Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 vs RIDDARA RD6

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 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,211,910 ex-showroom
⚡ 140 kW 🔧 450 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
VS
RIDDARA RD6 in South Africa

RIDDARA RD6

Econ 2WD Pro 63 kWh Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 747,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 180 kW 🔧 309 Nm
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35
Fuel Economy RD6
🛡 Safety D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35
📦 Practicality RD6
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
RD6 starts ZAR 464,410 cheaper D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 from ZAR 1,211,910 · RD6 from ZAR 747,500

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 RD6
Maximum Power 140 kW @ 3600 rpm 180 kW
Maximum Torque 450 Nm 309 Nm
Engine Size 2999 cc Not Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy 11.8 km/l Not Applicable
Ground Clearance 266 mm 225 mm
Boot / Load Bay - 1200 l
Airbags Front, front side, curtain, driver knee and far-side airbags 2
Kerb Weight - 2005 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 5 years / 120,000 km with roadside assistance 5 years/150000 km vehicle; 8 years/200000 km high-voltage battery, motor and motor-control unit

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 and RD6 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 +6 pts
Efficiency RD6 +43 pts
Safety D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 +51 pts
Practicality RD6 +6 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

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

RD6

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?

D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

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

RD6

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 RD6
Model Introduced Year 2023 2026
Generation Seventh-generation D-Max; MY26 facelift; AT35 conversion First South African RIDDARA RD6 generation
Facelift History MY26 mid-cycle facelift announced 3 June 2026 No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026
Facelift Launched Since June 2026 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Double-cab pickup Double-cab pickup
Gross Combined Mass Kg 5780 kg -
Model Year MY26 2026
Production Status On sale active
Segment Extreme-terrain lifestyle pickup Electric double-cab pickup
Tare Mass Kg 2160 kg -
Vehicle Type Light commercial vehicle Battery-electric light commercial vehicle
Model Code M260RY7 -
Spec D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 RD6
Length 5333 mm 5260 mm
Width 2040 mm 1900 mm
Height 1875 mm 1865 mm
Wheelbase 3125 mm 3120 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 266 mm 225 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 76 l 0 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2880 kg 3120 kg
Payload Capacity 660 kg 1115 kg
Towing Capacity 3500 kg 2500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 4 doors 4 doors
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - Not Officially Disclosed
Boot/Cargo Space - 1200 l
Kerb Weight - 2005 kg
Number of Rows - 2 rows
Minimum Turning Radius - 6.1 m
Front Headroom - 1033 mm
Rear Headroom - 1028 mm
Front Legroom - 912 mm
Rear Legroom - 951 mm

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 leads by 5 points

D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 and RD6 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Index leader 76 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 64% source coverage
76
#1 Index leader

D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

64% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 47
Performance 75
Efficiency 47
Safety 94
Practicality 81
Leads by 5 points
71
#2

RD6

69% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 90 Check Safety 43
Performance 69
Efficiency 90
Safety 43
Practicality 87
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 +6 Efficiency RD6 +43 Safety D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 +51 Practicality RD6 +6

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

Performance 75/100
Efficiency 47/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 81/100

RD6

Performance 69/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 43/100
Practicality 87/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 leads the catalogue index with 76 pts vs 71 pts for RD6

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 leads. However, RD6 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. 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

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives 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.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 and RD6 comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 75 vs RD6 69.

Efficiency index: D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 47 vs RD6 90.

Safety-equipment index: D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 94 vs RD6 43.

Practicality index: D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 81 vs RD6 87.

Ownership-cover index: D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 not separately scored vs RD6 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.