Isuzu D-Max Utah long-term test

Date: Friday, November 2, 2018 | Author: Steve Banner

2nd Report

Maybe it’s because I’m a thick-fingered technology-challenged baby boomer who can remember manual typewriters and the days when you could smoke in offices, but I’m finding it almost impossible to tune my D-Max’s radio.

I’ve tried everything – even reading the manual, which has to be counted as a first – but whichever station I light upon, the radio drifts away from it the first chance it gets. The 7.0in touch-screen is covered with finger-marks as a consequence of my frantically stabbing at anything that is likely to deliver a solution.

I’m fast coming to the conclusion there is either a fault with the radio or with the aerial.

Time for a call to somebody at Isuzu, who will doubtless tell me the fault is mine.
When you engage reverse the aforementioned screen throws up an image of what is behind you thanks to the rear-view camera.

A model of clarity when the weather is dry, the image quickly becomes blurred if it’s raining heavily. Reverse at night and it is partially obscured by light reflections.

Gripes over, let’s concentrate on the positives. They include the handling – exemplary around twisting country roads for a truck of its size – and the easy-to-engage four-wheel drive system. To activate it just turn a knob between the seats; to engage a low-range set of gears push it down and turn it again.

The D-Max is manoeuvrable too, allowing you to squeeze into field gateways that look too tight for it so you can get out of the way of oncoming tractors and trailers.

So far I’ve only made the gentlest of forays off-roads, but the D-Max has coped with thick, clinging mud and some fairly deep water admirably in four-wheel-drive mode, and without the need to go anywhere near the low-range setting.

Nor – aside from the infuriating radio – can I complain about driver comfort. The seat is easy to adjust, offers plenty of support, and it is heated.

One of the things I really like about the D-Max though is its solidity: it feels tough and durable – just what you want from a pick-up designed to be a working tool.

Fuel economy is still around 33.0mpg and would probably be better if I didn’t floor the accelerator pedal at every (legal) opportunity. A lighter right foot invariably spells lower fuel bills.

Report Card: Ride = 4/5

Seems unfazed by potholes and appears to steamroller transverse ridges flat.

Isuzu D-Max Utah Double Cab automatic 4x4 pick-up

Mileage   735
Official combined consumption   36.2mpg
Our average consumption   33.0mpg*
Price range (ex VAT)   £16,499-£28,999
Price (ex VAT)   £26,149
Warranty   5yrs/125,000mls
Service intervals   2yrs/12,000mls
Load length   1,485mm
Load width (min/max) 1,080/1,530mm
Gross payload   1,091kg
Engine size/power   1,898cc/164hp
Gearbox   6-speed auto
CO2    205g/km
* approximately

Click below to see previous report

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