ll last you an entire lifetime of hard, back-breaking work with unquestioning reliability, and a touch more luxury.
Specification
Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Specs
- Price: £45,516
- Engine: 1.9-litre inline-4 ‘RZ4E’ turbo-diesel
- Power: 164 PS
- Torque: 360 Nm
- Transmission: 6-speed auto or manual
- 0-62mph: 12.7 seconds or 13.0 seconds
- Top speed: 112 mph
- Weight: 1,995-2,015 kg
- Economy combined: 32.5-31.4 mpg
- CO2: 227-235 g/km