The What Van? Road Test: Isuzu D-Max

Date: Monday, April 24, 2023

Engine Copy

Powertrain

Fired up by a keyless push-button starter – you need the key fob to be present – the four-cylinder in-line diesel reaches maximum power output at 3,600rpm. Top torque of 360Nm kicks in across a 2,000rpm-to-2,500rpm plateau.

The D-Max employs AdBlue to ensure it complies with the Euro 6D exhaust emissions rules. The filler point for the 14-litre AdBlue reservoir sits next to the diesel refuelling
point underneath a flap on the truck’s nearside.

Driving

While 164hp may seem a lot of horses on paper, it is not all that generous if you are trying to propel a bulky 4x4 pick-up from A to B. This shortfall in power means that D-Max can be sluggish when accelerating off the starting line, with the automatic gearbox taking a little too long to shift from one gear to the next.

Matters improve once you are rolling though, with the kick-down facility proving remarkably brisk when you are trying to overtake slow-moving traffic. Maintaining the legal motorway speed once you have reached it is not too much of a problem, although the transmission’s reaction at even the sniff of an incline is to drop down a gear.

D-Max handles remarkably well for a large off-roader, and we swung briskly through bends with a growing degree of confidence – and while the on-road ride cannot be classed as outstanding, it is better than we expected it to be.

What is outstanding though is the unimpeachable build quality. This truck feels as though it will last forever.

More needs to be done about the noise emanating from beneath the bonnet. The engine can sound harsh at times, and extra attention needs to be paid to sound-deadening.

Returning to the subject of speed, while they cannot be classed as anorexic it is worth noting that all D-Max extended and double cab pick-ups weigh less than 2,040kg unladen.

This means they are subject to car rather than goods vehicle speed limits. The latter are 10mph lower on single and dual carriageways.

That allows you to maintain faster journey times without breaking the law – an advantage many of D-Max’s porkier competitors do not offer.

D-Max really comes into its own when you go off-road, and you can soon see why it appeals to farmers and builders.

Deeply rutted, muddy tracks leading to steep ascents and precipitous descents are all taken in their stride by a truck whose behaviour in the rough can only be applauded. Wading depth is 800mm.

The odd bump and bang emanating from its underside should not trigger a panic attack. A reinforced ladder chassis, a steel skid plate and a sump guard provide plenty of protection.

Four-wheel-drive could scarcely be simpler to engage, and you can engage it while D-Max is in motion. Just twist a knob at the bottom of the dashboard, which also enables you to select either a high- or a low-ratio set of gears depending on the challenges presented by your off-road trek.

Should you wish to you can switch from auto to manual mode by moving the gearshift lever to the right. Manual changes are easily executed.

Switches to engage the Hill Descent Control and rear diff lock are located to the right of the gear shift lever. A rear diff lock comes as standard.

The ESC and fuel-saving Stop and Start systems can be turned off, and if the going gets really rough then it’s a comfort to know that there are grab-handles on the A and B pillars. Handles are positioned above the door apertures too should you really need to cling on.

If the mud starts to fly however then cleaning it off the windscreen while in motion might be a problem. Mounted in the wiper arms, the windscreen washer jets aren’t terribly effective.

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