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Head offroad with ease: The Isuzu D-MAX TOUR MATE
Words Amelia Mansell, Pics Isuzu Australia
If you love exploring Australia’s many fantastic 4WD routes, then it’s important to have a vehicle that can keep up with your outdoor adventures.
2024 D-MAX LS-U+ TOUR MATE in Neptune Blue towing Coromal caravan
Australia is home to some of the best camping destinations and most challenging 4WD tracks, which can make for some epic road trips.
The Isuzu D-MAX is one of the top choices among Aussies who want a vehicle that they can drive around town but also head offroad, with or without a camper or caravan in tow.
This classic ute has plenty of variants on offer to suit different travel styles, requirements and budgets, ranging from the LX through to the top-of-the-range X-TERRAIN. And all of them are recognised for their payload and 3.5T braked towing capabilities.
Isuzu Australia is always looking to improve, and its MY24 offerings have been some of the most impressive yet. But the brand isn’t resting on its laurels and its most recent announcement has been the reintroduction of the D-MAX TOUR MATE special edition, which hasn't been on the Aussie market since 2019.
Based on the popular and well-spec’d LS-U and LS-U+ models, which sit just below the flagship X-TERRAIN, the TOUR MATE special edition has all the benefits of these great variants but with the added bonus of having several optional accessories pre-packaged into the vehicle at a discount price.
But before we dive into that, let’s take a look at the driving and towing experience you can expect.
Offroad and towing cred
The MY24 D-MAX LS-U and LS-U+ TOUR MATE models include plenty of new features that make them ideal for offroad driving and towing.
2024 D-MAX TOUR MATE Stanthorpe in Magnetic Red
You’ll feel the 3L turbo-diesel in-line 4-cylinder engine (the 3L 4jj) as you drive, but considering it's based on a truck engine, you can’t expect much else. Despite this, the 4jj remains a favourite among many. And with only six gears the D-MAX holds all gears well and uses all of the 450Nm of torque to build speed comfortably as you drive.
The fuel capacity is 76L, so if you’re towing a large van you can expect around 17–20L per 100km fuel consumption, or 12–15L/100km when towing a camper trailer.
But remember, while the D-MAX might be rated to tow 3500kg, a more realistic limit is 3000kg, which will leave you with more payload to play with.
Rough Terrain Mode
A new and exciting addition to all MY24 D-MAX models is the introduction of Rough Terrain Mode. This feature has been specifically designed for Aussie conditions and will work alongside the rear differential lock to give you enhanced traction and control when driving on rough, uneven and slippery terrains. It’s easy to use, offers peace of mind when you’re tackling challenging tracks, and the traction control it creates across the vehicle is one of the best available.
Camera system upgrades
The MY24 D-MAX range also includes some welcome updates to its camera systems. First up is the 3D binocular stereo camera system, which now has a wider and longer field of view, which is ideal when using alongside the adaptive cruise control as the car will recognise brake lights ahead of you and adapt accordingly.
The rear camera has also been upgraded and offers a higher and wider view, and the new dynamic guidelines make reversing or backing up to hitch on your caravan or camper simpler than ever.
TPMS improved
The tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) isn’t new to the D-MAX, but in the MY24 D-MAX LS-U and LS-U+ models you’ll now also be able to monitor the temperatures of your tyre. This means you can keep an eye on your tyres as you drive and be alerted if they’re getting too hot (meaning you started with the pressure too low). The TPMS can be viewed on either 9in touchscreen infotainment and digital instrument cluster or on your dash for easy visibility while driving (one of the vehicle's many great safety features), which leaves the infotainment screen free for Apple CarPlay (which is now faster to load).
Clearview
The higher-spec MY24 D-MAX variants, including the TOUR MATE variants, come with Clearview mirrors installed, which are fantastic. They offer great visibility, especially when towing, and are electrically adjustable from the inside, allowing you to slide them in or out as needed. And they’re also heated to ensure visibility in icy or snowy conditions.
D-MAX LS-U+ TOUR MATE Clearview Compact Mirrors extended
But what does the TOUR MATE special edition offer that’s different?
The D-MAX range has more than 120 accessories available, but what makes the TOUR MATE different than the usual LS-U and LS-U+ variants is that it has pre-packaged all the most popular and commonly chosen Isuzu UTE Genuine Accessories (worth more than $9000) at a great discount price, which makes the accessory selection process much simpler.
These accessories are popular for a reason, and many of them are ideal for offroad and towing:
- Tow bar tongue
- 50mm ball
- 12-pin wiring harness
- Electric brake controller
- Clearview extended heated and power-fold compact towing mirrors
- A canopy with dual lift-up side windows and rear window (shared locks), dual layer ABS shell, tinted windows and LED internal lighting
- Slimline weather shields
- TOUR MATE badging on the rear tailgate
Electric Brake Controller on the 2024 D-MAX LS-U+ TOUR MATE
And there’s no need to worry about what these accessories will do to your overall payload capacity (and towing experience). The accessories weigh 85kg combined, which will leave 905kg for the LS-U TOUR MATE and 910kg for the LS-U+ TOUR MATE.
2024 D-MAX LS-U+ TOUR MATE Dual Lift-Up Window Canopy
The nuts and bolts
Drive away cost
- D-MAX LS-U TOUR MATE: From $69,990
- D-MAX LS-U+ TOUR MATE: From $72,990
These prices include the $9040 worth of accessories that are part of the special edition model.
To demonstrate the savings, if each accessory was purchased separately, the TOUR MATE package represents a minimum $6104 saving on the D-MAX LS-U and a mnimumminimum $6194 saving on the D-MAX LS-U+. Although, be aware these price points will vary depending on the state or territory the vehicle is purchased in.
Warranty
The D-MAX LS-U and LS-U+ TOUR MATE special edition models are backed by Isuzu UTE Australia’s comprehensive Service Plus customer care program. This includes a five-year flat price servicing program $449 per year/15,000km, a six-year/15,000km warranty and up to seven years of roadside assistance.
When are they available?
This is a special edition and will only be available for purchase while stock lasts. They are available to order now at participating Isuzu UTE dealers. To find out more, head to the Isuzu UTE Australia website here.
To find out more about the MY24 Isuzu D-MAX models, check out this review by Caravan World’s Tim van Duyl:
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