A forum joke says the farm worker drives the Isuzu, the manager the Hilux and the boss the Ranger. But the farmer often buys the Isuzu with his own money.
It is tough, plain inside, and slower and louder than a Ranger. Forum owners often call it the cheapest of the three to keep. It was the third best-selling bakkie in 2025, with 21,194 sold (Naamsa figures).
There are 3,292 on our D-Max page right now. All prices here are asking prices from October 2026, not selling prices.
KB or D-Max: which one are you looking at?
Most South Africans still call any Isuzu bakkie “a KB”. In October 2018 Isuzu gave it a new face and renamed it the D-Max. Underneath, it was the same bakkie. The all-new D-Max came in April 2022.
| Generation | Years | Badge you will see | Engines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old KB | 2004 to 2013 | KB 250, KB 300 D-Teq, KB 240 | 2.5 and 3.0 D-Teq diesel, 2.4 petrol, a V6 petrol |
| KB, then D-Max (same bakkie) | March 2013 to 2022 | KB until October 2018, then D-Max 250 or 300 | 2.5 and 3.0 D-Teq diesel, 2.4 petrol |
| Current D-Max | April 2022 on | D-Max 1.9 or 3.0 Ddi | 1.9 Ddi, 3.0 Ddi |
| Gen 6 fleet single cab | still sold new | D-Max 250C, 250 Fleetside | old-shape 2.5 |
One trap: fleets still buy the old shape new, as the “Gen 6” D-Max 250. So use this rule. If the advert says 1.9 or 3.0 Ddi, it is the new shape. If it says 250 or 300, it is the old shape, whatever the year.
D-Teq and Ddi are Isuzu’s names for its turbodiesels. Below, kW is power and Nm is pulling power (torque).
| Engine | Years | Power and pull |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 D-Teq | 2013 to 2015 | 85 kW, 280 Nm |
| 2.5 D-Teq | September 2015 on | 100 kW, 320 Nm |
| 2.5 low-pressure fleet | 2013 on | 58 kW, 170 Nm |
| 3.0 D-Teq | 2013 to 2021 | 130 kW, 380 Nm |
| 1.9 Ddi | 2022 on | 110 kW, 350 Nm |
| 3.0 Ddi | 2022 on | 140 kW, 450 Nm |
What a used Isuzu costs in October 2026
The typical used D-Max or KB asks about R350,000 with about 95,000 km, across 2,001 used listings. “Half sit between” means the middle half of the prices.
| Generation | Listings | Asks about | Half sit between | Typical km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old KB, 2012 and older | 88 | R159,500 | R130,000 and R189,900 | 226,600 |
| KB 2013 to 2019 | 294 | R259,900 | R212,100 and R290,000 | 177,000 |
| D-Max 250 or 300, 2018 on | 854 | R300,000 | R268,200 and R340,700 | 115,000 |
| Current D-Max, 2022 on | 1,095 | R509,900 | R409,900 and R590,000 | 46,000 |
Used D-Max and KB bakkies. The generation is read from the advert title. Live asking prices, updated daily (last on 5 November 2026).
Year by year, used only:
| Year | Listings | Asks about | Typical km |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 27 | R219,900 | 186,100 |
| 2014 | 36 | R214,000 | 209,600 |
| 2015 | 43 | R250,000 | 183,300 |
| 2016 | 48 | R249,900 | 188,500 |
| 2017 | 65 | R275,000 | 145,900 |
| 2018 | 74 | R267,500 | 118,600 |
| 2019 | 136 | R269,900 | 146,300 |
| 2020 | 150 | R300,000 | 137,500 |
| 2021 | 283 | R320,000 | 116,300 |
| 2022 | 240 | R358,900 | 105,000 |
| 2023 | 330 | R379,900 | 95,000 |
| 2024 | 286 | R449,900 | 72,400 |
| 2025 | 225 | R499,900 | 32,000 |
Used D-Max and KB bakkies, all cab shapes. Live asking prices, updated daily (last on 5 November 2026).
An Isuzu loses little with age. A 2013 still asks about R219,900 (24 listings), with about 199,000 km on it. The 2019 dip is not a bargain year: cheap 250 single cabs pull it down. The 2022 row mixes both shapes.
Will the seller drop? Since mid September 2026 we counted 1,211 price cuts. The typical cut was R10,000, about 2%.
Today’s numbers: the D-Max market page, KB market page and D-Max price guide.
