Isuzu D-Max vs Gwm P Series

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 in South Africa

Isuzu D-Max

3.0 DDi Double Cab 4x4 LSE AT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 887,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 140 kW 🔧 450 Nm ⛽ 12.9 km/l
VS
Gwm P Series in South Africa

Gwm P Series

2.0T Double Cab LX 4x4 Diesel Automatic
ZAR 599,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 480 Nm ⛽ 9.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance D-Max
Fuel Economy D-Max
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality D-Max
🔑 Ownership Tie
D-Max starts ZAR 444900 cheaper D-Max from ZAR 373,750 · P Series from ZAR 444,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec D-Max P Series
Engine Power 140 110
Torque 450 480
Engine Size 2999 1996
Claimed Mileage 12.9 9.8
Ground Clearance 240 210
Boot Space 0 -
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 2050 1985
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

D-Max

69
/ 100
+9
pts
#2

P Series

60
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

D-Max has a slight advantage, but P Series remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance D-Max +1 pts
Efficiency D-Max +7 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality D-Max +1 pts
Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

D-Max

Performance 15/20
Efficiency 7/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 9/20
Ownership 20/20

P Series

Performance 14/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 8/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

D-Max

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

P Series

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

D-Max

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

P Series

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec D-Max P Series
Ground Clearance 240 210
Wheelbase 3125 3220
Length 5310 5360
Width 1870 1900
Height 1810 1815
Kerb Weight 2050 1985
Gross Vehicle Weight 3100 3000
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 0 -
Towing Capacity 3500 3500
Number of Doors 5 4
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 0
Front Track Width 1550 1560
Rear Track Width 1540 1560
Turning Radius Available 13.6
Load Bed Length Available 1520
Load Bed Width Available 1560
Front Legroom Available 1070
Rear Legroom Available 880
Front Headroom Available 1020
Rear Headroom Available 975
Front Shoulder Room Available 1440
Rear Shoulder Room Available 1420
Max Payload Available 900
Boot Volume Available 0
Doors Available 4
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available 980
Fuel Tank Capacity Available 75
Rear Overhang Available 1160
Spec D-Max P Series
Engine 3.0L Ddi Turbo Diesel 2.0L GW4D20 Turbocharged Diesel
Engine Type Inline 4 Turbocharged Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged Diesel
Displacement 2999 1996
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 16
Power 140 110
Torque 450 480
Fuel System Common Rail Direct Injection Common Rail Direct Injection
Top Speed 180 175
0-100 km/h 10.8 110
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard GW4D20
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 16.5:1
Cylinder Bore 82.0 84
Piston Stroke 92.0 90
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Diesel
Power @ RPM 150 3,400-3,600 rpm
Torque @ RPM 400 1,600-2,600 rpm
Turbocharger Available Yes
Engine Position Available Front Longitudinal
Engine Oil Capacity Available 8.0
Power 150 148
Variable Valve Timing Available No
Maximum Engine RPM Available 4,000
Engine Type Config Available Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve Turbocharged
0–100 km/h Available 13.2
Battery Capacity Available -
Charging Port Available -
AC Charging Time Available -
Engine Displacement Available 1996
EV Range Available -

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Isuzu D-Max wins with 69 pts vs 60 pts for P Series

In structured scoring, D-Max emerges as the stronger overall package. However, P Series 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 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 7 vs P Series 0. 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 18, P Series 18. 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 20, P Series 20. 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 9, P Series 8. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: D-Max 15, P Series 14. 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 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The D-Max 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 and P Series in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: D-Max scores 15 vs 14.

Efficiency: D-Max scores 7 vs 0.

Safety: D-Max scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: D-Max scores 9 vs 8.

Ownership: D-Max scores 20 vs 20.

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