REFRESHED AND REINVIGORATED
Debate surrounding future ute fuel alternatives is raging, but for now nothing gets close to diesel power
Global excitement surrounding electric-powered utes is building. This week Taiwanese tech behemoth Foxconn, best known for assembling Apple iPhones, revealed an electric ute alongside an SUV. While showcasing its ability to ultimately build vehicles for manufacturers such as Tesla, the dual-cab Model V is claimed to have a onetonne payload, towing capacity of three tonne and a range of more than 500km.
The Model V remains a concept with no confirmation of production, yet electric power is coming to Australia via Chinese brand LDV next month. The eT60 will have a range of about 330km, and tow just 1.5 tonnes with a payload of 750kg – all significantly less than the most popular utes on the market.
Ford, Rivian, Tesla and Toyota could come to the electric ute party, but for now, it remains the domain of diesel power.
Among the leading contenders is the Isuzu D-Max, which has been among the forefront of sales performers since it was launched in late 2020. The range has just received a refresh ahead of the new model year.
WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS?
KEL: When faced with driving a ute for several months, I’ll admit I wasn’t ecstatic. They can be bulky and challenging to park.
GRANT: Dual-cabs have come a long way in recent times and the new D-Max variant that arrived a couple of years back made giant strides in comfort and technology. During our test I noticed there were occasions where you chose to take the DMax rather than some sports cars we had in the garage. KEL: After a few drives I became accustomed to the size. The steering wasn’t heavy and getting into shopping centre carparks wasn’t difficult. GRANT: Our credit card statement is testament to your success. We drove the LS-U+ variant which sits one rung down from the top-dog XTerrain, but due to some interesting marketing decisions it’s actually more expensive at about $68,000 drive-away (the X-Terrain has a special drive-away price of $64,990).
KEL: That’s weird. I thought the LS-U+ still looked robust without being too flashy. GRANT: It doesn’t have some of the bells and whistles yet maintains a strong specification list. In 2023 models the seats have black stitching, while other changes include chrome heated door mirrors, 18-inch machined alloys with Bridgestone rubber, two-tone chrome grille and LED rear lights with grey metallic surrounds.
WHAT DID YOU LIKE?
KEL: Having a ute seemed to open many opportunity doors.
GRANT: Within the first week we delivered a lounge suite to a friend and undertook a family mountain biking adventure.
KEL: Having a dual-cab with an awning seems to be a rite of passage in Queensland. There were some hardwearing materials through the cabin, but it didn’t feel like a workhorse inside.
GRANT: The kit included was leather seat trim, nine-inch touchscreen partnered to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in satnav, eightspeaker stereo and dual zone aircon.
KEL: There is nothing worse than battling for storage and I was happy with the D-Max design. The centre cup holders were too deep for standard takeaway coffees, luckily the pop-out holders from the dash do the job nicely. GRANT: Both front seats also have heating functions, while climbing inside is made easier via sidesteps.
WHAT DIDN’T YOU LIKE?
KEL: While I understand some people don’t like all the gear, I think the tougher the better. GRANT: A rollbar in the tray would improve that aspect, Isuzu options start from $1500. Having an open tub also wouldn’t be my preference and the factory hard roller cover ($3099) is great for keeping items secured. KEL: The test car had an electric version but it had some issues.
GRANT: We have tested a couple of utes using the same brand of electric covers and both got stuck. Luckily there is a manual override.
KEL: My greatest challenge with a ute is doing the groceries. Lifting items into the back can be a battle if you don’t use the back seat.
GRANT: Consider it a free arms workout. It’s also worth having tubs or partitions in the back to avoid scattered bags.
HOW WAS THE DRIVE?
KEL: It was surprisingly easy to handle. Some dual-cabs still feel unwieldy, the D-Max is among my favourites.
GRANT: The 3.0-litre turbo diesel is strong and efficient. It works well in partnership with the six-speed auto and is particularly good for towing.
KEL: Front parking sensors were missing but my favourite tech like adaptive cruise control, lane keeping and rear cross traffic alerts were included.
GRANT: The front sensors are a big omission for this kind of coin but are on the X-Terrain. Also an optional extra is the $215 tow tongue – but the sleeve is standard.
KEL: How were the running costs?
GRANT: Our average diesel consumption was 8.7L/100km. That’s only slightly higher than the official figure from Isuzu. There’s also a good six-year warranty, and the average service price over seven years is $460.
WOULD YOU BUY ONE?
KEL: There are a lot of utes on the market, but I wouldn’t be disappointed to have a D-Max permanently. I found it easy to drive and it suited our active family for trips to the beach, dump and mountain biking.
GRANT: The D-Max is an excellent allrounder. Off-road and towing is comfortably within the remit. Personally I’d opt for the XTerrain for its improved value for money, although the wait time may be greater depending on dealer orders.