Isuzu D-Max Double Cab vs Hyundai H-100 Chassis Cab

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 Double Cab in South Africa

Isuzu D-Max Double Cab

3.0 DDi Double Cab 4x4 LSE AT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 900,310 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 350 @ 1800-2600 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
VS
Hyundai H-100 Chassis Cab in South Africa

Hyundai H-100 Chassis Cab

2.6D Chassis Cab Aircon 5MT Diesel Manual
ZAR 391,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 58 kW 🔧 167 Nm ⛽ 10.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance D-Max Double Cab
Fuel Economy D-Max Double Cab
🛡 Safety D-Max Double Cab
📦 Practicality D-Max Double Cab
🔑 Ownership H-100 Chassis Cab
H-100 Chassis Cab starts ZAR 574010 cheaper D-Max Double Cab from ZAR 574,010 · H-100 Chassis Cab from ZAR 367,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec D-Max Double Cab H-100 Chassis Cab
Engine Power 110 @ 3600 58
Torque 350 @ 1800-2600 167
Engine Size 3000 2607
Claimed Mileage 12.3 10.2
Ground Clearance 232 185 mm
Boot Space Not Applicable Not Applicable
Airbags Not Available Not Available
Kerb Weight 2070 Not Applicable
Seating Capacity 5 3
Warranty 5 years / 120 000 km 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

D-Max Double Cab has a slight advantage, but H-100 Chassis Cab remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance D-Max Double Cab +28 pts
Efficiency D-Max Double Cab +3 pts
Safety D-Max Double Cab +10 pts
Practicality D-Max Double Cab +31 pts
Ownership H-100 Chassis Cab +17 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

D-Max Double Cab

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

H-100 Chassis Cab

Strengths
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

D-Max Double Cab

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

H-100 Chassis Cab

  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec D-Max Double Cab H-100 Chassis Cab
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Current South African D-Max Double Cab listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Current South African H-100 Chassis Cab listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle. 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 Original current-generation version Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Double Cab pickup Chassis cab
Body Type Cab Single/extended/double cab as per derivative name 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. 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 Mid grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 3.0 DDi Double Cab 4x4 LSE AT -
Model Year MY26 2026
Production Status published published
Segment Pickup Pickup
Vehicle Type Pickup Pickup
Spec D-Max Double Cab H-100 Chassis Cab
Ground Clearance 232 mm 185 mm
Wheelbase 3125 mm 2640 mm
Length 5333 mm 5125 mm
Width 1880 mm 1740 mm
Height 1805 mm 1970 mm
Kerb Weight 2070 kg Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Weight 3100 kg Not Applicable
Seating Capacity 5 3
Boot Space Not Applicable Not Applicable
Towing Capacity 3500 kg Not Applicable
Front Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Radius 12.5 m Not Applicable
Load Bed Length 1495 mm Not Applicable
Load Bed Width 1530 mm Not Applicable
Front Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Space Seats Folded Not Applicable Not Applicable
Number of Doors 4 2
Max Payload 970 kg Not Applicable
Boot Volume Not Applicable Not Applicable
Doors 4 2
Seats 5 3
Fuel Tank Capacity 76 l 65 l
Gross Combined Mass Kg 6000 kg -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 3100 kg Not Applicable
Ground Clearance Max 232 mm 185 mm
Ground Clearance Min 232 mm 185 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 232 mm 185 mm
Height Mm 1805 mm 1970 mm
Length Mm 5333 mm 5125 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 1495 mm Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm 1530 mm Not Applicable
Payload Kg 970 kg Not Applicable
Cargo Volume Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Overhang Mm 1318 mm -
Tare Mass Kg 2070 kg Not Applicable
Track Front Rear Mm 1570/1570 -
Turning Circle 12.5 m Not Applicable
Turning Circle M 12.5 m Not Applicable
Width Mm 1880 mm 1740 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

D-Max Double Cab leads by 13 points

D-Max Double Cab has a slight advantage, but H-100 Chassis Cab remains highly competitive.

Winner 57 /100
Lead 13 points
Data 79% confidence
57
#1 Winner

D-Max Double Cab

79% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 85 Check Safety 38
Performance 62
Efficiency 49
Safety 38
Practicality 85
Ownership 48
Leads by 13 points
44
#2

H-100 Chassis Cab

70% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Ownership 65 Check Safety 28
Performance 34
Efficiency 46
Safety 28
Practicality 54
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance D-Max Double Cab +28 Efficiency D-Max Double Cab +3 Safety D-Max Double Cab +10 Practicality D-Max Double Cab +31 Ownership H-100 Chassis Cab +17

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

D-Max Double Cab

Performance 62/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 38/100
Practicality 85/100
Ownership 48/100

H-100 Chassis Cab

Performance 34/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 28/100
Practicality 54/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Isuzu D-Max Double Cab wins with 57 pts vs 44 pts for H-100 Chassis Cab

In structured scoring, D-Max Double Cab emerges as the stronger overall package. However, H-100 Chassis Cab 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 Double Cab 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 Double Cab 49 vs H-100 Chassis Cab 46. 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 Double Cab 38, H-100 Chassis Cab 28. 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 Double Cab 48, H-100 Chassis Cab 65. 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 Double Cab 85, H-100 Chassis Cab 54. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: D-Max Double Cab 62, H-100 Chassis Cab 34. 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 Double Cab edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The D-Max Double Cab 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 Double Cab and H-100 Chassis Cab in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: D-Max Double Cab scores 62 vs 34.

Efficiency: D-Max Double Cab scores 49 vs 46.

Safety: D-Max Double Cab scores 38 vs 28.

Practicality: D-Max Double Cab scores 85 vs 54.

Ownership: D-Max Double Cab scores 48 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives D-Max Double Cab the advantage in this comparison.