Verdict
These two serve very different Malaysian jobs. The Hyundai Stargazer carries seven people, has 182 litres of boot space and rear roof-mounted air-con vents, while its 1.5-litre petrol CVT makes 113 hp and 144 Nm. The Isuzu D-MAX is a two-seat, all-wheel-drive pickup with a 2.2-litre diesel manual, delivering 161 hp and 400 Nm. It is 755 mm longer, 499 kg heavier and has a 76-litre tank, but annual road tax is RM571 against the Stargazer’s RM120. For passenger duty, the Hyundai is the clear fit; for diesel torque and pickup hardware, take the Isuzu.
Pick the Hyundai Stargazer if you need seven seats, rear air-con and an automatic CVT for family transport.
Pick the Isuzu D-MAX if you need all-wheel drive, 400 Nm of diesel torque and a full-size spare tyre.
Key differences
- Price: Hyundai Stargazer RM99,800; Isuzu D-MAX RM103,121.
- Power and torque: Stargazer 113 hp and 144 Nm; D-MAX 161 hp and 400 Nm.
- Transmission and driveline: Stargazer CVT automatic with front-wheel drive; D-MAX six-speed manual with all-wheel drive.
- Seating: Stargazer seven seats; D-MAX two seats.
- Length and weight: Stargazer 4,575 mm and 1,306 kg; D-MAX 5,330 mm and 1,805 kg.
- Road tax and fuel tank: Stargazer RM120/year and 40 litres; D-MAX RM571/year and 76 litres.
Stargazer
- Seven seats with seven three-point seat belts
- Rear roof-mounted air-con vents with fan-speed control
- Eight-year, 160,000-km manufacturer warranty
- Much lower output at 113 hp and 144 Nm versus 161 hp and 400 Nm
- Front-wheel drive rather than all-wheel drive
- Tyre repair kit instead of a full-size spare tyre
D-MAX
- 161 hp and 400 Nm from its 2.2-litre diesel
- All-wheel drive and six-speed manual transmission
- 76-litre fuel tank and full-size spare tyre
- Only two seats versus the Stargazer's seven
- No rear air-con, while the Stargazer has roof-mounted rear vents
- Five-year, 150,000-km warranty versus eight years and 160,000 km
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM99,800✓ | RM103,121 |
| Body type | MPV | Pickup |
| Segment | B-Segment | Truck/4X4 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120✓ | RM571 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC MPI with Dual CVVT and Variable Intake System | 16-valve DOHC with Variable Geometry Turbocharger and Common-Rail Direct Injection |
| Capacity | 1,497 cc | 2,164 cc |
| Horsepower | 113 hp at 6,300 rpm | 161 hp at 3,600 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 144 Nm at 4,500 rpm | 400 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Diesel |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 80 mm × 94.4 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 16.5 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | Manual |
| Transmission Name | IVT (CVT) | 6-speed Manual |
| Gears | — | 6 |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,575 mm | 5,330 mm |
| Width | 1,780 mm | 1,810 mm |
| Height | 1,695 mm | 1,770 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,780 mm | 3,125 mm |
| Weight | 1,306 kg | 1,805 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | 76 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 7 | 2 |
| Boot Space | 182 litres | — |
| Front Tyre | 205/55R16 | 205R16C |
| Rear Tyre | 205/55R16 | 205R16C |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Full Size |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Indonesia (CBU) | Thailand (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle | Leaf Springs |
| Front Wheels | 16" Alloys | 16" Steel Wheels |
| Rear Wheels | 16" Alloys | 16" Steel Wheels |
| Steering | Column-mounted Motor-driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | Rack and Pinion (Hydraulic Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 2 (Dual Front Airbags) | 2 (Driver and Passenger) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 2 Three-point |
| ISOFIX | Available on Outer Second-row Seats | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | — | No |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED | Halogen Reflector |
| Taillamps | — | Normal Bulb |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Fabric | Manual Adjustable, Driver's Seat Height Adjustable |
| Front Air-con | Manual Air Conditioning | Manual Air-con |
| Rear Air-con | Roof-mounted Rear Vents with Fan Speed Control | — |
| Power Sockets | 12V Front Console and Luggage Area, 1 USB-A + 3 USB-C | 1 Front |
| Interior Lighting | — | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | — | 2 Front |
| Audio | 8" Touch Display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4 Speakers | Radio with Bluetooth, USB and Two Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows | Driver Side One Touch Up and Down |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button Start | Manual Key Ignition |
| Locks | — | Remote Control Activation |
| Steering Tilt | — | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | — | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital/Analogue | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake | Handbrake |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 160,000 km✓ | 150,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 8 years✓ | 5 years |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used Stargazer & D-MAX for sale
Stargazer vs D-MAX FAQ
Is the Hyundai Stargazer or Isuzu D-MAX better?
The Stargazer is better for carrying people, with seven seats, rear air-con vents and a CVT. The D-MAX is better when all-wheel drive, 400 Nm of diesel torque and a pickup body are the priorities.
What is the price difference?
The Isuzu D-MAX costs RM3,321 more than the Hyundai Stargazer.
Which one has the lower annual road tax?
The Hyundai Stargazer has lower annual road tax at RM120, compared with RM571 for the Isuzu D-MAX.
