Isuzu D-Max
Despite the name, Isuzu actually has little to be very cross about at the moment. The bottom of the pick-up market has all-but fallen out in the UK but there was always going to be a need that would be fulfilled by the lucky few and Isuzu has definitely fallen into that category.
Isuzu’s tagline is ‘The Pick-up Professionals‘, and that’s a fair description as that’s all they currently sell in the UK. There’s quite a varied range, from the utilitarian……erm……..Utility all the way up to the deliciously exaggerated Arctic Trucks AT35. Be it single, extended or double cab with prices starting at £27,755 and going up to £57,005 + VAT, there’s more than likely a D-Max to suit your needs.
What engines are available in the D-Max?
Whichever D-Max best fits the bill it’ll be powered by a 1.9 litre turbo diesel 4-cylinder engine producing 162bhp & 360Nm torque. That’s not the most powerful when compared to the competition but it doesn’t adversely affect what a pickup is essentially designed for, and all except the RWD single cab variant can tow a 3.5 tonne braked trailer (RWD = 2.5 tonne). The trade-off for this is that the double-cab versions can only accommodate 1100 kg fully loaded whereas the 4×4 single-cab is 1205 kg, the 4×2 single cab = 1190 kg & the extended cab is capable of carrying 1140 kg.
Whilst pick-ups were becoming more lifestyle, back when the likes of Mercedes had their hat in the ring, many manufacturers were improving the refinement of the available engines and the VW Amarok & Ford Ranger still have a V6 in the options list. Isuzu’s 4-cylinder, 1.9 litre diesel still sits on the workhorse side of the fence and it’s fairly rattly by modern standards.
New, smoother automatic transmission
That said, there have been improvements in the transmission, especially the Aisin 6-speed auto our V-Cross test car’s fitted with which is apparently 25% quicker between ratios than the gearbox it replaces. There’s a 6-speed manual available across the range except in the Arctic Truck; it’ll save over £3k on the list price of this V-Cross and it’s slightly more economical (32.5mpg vs 31.4mpg).
Judging the ride of most pick-ups without the 1 tonne+ carrying capacity being utilised is actually a tad unfair as that’s what they’re designed to do. Some pick-ups are fitted with more modern coil springs to offer a better unladen load but simpler, cheaper leaf springs are still the superior setup if you want to carry actual stuff. That’s what every D-Max comes fitted with and yet, even unladen it’s not that unruly over poor road surfaces, nor does it feel like the front and rear axle wants to swap places around bends.
New tech, car-like seating
Inside the D-Max is where the most obvious improvements have been made, especially in the more civilian orientated V-Cross version we have here. The infotainment system is 9.0″ and features wireless CarPlay which goes a long way towards excusing its outdated blocky graphics. The seats in our Steel special edition are half-leather, multi adjustable, heated and offer plenty of room to stretch out in both front and rear so it’s about as car-like as a pick-up gets.
What pick-ups need to inherently be is tough. Whether they’re being driven up the side of a mountain or used as a tradesperson’s workhorse, it just won’t do if the D-Max can’t take the heat. To be fair, most pick-ups have just the right amount of honest, slightly crude engineering to make them feel reassuringly capable of taking whatever’s thrown at them but the D-Max has built a reputation of being up there with the best. So confident are Isuzu in its quality that every D-Max comes with a 5-year/125,000 mile warranty and a 12-year corrosion warranty. Should the unthinkable happen and your D-Max does break-down, they’ve also thrown in 5-years of roadside assistance.
Should I buy a D-Max V-Cross?
There are more refined pick-ups out there than the D-Max with more modern diesel engines and even hybrid power. The thing is, though, the D-Max is incredibly capable and it undercuts the likes of Ford’s Ranger Wildtrak by a good few grand, and the Wildtrak’s not available with a manual transmission either. If you’re after a pick-up, the D-Max has to be considered.
By Ben Harrington
2025 Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Specifications:
Engine – 1.9l 4-cylinder diesel, Transmission – 6-speed auto, Layout – Front engine, AWD, Power – 162bhp,Torque – 360Nm + 440Nm, Emissions – 235g/km CO2, Economy – 31.4mpg, Maximum Speed – 112mph, Acceleration – 13s – 0-62mph, Price – £39,800 + VAT OTR
The Steel Edition is now sold out but the 2025 Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is available now, priced from £37,155 + VAT. For full details go to:www.isuzu.co.uk
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