Isuzu D-Max Range updates for what’s still the newest truck on the market

ISUZU D-MAX

Second full year on sale • Range expanded upwards with new AT35 model • Auto option

Despite having already won this award in 2021, the D-Max has still only been on sale in the UK for one full year. Yet Isuzu is not resting on the laurels of what was a highly successful launch.

In the face of the global supply issues that have dogged the motor industry in general, the Japanese pick-up specialist has broadened its range post-launch by widening the scope of the options available and adding a whole new model.

The latter is the AT35, which has been part of Isuzu’s vibe around the D-Max for several years now. It’s modified pre-registration by Arctic Trucks, meaning you can get one with lifted suspension and 35” tyres that counts as factory-spec for warranty and insurance purposes.

The AT35 is based on the V-Cross model, which was already at the top of the range, so it’s an exclusive toy for buyers with serious money. Isuzu did, however, use it as the basis of its Basecamp concept, whose overlanding fit-out showed a real understanding of its market.

It’s at the other end of the range, though, that Isuzu has impressed most this year. Almost all versions are now available with the popular option of automatic transmission, and also with a locking rear diff – both previously denied to buyers of entry-level vehicles.

RANGE

Isuzu divides the D-Max line-up into three sub-ranges: Business for the Utility, All-Purpose for the mid-range DL20 and DL40 and Adventure for the V-Cross and AT35. There are the usual three cab styles, with Single-Cab available only in Utility form, Extended-Cab also in DL20 and Double-Cab across the board.

Whichever you go for, you’ll get air-con, cruise control and lumbar adjust as standard, as well as DAB and Bluetooth. That’s a lot of the big boxes ticked; the DL20 adds alloys, heated seats and parking sensors, while the DL40 brings leather, climate, LEDs, chrome styling and a media system with phone pairing.

Finally, the V-Cross and AT35 give you gunmetal styling and a bigger media screen. And whichever you go for, a further development this year saw Isuzu introduce a wide new range of dealer-fit accessories for work and play alike.

CABIN

The D-Max has a spacious and comfortable interior which, in Double-Cab form, allows plenty of room for one six-footer to sit behind another. That’s no small matter;

Second full year on sale • Range expanded upwards with new AT35 model • Auto option and locking rear diff extended to all models

headroom is not so good in the back, but overall accommodation is a strong plus point.

We said last year that the V-Cross at the top of the D-Max range left us feeling a little nonplussed, but having spent plenty of time in one during the last 12 months we’ve come to appreciate its qualities a bit more. Its top-spec equipment is well suited to the lairy heft of the AT35 variant, too.

Nonetheless, we still think the D-Max rings truest further down the range. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, and taste is personal, but Isuzu’s cabin design has a purpose and honesty to it that doesn’t need leather seats and a big media screen to make it feel right.

DRIVING

Despite having the smallest engine on the market, at 1.9 litres, the D-Max doesn’t want for urge whether laden, unladen or towing. It pulls smoothly without raising its voice; around town, it hardly seems to climb above a lazy idle and on the motorway it settles to a gentle hum, while even when pushed on B-roads it rarely becomes gruff.

That extra time in the V-Cross and AT35 has helped us make our peace with the automatic gearbox to some extent, too. We said last year that we found it frustrating, with too many long, loud shifts; that’s something we’ve been watching out for in subsequent sessions behind the wheel and for whatever reason, the trucks we drove over the last year were far better in this respect than the one that disappoinred us in 2021.

We’d still choose the manual box every time, but there’s an element of personal preference in this. Mainly, though, this time the auto didn’t spoil the experience – and a good thing too, with it now being available on almost all models.

As before, the D-Max has a ride quality that matches its refi nement. It deals well with rough roads, its suspension damping out the worst of the jolts and jounces; the AT35 does have a slightly less settled ride than the rest of the range on its much bigger tyres, but even this is very acceptable.

All models handle confi dently, too, and when you take it off-road the D-Max is a sure-footed performer with traction to spare. Even on its standard 18” rims, it grips well and handles predictably on rough and slippery ground whether in manual or automatic form. Its ability to climb long, steep hills is particularly impressive, with the engine’s torque able to remove the drama from almost every off-road situation.

PRICING

List (ex-VAT) OTR (inc VAT)

Utility Single-Cab £24,254 £30,110 Utility Extended Cab* £25,004 £31,010 Utility Double-Cab* £25,754 £31,910 DL20 Extended Cab* £27,254 £33,709 DL20 Double-Cab* £28,004 £34,610 DL40 Double-Cab* £31,104 £38,330 V-Cross Double-Cab* £32,604 £40,130 AT35 Double-Cab* £47,104 £57,530 * Auto extra £1500 plus VAT

CONCLUSION

The D-Max won the overall title two years ago and the Best Value award last year. It’s looking stronger than ever in the latter area, despite having seen price rises of around £2000, because Ford and Toyota have hiked their own prices even more steeply. And its range now includes more models as well as extended choices on those that already existed, particularly at the workhorse level – which is where we think the D-Max is at its best. The difference is that its lifestyle offering is looking more convincing now too. A good truck has clearly got better over this last year.