ISUZU D-MAX UTILITY

What is it?

Earlier on in the year Isuzu was one of the first manufacturers to arrange a proper vehicle launch after lockdown, not only was it great to finally get out and meet up with other writers, but we were all super excited to drive the all new D-Max.

I drove the entire range, and oddly, the one that caught my attention was the Utility. With steel wheels and rubber mats, for me, it was the star of the event, I loved its back-to-basics design and hugely improved manual ‘box.

On the road

There was a time, only last year in fact, when I told everyone to avoid any D-Max with a manual gearbox - it wasn’t good. Now I would have no qualms about it. In fact, this latest unit is a totally different animal, an utter joy to use. Find yourself on a fast B road and it’s actually quite fun to throw around - for a pickup, of course, and it’ll get you where you want to be with a smile on your face.

Granted, first gear is still very short, which I guess is great for slow and controlled manoeuvring, for most of the time you’ll end up setting off in second gear.

I managed quite a few road miles in the Utility, from two, 3 hour round trips to the NEC in Birmingham to a few days out in the country, and overall, according to the onboard computer, it consumed diesel at a rate of 44mpg - which is pretty impressive. Of course this was unladen and not towing a trailer.

Off road

As I mentioned above, 1st gear epic for controlled descents, and one of the many improvements Isuzu have made is the fitting of an upgraded module that means selecting both high and low 4WD is pretty much instantaneous, which was a pleasant surprise as most other pickups can take forever to engage and disengage.

The all-new D-Max has a maximum 800mm wading depth and now comes with a rear locker, which is handy. On the launch day the team had dug out some pretty deep opposing holes on a particularly steep incline, not just to test the articulation, but to show how well the new rear diff-lock worked. Apart from my usual wheels-in-the-air test,

Interior

Yes, with plenty of washable plastic, it’s basic, but that’s just what you want from a Utility truck, isn’t it? One thing I would suggest if you’re thinking of ordering one, is to buy some rubber matting to place in the cubby areas as things tend to slide everywhere and you end up leaning over to the passenger footwell to pick ‘em up!

As utilitarian as it is, I could easily live day to day with the Utility, though one thing I would like to fit is a rear camera, otherwise, with its tall tailgate, you have no idea how close you are to the vehicle behind.

The seats are comfortable for long journeys and the material feels hard wearing, and in the back there’s plenty of legroom, even with the front seats positioned for tall people - which is a lot better than the new Toyota Hilux.

On the subject of rear seats, the backs fold flat for extra secure stowage.

Engine ’n’ gearbox

Isuzu has stuck with the 1.9ltr diesel, which is a shame but understandable - I’d love to get my hands on one of the 3.0ltr TD with 450Nm of torque that they have in Australia, but hey-ho, we’re in the UK.

To be fair, it’s not a bad engine, it has 161bhp, feels flexible and dependable but now requires the use of AdBlue. The 14 litre AdBlue tank is located underneath the body, in front of the fuel tank with the filler conveniently positioned next to the fuel filler.

Safety features ’n’ stuff

Among the raft of new features to adorn the all-new D-Max, perhaps the most coveted is that it’s the first pick-up to achieve a maximum 5-star safety rating award in the tough new Euro NCAP test - no small feat.

The ADAS (Advanced Driver Assist Systems) package includes forward-facing stereo cameras and, as a result, every model comes with Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Speed Limiter and Lane Departure Warning & Prevention System.

As the only UK pick-up to feature a rear radar as standard on all double cabs, these models include Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Emergency Lane Keeping, as standard.

Inside you’ll find that a new driver’s knee airbag is standard on all models, and double cabs are now equipped with eight airbags, including a new centre airbag which offers additional protection in the event of a side-on collision.

There is also a new E-Call system which dials the emergency services in the event of an accident. This is a mandatory requirement for the Euro NCAP 5-star rating as it automatically activates when the airbags are deployed. In the event of a less serious collision or to report an emergency incident, the driver can simply press the E-Call button on the overhead console.

Conclusion

As I wrote previously after the initial launch, I’m pleased to report that the D-Max has just got better, a whole lot better in fact. It remains a capable off-road and work-ready pickup, but now it’s far better on the road with a more updated interior. Isuzu have indeed future-proofed it’s pick-up. more at » www.isuzu.co.uk