Isuzu D-Max X-Rider vs Nissan Navara

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.

Includes an archived model

Current and archived cars are compared side by side. Archived models keep their verified historical specs, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Nissan Navara
Isuzu D-Max X-Rider in South Africa

Isuzu D-Max X-Rider

1.9 DDi Double Cab X-Rider 4x2 AT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 690,810 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 350 @ 1800-2600 Nm ⛽ 13.5 km/l
VS
Nissan Navara in South Africa

Nissan Navara

Archive reference
No longer sold new historical model
No longer sold new Specs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance D-Max X-Rider
Fuel Economy D-Max X-Rider
🛡 Safety D-Max X-Rider
📦 Practicality D-Max X-Rider
🔑 Ownership Navara

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec D-Max X-Rider Navara
Engine Power 110 @ 3600 Not confirmed
Torque 350 @ 1800-2600 Not confirmed
Engine Size 1900 Not confirmed
Claimed Mileage 13.5 Not confirmed
Ground Clearance 227 Not confirmed
Boot Space Not Applicable Not confirmed
Airbags Not Available Not confirmed
Kerb Weight 1845 Not confirmed
Seating Capacity 5 Not confirmed
Warranty 5 years / 120 000 km Not confirmed

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

D-Max X-Rider has a slight advantage, but Navara remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance D-Max X-Rider +7 pts
Efficiency D-Max X-Rider +3 pts
Safety D-Max X-Rider +28 pts
Practicality D-Max X-Rider +27 pts
Ownership Navara +2 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

D-Max X-Rider

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

Navara

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 X-Rider

  • 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

Navara

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec D-Max X-Rider Navara
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed Not confirmed
Generation Current South African D-Max X-Rider listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Not confirmed
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. Not confirmed
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Not confirmed
Facelift Version Ending Current Not confirmed
Body Style Double Cab pickup Not confirmed
Body Type Cab Single/extended/double cab as per derivative name Not confirmed
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. Not confirmed
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Not confirmed
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.9 DDi Double Cab X-Rider 4x2 AT Not confirmed
Model Year MY26 Not confirmed
Production Status published Not confirmed
Segment Pickup Not confirmed
Vehicle Type Pickup Not confirmed
Spec D-Max X-Rider Navara
Ground Clearance 227 mm Not confirmed
Wheelbase 3125 mm Not confirmed
Length 5265 mm Not confirmed
Width 1870 mm Not confirmed
Height 1805 mm Not confirmed
Kerb Weight 1845 kg Not confirmed
Gross Vehicle Weight 3000 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity 5 Not confirmed
Boot Space Not Applicable Not confirmed
Towing Capacity 2100 kg Not confirmed
Front Track Width Not Applicable Not confirmed
Rear Track Width Not Applicable Not confirmed
Turning Radius 12.5 m Not confirmed
Load Bed Length 1495 mm Not confirmed
Load Bed Width 1530 mm Not confirmed
Front Legroom Not Applicable Not confirmed
Rear Legroom Not Applicable Not confirmed
Front Headroom Not Applicable Not confirmed
Rear Headroom Not Applicable Not confirmed
Front Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not confirmed
Rear Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not confirmed
Boot Space Seats Folded Not Applicable Not confirmed
Number of Doors 4 Not confirmed
Max Payload 1095 kg Not confirmed
Boot Volume Not Applicable Not confirmed
Doors 4 Not confirmed
Seats 5 Not confirmed
Fuel Tank Capacity 76 l Not confirmed
Gross Combined Mass Kg 5000 kg Not confirmed
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 3000 kg Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Max 227 mm Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Min 227 mm Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Mm 227 mm Not confirmed
Height Mm 1805 mm Not confirmed
Length Mm 5265 mm Not confirmed
Loadbox Length Mm 1495 mm Not confirmed
Loadbox Width Mm 1530 mm Not confirmed
Payload Kg 1095 kg Not confirmed
Cargo Volume Not Applicable Not confirmed
Rear Overhang Mm 1250 mm Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 1845 kg Not confirmed
Track Front Rear Mm 1570 / 1570 Not confirmed
Turning Circle 12.5 m Not confirmed
Turning Circle M 12.5 m Not confirmed
Width Mm 1870 mm Not confirmed

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

D-Max X-Rider leads by 14 points

D-Max X-Rider has a slight advantage, but Navara remains highly competitive.

Winner 53 /100
Lead 14 points
Data 79% confidence
53
#1 Winner

D-Max X-Rider

79% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 77 Check Safety 28
Performance 57
Efficiency 53
Safety 28
Practicality 77
Ownership 48
Leads by 14 points
39
#2

Navara

11% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Performance 50 Check Safety 0
Performance 50
Efficiency 50
Safety 0
Practicality 50
Ownership 50
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance D-Max X-Rider +7 Efficiency D-Max X-Rider +3 Safety D-Max X-Rider +28 Practicality D-Max X-Rider +27 Ownership Navara +2

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

D-Max X-Rider

Performance 57/100
Efficiency 53/100
Safety 28/100
Practicality 77/100
Ownership 48/100

Navara

Performance 50/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 0/100
Practicality 50/100
Ownership 50/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Isuzu D-Max X-Rider wins with 53 pts vs 39 pts for Navara

In structured scoring, D-Max X-Rider emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Navara 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 X-Rider 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 X-Rider 53 vs Navara 50. 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 X-Rider 28, Navara 0. 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 X-Rider 48, Navara 50. 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 X-Rider 77, Navara 50. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: D-Max X-Rider 57, Navara 50. 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 X-Rider edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The D-Max X-Rider 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 X-Rider and Navara in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: D-Max X-Rider scores 57 vs 50.

Efficiency: D-Max X-Rider scores 53 vs 50.

Safety: D-Max X-Rider scores 28 vs 0.

Practicality: D-Max X-Rider scores 77 vs 50.

Ownership: D-Max X-Rider scores 48 vs 50.

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