BAIC B40 Plus vs Isuzu D-Max X-Rider

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

BAIC B40 Plus in South Africa

BAIC B40 Plus

Honor Edition Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 699,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 165 kW 🔧 380 Nm ⛽ 9.0 km/l
VS
Isuzu D-Max X-Rider in South Africa

Isuzu D-Max X-Rider

1.9 DDi Double Cab X-Rider 4x2 AT Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 690,810 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 350 Nm ⛽ 13.5 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

BAIC B40 Plus vs Isuzu D-Max X-Rider: the short answer

B40 Plus and D-Max X-Rider are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

D-Max X-Rider starts ZAR 30,510 cheaper B40 Plus from ZAR 699,500 · D-Max X-Rider from ZAR 668,990

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification B40 Plus D-Max X-Rider
Maximum Power B40 Plus165 kW @ 5500 rpm D-Max X-Rider110 kW @ 3600 rpm
Maximum Torque B40 Plus380 Nm @ 1750-4500 rpm D-Max X-Rider350 Nm
Engine Size B40 Plus1998 cc D-Max X-Rider1900 cc
Combined Fuel Economy B40 Plus9.0 km/l D-Max X-Rider13.5 km/l
Ground Clearance B40 Plus210 mm D-Max X-Rider227 mm

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

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

BAIC B40 Plus

Honor Edition

Hagalu editorial rating
4.0/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Hagalu Editorial Team ·

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Isuzu D-Max X-Rider

1.9 DDi Double Cab X-Rider 4x2 AT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

B40 Plus

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

D-Max X-Rider

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

Which One's Right for You?

B40 Plus

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

D-Max X-Rider

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec B40 Plus D-Max X-Rider
Model Introduced Year 2021 Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Current B40 Plus Honor Edition within the locally served first B40 Plus generation, using body-on-frame construction and an electronic part-time 4WD system. Current South African D-Max X-Rider listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History The B40 Plus launched in South Africa in October 2021. The current Honor Edition debuted locally in May 2025, adding electric seat adjustment and a sunroof to the City Hunter-based specification; BAIC now presents it as the sole current B40 Plus derivative. Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since 2025 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Five-door body-on-frame off-road SUV Double Cab pickup
Model Year 2021 MY26
Production Status active active
Segment Off-road SUV Pickup
Vehicle Type SUV Pickup
Body Type Cab - Single/extended/double cab as per derivative name
Color Note - Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.9 DDi Double Cab X-Rider 4x2 AT
Gross Combined Mass Kg - 5000 kg
Tare Mass Kg - 1845 kg
Spec B40 Plus D-Max X-Rider
Length 4630 mm 5265 mm
Width 1925 mm 1870 mm
Height 1871 mm 1805 mm
Wheelbase 2745 mm 3125 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 210 mm 227 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 190 mm 220 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 75 l 76 l
Boot/Cargo Space 532 l 1000 l
Kerb Weight 2110 kg 1845 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2535 kg 3000 kg
Payload Capacity 425 kg 1095 kg
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 2100 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 1 rows
Doors 5 doors 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius Not Officially Disclosed 12.5 m
Front Headroom 1010 mm 1005 mm
Rear Headroom 1000 mm 900 mm
Front Legroom 1045 mm 1060 mm
Rear Legroom 900 mm 700 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This B40 Plus and D-Max X-Rider comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: B40 Plus 71 vs D-Max X-Rider 61.

Efficiency index: B40 Plus 41 vs D-Max X-Rider 53.

Safety-equipment index: B40 Plus 57 vs D-Max X-Rider 40.

Practicality index: B40 Plus 67 vs D-Max X-Rider 85.

Ownership-cover index: B40 Plus 62 vs D-Max X-Rider 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

B40 Plus leads by 1 points

B40 Plus and D-Max X-Rider are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 61 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 92% source coverage
61
#1 Evidence leader

B40 Plus

92% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Performance 71 Check Efficiency 41
Performance 71
Efficiency 41
Safety 57
Practicality 67
Ownership 62
Leads by 1 points
60
#2

D-Max X-Rider

74% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 85 Check Safety 40
Performance 61
Efficiency 53
Safety 40
Practicality 85
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance B40 Plus +10 Efficiency D-Max X-Rider +12 Safety B40 Plus +17 Practicality D-Max X-Rider +18

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

B40 Plus

Performance 71/100
Efficiency 41/100
Safety 57/100
Practicality 67/100
Ownership 62/100

D-Max X-Rider

Performance 61/100
Efficiency 53/100
Safety 40/100
Practicality 85/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BAIC B40 Plus leads the specification evidence index with 61 pts vs 60 pts for D-Max X-Rider

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, B40 Plus leads. However, D-Max X-Rider may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Related comparisons

Continue with closely related South Africa models and comparable body styles.

B40 Plus
B40 Plus
VS
Fortuner
Fortuner
B40 Plus vs Fortuner →
B40 Plus
B40 Plus
VS
X-Trail
X-Trail
B40 Plus vs X-Trail →
B40 Plus
B40 Plus
VS
Tasman
Tasman
B40 Plus vs Tasman →
B40 Plus
B40 Plus
VS
Tiggo 9
Tiggo 9
B40 Plus vs Tiggo 9 →
B40 Plus
B40 Plus
VS
T1 i-DM
T1 i-DM
B40 Plus vs T1 i-DM →
B40 Plus
B40 Plus
VS
Tunland V7 Double Cab
Tunland V7 Double Cab
B40 Plus vs Tunland V7 Double Cab →
D-Max X-Rider
D-Max X-Rider
VS
Fortuner
Fortuner
D-Max X-Rider vs Fortuner →
D-Max X-Rider
D-Max X-Rider
VS
X-Trail
X-Trail
D-Max X-Rider vs X-Trail →

B40 Plus vs D-Max X-Rider questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa 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.