ON TEST: ISUZU D-MAX DL40
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D-Max DL40 is a safe bet for your next pick-up Buxton in the Peak District proved the perfect environment in which to test the all-terrain capabilities of the new Isuzu D-Max. Andrew Walker reports Isuzu’s new D-Max landed in the UK in May 2020 and Company Car & Van was lucky enough to spend some time driving the new model near Buxton in the Peak District. As established players leave the sector altogether, pick-up competition has shrunk, so Isuzu has high hopes for the latest D-Max. As a commercial vehicle brand only, Isuzu reckons it knows a thing or two about pick-ups, and certainly the new model got off to a flying start when it received a five-star Euro NCAP rating, the first pick-up to receive this under the latest testing regime. The previous D-Max range had a reputation for toughness, reliability and durability but lacked a car-like interior, on-trend-tech and safety features. The former are still there – this is a pick-up that will go almost anywhere – but it now features some clever new additions that take it from a mountain bike, to a gravel bike, which is a major improvement. The latest D-Max comes in three ranges –
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Business, All-Purpose and Adventure – and four new trim levels: Utility, DL20, DL40 and V-Cross. We had the opportunity to drive a number of new models at the launch and after a spin in the range-topping V-Cross, we took to the streets and green lanes in the DL40, the range topper in the All-Purpose range. First and foremost, the 1.9-litre 162bhp engine carries over from the previous model.
The ladder frame chassis, while similar to before, now comes with larger rails, additional bracing plus newer steels, all of which contribute to make it stronger. There’s a longer wheelbase, re-designed rear suspension, a shorter body, with increased load space both inside and out and a newly designed front and rear end. Continued on page 38
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