The Herald - The Herald Magazine
ISUZU D-MAX
Isuzu D-Max
LIVING in the country, I have seen a steady increase in the number of pick-up trucks on the roads. At the same time, there is a marked downturn in Land Rover vehicles. It’s arguable what the reason for this circumstance is but I’d guess the new Mr Farmer has been won over by the little luxuries, space and ability of imported pick-ups.
There had been a gap in the market for a decent-size commercial vehicle that was durable, had rubber carpets and a four-wheel drive functionality. It was not necessary for this car to have cherry wood outbreaks along its dashboard, shag pile carpeting and 15 speakers. Now, this growing pick-up market is dominated by Ford with its Ranger, followed by vehicles from Mitsubishi, Toyota, Nissan and my companion for a few days, the Isuzu D-Max.
This pick-up has been given an upgrade for 2017 but it really isn’t a new model but rather more of a facelift. Most significant is the introduction of a 1.9-litre diesel engine to replace the long-serving 2.5-litre unit. The new engine is claimed to be every bit as good with the ability to tow 3500kg or carry a 1196kg payload.
Another attraction of the D-Max is that it is available in single cab, extended cab and double cab body styles with five levels of specification that rise from the basic Utility to the Blade that dares to have a full colour monitor with reversing camera and leather heated seats. Bliss.
I can imagine the attraction to some buyers to have a no-frills model that’s built with a purpose to do a job and that being a worker does not require much in the way of refinements. My model was in Blade specification and with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Its passenger cabin has large measures of durability in materials used and I could never associate the D-Max with luxury. The driving position is good, elevated and with plenty of all-round vision and it has a real pull-on handbrake. Switches around the monitor are fiddly and the operation of the touchscreen is also for the novice too fussy.
From a cold start this new engine is remarkably rough and unrefined and as I ladled on more power its appetite to deliver waves of uncouth decibels showed no desire to fade away. However, it does happen and just like the jet airliner that suddenly turns silent as if its engines have been turned off so too does the D-Max become a silent runner when it warms up.
Owners, I dare say, will get used to this and if the automatic transmission is chosen as a support act its level of refinement has a similar acoustic bent with a tendency to be hesitant and indecisive. Steering has the vagueness that is common to the pickup truck and ride too, can be bouncy and uncomposed, which again is a trait of this style of vehicle.
Being in double cab format, this vehicle will take four adults in comfort but because the passenger area commands a substantial chunk of the vehicle’s overall length its load bay is reduced. The dimension of the load area is 1530mm wide by 1485mm long but it will accommodate a Europallet.
I can understand why this vehicle has become hugely popular. It is noisy and even tractor-like but its rugged, robustness and bulletproof features have made it the most reliable pick-up around and it is a rare thing to hear of it succumbing to failures.