Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 vs Ford Ranger Raptor

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 in South Africa

Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

Arctic Trucks AT35 A/T Diesel Automatic
ZAR 1,211,910 ex-showroom
⚡ 140 kW 🔧 450 Nm at 1,600-2,600 r/min Nm
VS
Ford Ranger Raptor in South Africa

Ford Ranger Raptor

Raptor 3.0T V6 10AT 4x4 Petrol Automatic
ZAR 1,299,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 292 kW 🔧 583 Nm ⛽ 8.7 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Ranger Raptor
Fuel Economy D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35
🛡 Safety D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35
📦 Practicality Ranger Raptor
🔑 Ownership D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35
D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 starts ZAR 1299000 cheaper D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 from ZAR 1,211,910 · Ranger Raptor from ZAR 1,299,000

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 Ranger Raptor
Engine Power 140 kW at 3,600 r/min kW 292 kW
Torque 450 Nm at 1,600-2,600 r/min Nm 583 Nm
Engine Size 2,999 cc 2993 cc
Claimed Mileage 11.8 8.7 km/l
Ground Clearance 266 mm 272 mm
Boot / Load Bay 1,495 mm Load box with spray-in bedliner
Airbags Front, front side, curtain, driver knee and far-side airbags 7
Kerb Weight 2,160 kg tare mass kg 2432 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 years / 120,000 km with roadside assistance 4 years / 120 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 and Ranger Raptor are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Ranger Raptor +23 pts
Efficiency D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 +7 pts
Safety D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 +37 pts
Practicality Ranger Raptor +13 pts
Ownership D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 +21 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Ranger Raptor

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Ranger Raptor

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 Ranger Raptor
Model Introduced Year 2023 Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Seventh-generation D-Max; MY26 facelift; AT35 conversion Current South African Ranger Raptor listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History MY26 mid-cycle facelift announced 3 June 2026 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 June 2026 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Double-cab pickup Double Cab Pickup
Model Year MY26 2026
Production Status On sale active
Segment Extreme-terrain lifestyle pickup Performance Bakkie
Vehicle Type Light commercial vehicle Pickup
Model Code M260RY7 -
Body Type Cab - Pickup
Color Note - Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: Raptor 3.0T V6 10AT 4x4
Spec D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 Ranger Raptor
Ground Clearance 266 mm 272 mm
Wheelbase 3,125 mm 3270 mm
Length 5,333 mm 5381 mm
Width 2,040 mm 2028 mm
Height 1,875 mm 1922 mm
Kerb Weight 2,160 kg tare mass kg 2432 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2,880 kg GVM kg 3160 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Towing Capacity 750 kg unbraked / 3,500 kg braked kg 2500 kg
Front Track Width 1,695 mm -
Rear Track Width 1,695 mm -
Turning Radius 12.5 m turning circle m -
Load Bed Length 1,495 mm Load box with spray-in bedliner
Load Bed Width 1,530 mm -
Number of Doors 4 4
Max Payload 660 kg 728 kg
Doors 4 4
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 76 litres l 80 l
Gross Combined Mass Kg 5780 kg -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2,880 kg GVM kg 3160 kg
Ground Clearance Max 266 mm 272 mm
Ground Clearance Min 266 mm 272 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 266 mm 272 mm
Height Mm 1,875 mm 1922 mm
Length Mm 5,333 mm 5381 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 1,495 mm Load box with spray-in bedliner
Loadbox Width Mm 1530 mm -
Payload Kg 660 kg 728 kg
Rear Overhang Mm 1318 mm -
Tare Mass Kg 2,160 kg tare mass kg 2432 kg
Turning Circle 12.5 m turning circle m -
Turning Circle M 12.5 m turning circle m -
Width Mm 2,040 mm 2028 mm
Boot Space 1,495 mm Load box with spray-in bedliner
Front Legroom - -
Rear Legroom - -
Front Headroom - -
Rear Headroom - -
Front Shoulder Room - -
Rear Shoulder Room - -
Boot Space Seats Folded - -
Boot Volume 1,495 mm Load box with spray-in bedliner
Cargo Volume 1,495 mm Load box with spray-in bedliner

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 leads by 4 points

Both D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 and Ranger Raptor are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 69 /100
Lead 4 points
Data 75% confidence
69
#1 Winner

D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

75% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 47
Performance 75
Efficiency 47
Safety 94
Practicality 63
Ownership 55
Leads by 4 points
65
#2

Ranger Raptor

80% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Ownership 34
Performance 98
Efficiency 40
Safety 57
Practicality 76
Ownership 34
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Ranger Raptor +23 Efficiency D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 +7 Safety D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 +37 Practicality Ranger Raptor +13 Ownership D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 +21

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

Performance 75/100
Efficiency 47/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 55/100

Ranger Raptor

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 40/100
Safety 57/100
Practicality 76/100
Ownership 34/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 wins with 69 pts vs 65 pts for Ranger Raptor

In structured scoring, D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Ranger Raptor may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 47 vs Ranger Raptor 40. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 94, Ranger Raptor 57. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 55, Ranger Raptor 34. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 63, Ranger Raptor 76. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 75, Ranger Raptor 98. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 and Ranger Raptor in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 scores 75 vs 98.

Efficiency: D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 scores 47 vs 40.

Safety: D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 scores 94 vs 57.

Practicality: D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 scores 63 vs 76.

Ownership: D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 scores 55 vs 34.

Final structured scoring gives D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 the advantage in this comparison.