Isuzu D-Max Single Cab vs Suzuki New Swift

A proper head-to-head in Kenya — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Isuzu D-Max Single Cab in Kenya

Isuzu D-Max Single Cab

TFS 87 S/C 4X4 A/T Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Current
KES 4,600,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 350 Nm
VS
Suzuki New Swift in Kenya

Suzuki New Swift

SWIFT GL+ 5D 1197p CVT Petrol CVT Current
KES 2,850,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 60 kW 🔧 112 Nm
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Isuzu D-Max Single Cab vs Suzuki New Swift: the short answer

D-Max Single Cab and New Swift are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

New Swift starts KES 1,040,000 cheaper D-Max Single Cab from KES 3,890,000 · New Swift from KES 2,850,000

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification D-Max Single Cab New Swift
Maximum Power D-Max Single Cab110 kW New Swift60 kW
Maximum Torque D-Max Single Cab350 Nm @ 1800-2600 rpm New Swift111.7 Nm @ 4300 rpm
Engine Size D-Max Single Cab1898 cc New Swift1197 cc
Combined Fuel Economy D-Max Single CabNot Officially Disclosed New SwiftNot Officially Disclosed
Ground Clearance D-Max Single Cab235 mm New Swift145 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

D-Max Single Cab

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

New Swift

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

D-Max Single Cab

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

New Swift

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec D-Max Single Cab New Swift
Model Introduced Year Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Generation Current Kenya-market Isuzu East Africa derivative Not Officially Disclosed
Facelift History Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Facelift Launched Since Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Facelift Version Ending Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Body Style Single Cab pickup Compacts
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Four-wheel-drive single-cab work pickup Compact hatchback
Vehicle Type Single Cab pickup Hatchback
Spec D-Max Single Cab New Swift
Length 5230 mm 3860 mm
Width 1870 mm 1735 mm
Height 1780 mm 1520 mm
Wheelbase 3125 mm 2450 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 235 mm 145 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed 130 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 76 l 37 l
Boot/Cargo Space Not Applicable 265 l
Kerb Weight 1825 kg 960 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3000 kg 1390 kg
Payload Capacity 1215 kg 430 kg
Towing Capacity 2100 kg 1000 kg
Seating Capacity 2 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 1 rows 2 rows
Doors 2 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 12.5 m 4.8 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed

In depth: how these cars differ

This D-Max Single Cab and New Swift comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for Kenya. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: D-Max Single Cab 62 vs New Swift 29.

Efficiency index: D-Max Single Cab 40 vs New Swift 67.

Safety-equipment index: D-Max Single Cab 50 vs New Swift 82.

Practicality index: D-Max Single Cab 65 vs New Swift 49.

Ownership-cover index: D-Max Single Cab not separately scored vs New Swift not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

D-Max Single Cab leads by 0 points

D-Max Single Cab and New Swift are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 55 /100
Lead 0 points
Data 65% source coverage
55
#1 Evidence leader

D-Max Single Cab

65% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Practicality 65 Check Efficiency 40
Performance 62
Efficiency 40
Safety 50
Practicality 65
Leads by 0 points
55
#2

New Swift

68% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 82 Check Performance 29
Performance 29
Efficiency 67
Safety 82
Practicality 49
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance D-Max Single Cab +33 Efficiency New Swift +27 Safety New Swift +32 Practicality D-Max Single Cab +16

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

D-Max Single Cab

Performance 62/100
Efficiency 40/100
Safety 50/100
Practicality 65/100

New Swift

Performance 29/100
Efficiency 67/100
Safety 82/100
Practicality 49/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Isuzu D-Max Single Cab leads the specification evidence index with 55 pts vs 55 pts for New Swift

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, D-Max Single Cab leads. However, New Swift may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in Kenya.

D-Max Single Cab vs New Swift questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in Kenya on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.