Isuzu delivered a completely new generation of the D-Max two years ago. Do we see a pinch of SUV here and there, or is it mainly a diligent worker?
The D-Max has been in its current form since 2019, but in fact not too much has changed compared to its predecessors. It is still a pick-up with a conventional ladder chassis, independent front suspension and rear live axle with leaf springs and drum brakes. It is a tried-and-tested concept where functionality and durability are paramount, technology that looks as if a village blacksmith high in the Andes or deep in the Sahara can keep this going. The sturdy Japanese is allowed to take around 1,100 kg with him and pull a 3.5-ton cart. If necessary, you can manually shift the front wheels, if desired in a low ratio and with a locked rear differential.
You can hear it
The D-Max is only available in the Netherlands with a 1.9 liter diesel engine. With its 164 hp and 360 Nm, the Isuzu engine does not immediately turn the two-tonne D-Max into a traffic light sprinter, but it still manages to fend itself off. You can also hear that: he certainly does not do his work in silence, although a conversation without raising your voice remains possible. We have it in combination with a six-speed automatic transmission, which keeps the engine neatly in its optimal rev range.
With only rear-wheel drive, the pick-up goes a long way off-road. However, vigilance is required. You will find here in vain electronics that distribute the drive forces over the four wheels fully automatically, as we are used to with luxury SUVs. You have to switch on the front wheels at your own discretion with a button on the center console. For example, you have to switch on the low-terrain ratio yourself or block the differential of the rear axle with the push of a button to keep things moving. The initiative always lies with you.
Stiff and bumpy
A rigid rear axle with leaf springs is standard in this class. This is not ideal for handling, but it is the solution to be able to carry heavy loads under rotten conditions. Unladen, the Isuzu is quite jerky. It gets smoother with the necessary kilos in the back. Partly thanks to a wrist-thick stabilizer bar between the front wheels, the D-Max does not tilt excessively. A refined steering experience is hard to find. The Isuzu sends light and somewhat distant. In the D-Max, the power steering does its job, which makes the car quite numb. Even so, the D-Max does follow the chosen route nicely and stably. Those who appreciate having the car do the work as much as possible: in terms of safety and assistance systems, the workhorse is perfectly in line with what we know from the average passenger car. Depending on the equipment level, the Isuzu, for example, has a reversing camera, an automatic emergency braking system, active cruise control and lane assistance. This keeps the Isuzu fairly naturally within the lines.
Expensive backseat
To respond as much as possible to individual needs, the Isuzu is available with a single cabin, one and a half cabin or a double cabin. In the first case, you have a seat and a variety of storage compartments on either side of the center tunnel, that’s all. In the second case, as with the D-Max in this test, the cabin is slightly longer but you still have two seats. You now have narrow rear doors (with the hinges at the rear) that provide access to the extra space between the seat backs and the cabin rear wall.
The length of the bodies also varies with the length of the cabs. The total length of the car is always the same regardless of the length of the cabin, namely 5.27 meters. Thus, the D-Max is available with body lengths ranging from 1.5 to 2.3 meters. On the Isuzu cargo box, we see as an option a large lid to protect all your belongings against wind and weather and grab-and-go fingers. The disadvantage is that you can only take things with you that do not protrude above the edge of the box, otherwise the lid must remain open like a mega spoiler.
Function for shape
Everything in the cabin is focused on functionality. Between the many hard plastic we see on the D-Max dashboard a bit of frivolity in the form of stitching that seems to keep the different parts together. Finish and use of materials are aimed at staying whole for a long time, nothing more, nothing less. The layout of the dashboard is sober: instrument clusters, clearly readable analogue meters, it couldn’t be much clearer. To operate the air conditioning, Isuzu uses a panel on the center console with unmissable physical buttons. Almost all controls are exactly where you expect them to be. Everyone can use this machine. The Isuzu infotainment system is quite simple in design, actually a bit too simple and relies on the functionality of your linked phone, for example if you want to be navigated. Furthermore, the Isuzu seats offer a remarkable amount of lateral support
With the drivetrain driven by us, the car is not available with a short cab. At Isuzu you have to settle for a manual gearbox for a short cab, the price list even starts with only rear-wheel drive. With one and a half cabin and automatic transmission, the D-Max is available including VAT, bpm and delivery costs from € 54,656.