1.9 or 3.0? Buy the 3.0 if you tow
A used 1.9 asks about R459,000 (625 listings). A used 3.0 asks about R630,000 (271 listings).
| Year | 1.9 asks about (listings) | 3.0 asks about (listings) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | R363,900 (72) | R519,900 (40) |
| 2023 | R370,000 (188) | R570,000 (74) |
| 2024 | R449,900 (161) | R609,900 (69) |
| 2025 | R497,400 (112) | R719,900 (59) |
Used current-shape D-Max, all cab shapes. The engine is read from the advert title. Live asking prices, updated daily (last on 5 November 2026).
The real difference is towing. Isuzu rates every 1.9 single cab to tow 2,100 kg with trailer brakes. The 3.0 is rated for 3,500 kg. For a 1.9 double cab, check that exact bakkie on Isuzu’s spec sheet. Our towing guide explains the fine print.
People distrust the 1.9 because it is small, not because it breaks. We found no South African record of 1.9 engine failures.
On the older bakkies, buy a 2.5 from September 2015 on. It has more power, and stability control is standard (except on base single cabs).
What goes wrong, generation by generation
These are owner reports, not failure rates.
Old KB, 2004 to 2013. Owners reported automatic gearbox failures on 2006 KB 300 autos at around 160,000 to 178,000 km. Others needed fuel injection pump work. In 2012 one owner was quoted R34,000 by the dealer and R18,000 by a diesel specialist for the same job. So get a specialist’s quote. Parts are also getting harder to find.
KB and D-Max, 2013 to 2022. A 2022 used buyer’s guide found no major weakness. It called the engines under-stressed, which means they are not pushed hard. Check the CV joints: turn the wheel all the way, listen for clicking and look for torn rubber boots.
Current D-Max, 2022 on. Owners mostly report small warranty fixes, like a tailgate rattle.
The recall. In September 2026 Isuzu recalled 2,586 D-Max bakkies sold between 11 May and 3 July 2026. A brake pedal pin can work loose. Isuzu dealers fix it for free. Before you buy any Isuzu, enter its 17-digit VIN on the “Field Action” page at isuzu.co.za, or call 08000 47898.
Short trips and theft. A diesel that only did short town runs can clog up with soot, so ask how it was used. The D-Max also came ninth on a hijacking top 10 that BusinessTech reported in November 2025. Ask your insurer whether it wants a tracker.
Ex-fleet single cabs: is the saving real?
Fleets, government and mines sell plenty of 2.5 single cabs on.
| Year | Listings | Asks about | Typical km |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 43 | R230,000 | 176,000 |
| 2020 | 42 | R234,900 | 165,000 |
| 2021 | 79 | R269,900 | 118,000 |
| 2022 | 43 | R269,900 | 121,000 |
| 2023 | 43 | R290,000 | 113,000 |
| 2024 | 50 | R299,900 | 92,600 |
| 2025 | 50 | R329,900 | 45,500 |
Used 2.5 diesel single cabs (KB 250 and D-Max 250), years with 20 or more listings. Live asking prices, updated daily (last on 5 November 2026).
A brand-new old-shape D-Max 250C single cab asks about R329,900 (68 new or demo listings). Yet a 2024 with 93,500 km still asks about R298,000. On a nearly new work bakkie the saving is small. Buy new, or buy older.
If “Safety” is not in a fleet 250’s name, it may not have stability control. Our ex-fleet guide covers the rest.
Fleet single cabs usually come with a bare load bin. If yours will carry tools or stock, a canopy is the first thing most owners buy, so add it to the sum when you compare a used bakkie with a new one.
Live prices · 5 November 2026
Isuzu single cab canopies, today's prices
9 in stock at 1 South African store today, from R20 100 to R24 450. Typical price about R20 800.
Prices from each store's own catalogue, checked daily. We earn a commission on Dometic links; it never changes your price.
X-Rider, V-Cross and AT35: what you pay extra for
The X-Rider is a looks package: black trim, stickers and 18 inch black wheels. New, the 1.9 X-Rider auto 4x2 costs R57,520 more than the 1.9 LS auto 4x2.
The V-Cross is the top double cab, and only comes as a 3.0 auto. At the 2022 launch, only it had the full safety kit. A used V-Cross asks about R729,500 (99 listings).
The AT35 is a V-Cross 4x4 rebuilt by Arctic Trucks in Isuzu’s Gqeberha plant. It gets 35 inch tyres, Bilstein suspension and wider arches, but the same 3.0 and the factory warranty. A used AT35 asks about R929,900 (9 listings). CAR said in 2023 the tyres cost about R7,000 each, so check the tread.
