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The What Van? Road Test: Isuzu D-Max (2023)
Date: Monday, January 22, 2024
Interior and equipment
D-Max has a slightly old-fashioned-looking fascia, but is none the worse for that.
Buttons beneath the centrally-positioned 9in colour touchscreen control the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, and that is something we welcome. Having to fiddle about with a screen for what seems like ages when all you want to do is boost the in-cab temperature a notch can be really irritating.
Buttons that are just above them allow you to switch the radio on and off and alter the volume, and they are to be welcomed too.
The screen controls the rest of the DAB radio’s functions, however, as part of a package that includes Bluetooth connectivity, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. If all you want is a quiet life then the display will show you a digital clock and a compass.
Further down the fascia you will find a 12v powerpoint, a USB socket, and the simple-to-use rotary switch that engages four-wheel drive. All you need to do is twist it once, then press it down and twist it again if you want four-wheel drive with a low-ratio set of gears.
Tap the transmission shift lever to the right and you can switch from auto to manual mode, to nip easily and quickly between gears. Buttons to engage the rear-diff lock and Hill Descent Control are positioned next to the lever.
In-cab storage includes a roomy lidded box between the front seats complemented by a pair of cup-holders, a lidded compartment on top of the dashboard, bins in all four doors, a shelf at the bottom of the dashboard, and a holder for your sunglasses just above the windscreen. For your money you get a lockable glovebox plus a lidded shelf above it that is home to a CD player.
To a what? Yes, you read that correctly – a CD player.
Some of the plastic trim looks a bit cheap and cheerful, and the all-black cab interior can feel a little gloomy, but on a more positive note, we’re happy to report that V-Cross boasts heated front seats. Leather upholstery is used throughout, and the steering wheel is leather trimmed.
Other handy facilities include front, side, curtain and driver’s knee airbags plus a centre airbag, electric windows all round, electrically adjustable, folding and heated exterior rear-view mirrors, cruise control and front foglamps. Good to see that the interior rear-view mirror has an automatic anti-glare function just in case the driver behind you forgets to dip his headlights at night.
A rear-view camera is fitted along with front and rear sensors to aid low-speed manoeuvring.
The position of the driver’s seat can be adjusted electrically in eight ways, including the height and angle of the cushion. The steering wheel, which features remote controls for the radio, is height-adjustable too, and can be adjusted for reach.
So far as the rear of the cab interior is concerned, the nearside and offside seats have adequate but not over-generous leg space. Whoever gets to sit on the middle seat will find both leg and shoulder room are severely constrained, however.
If the middle seat is empty then the back can be folded down and transformed into an armrest complete with a couple of cupholders; handy for the remaining passengers.
Ventilation for the rear passengers comes courtesy of vents in the back of the console between the two front seats which also plays host to a USB port. Capable of taking a maximum load of 4kg, a hook on the back of the front passenger seat can hold a substantial bagful of Friday night curry.
D-Max is so comprehensively equipped with onboard safety and driver assistance systems that it is difficult to know where to begin. Isuzu undoubtedly deserves top marks for the initiative it has taken in this area.
The package includes Adaptive Cruise Control; Forward Collision Warning; Autonomous Emergency Braking; Traffic Sign Recognition; Intelligent Speed Limiter; Lane Departure Warning and Prevention System; Lane Keep Assist; Pedal Misapplication Mitigation; Blind Spot Monitor; Emergency Lane Keeping; ABS; Brake Assist; Electronic Stability Control; Electronic Brakeforce Distribution; Hill Start Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Describing what each of these devices does would take forever, but Rear Cross Traffic Alert is worth a special mention. Back out of a field and it will tell you if a vehicle you can’t see is coming, so you don’t reverse into its path.
Traction Control is installed, and can be switched off. Our D-Max was equipped with a tow bar plus the related electrics, so we were grateful for the presence of Trailer Sway Control, designed to prevent things getting out of shape if a trailer being towed starts to snake.
The headlights illuminate automatically at dusk and the windscreen wipers are triggered automatically if it rains.
Disc brakes are fitted at the front, while drums are employed for duty at the back. Our V-Cross’s 18in black chrome alloy wheels were shod with Dunlop Grand Trek AT25 255/60 R18 tyres.
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