New D-Max prices and the cover you get
Isuzu South Africa’s list prices, October 2026:
| D-Max | Price |
|---|---|
| 1.9 single cab Low Ride manual 4x2 (cheapest) | R433,860 |
| 1.9 single cab L manual 4x4 | R585,200 |
| 3.0 single cab L auto 4x4 | R689,090 |
| 1.9 double cab L manual 4x2 (cheapest double cab) | R574,010 |
| 1.9 double cab LS auto 4x4 | R717,700 |
| 3.0 double cab X-Rider auto 4x2 (cheapest 3.0 auto double cab) | R792,470 |
| 3.0 double cab LSE auto 4x4 | R900,310 |
| 3.0 double cab V-Cross auto 4x4 | R948,930 |
On live listings, 1,290 new or demo D-Maxes ask about R599,900.
| Cover | Terms |
|---|---|
| Warranty and roadside help | 5 years or 120,000 km |
| Rust warranty | 5 years, any km |
| Service plan, sold from 1 May 2026 | 6 years or 90,000 km |
| Service plan, 2022 to April 2026 | 5 years or 90,000 km |
| Service every | 12 months or 15,000 km |
A bakkie doing 30,000 km a year will be out of the service plan in about three years. It does not pay for brake pads and discs, clutches, shocks, tyres, wipers or glass. A missed service can void the warranty, so insist on a full service book. Get the cover that is left in writing.
Does a D-Max hold its money against a Ranger and Hilux?
Used double cabs, typical asking price by year, listings in brackets:
| Year | D-Max or KB | Ranger | Hilux |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | R297,200 (24) | R260,000 (180) | R430,000 (57) |
| 2020 | R320,000 (51) | R349,900 (264) | R504,900 (62) |
| 2022 | R389,900 (99) | R399,900 (279) | R521,400 (72) |
| 2023 | R459,900 (113) | R559,900 (347) | R529,900 (131) |
| 2024 | R519,900 (87) | R619,900 (294) | R629,900 (98) |
An older Isuzu asks about the same as a Ranger of its year, and well under a Hilux. From 2023 the D-Max asks less than both, mostly because it is cheaper new.
A 2019 auction study of 2015 to 2018 bakkies found the Hilux kept about 72% of its new price. The D-Max and KB kept about 68%, and the Ranger about 66%. So do not pay near-Hilux money for one.
More in our resale guide and our Ranger versus Hilux guide.
Which Isuzu should you buy?
Under R200,000. An old KB from 2008 to 2012 asks about R174,900 (41 listings). Fine as a plaasbakkie, but get a diesel specialist to check it.
R200,000 to R300,000. A KB 250 or 300 from September 2015 on, or a D-Max 250 or 300. Pick the 300 if you tow.
R300,000 to R400,000. A D-Max 300 LX from October 2018 on, with the six-speed and trailer sway control. A used one asks about R399,900 (53 listings).
R400,000 to R550,000. A 2022 or 2023 1.9 for light work, or a 2022 3.0 at about R519,900 (35 listings).
R550,000 and up. Compare a used 3.0 with a new 1.9 or a demo. A new double cab starts at R574,010.
The Isuzu will not win the robot drag or the braai argument. It will still start in the morning. Find one on live listings or on the D-Max page.
Questions people ask
Is the Isuzu KB the same as the D-Max?
Yes. In October 2018 Isuzu renamed the KB the D-Max, but it was the same bakkie with a new face. The all-new D-Max with the 1.9 and 3.0 Ddi engines came in April 2022.
How much is a used Isuzu D-Max in South Africa?
In October 2026 a used D-Max or KB asks about R350,000 with about 95,000 km, across 2,001 listings. These are asking prices, not selling prices.
Should I buy the 1.9 or the 3.0 D-Max?
Buy the 3.0 if you tow. Isuzu rates the 1.9 single cab to tow 2,100 kg braked and the 3.0 to tow 3,500 kg. We found no South African record of 1.9 engine failures.
What warranty does a new Isuzu D-Max have?
Five years or 120,000 km with roadside help, plus five years of rust cover. D-Maxes sold from 1 May 2026 get a six year or 90,000 km service plan. Earlier current-shape bakkies have five years or 90,000 km.
Has the Isuzu D-Max been recalled in South Africa?
Yes. In September 2026 Isuzu recalled 2,586 D-Max bakkies sold between 11 May and 3 July 2026 because a brake pedal pin can work loose. Check any D-Max or KB by VIN on Isuzu South Africa's field action page or call 08000 47898.
Figures are seller asking prices aggregated from South African listing platforms and dealers, not final selling prices. Most vehicles transact below asking. Updated continuously.
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