What Van? Britain's biggest and best van buyers' guide

4th Report

The Isuzu D-Max is a sleekly handsome pick-up truck that cuts an imposing presence on the kerbside as well as on the road.

It is more modestly proportioned than some of its chunkier rivals, which seem to value bulk as a virtue, but is none the worse for that and, to my mind, looks particularly appealing clad in the ‘Spinel Red Mica’ (AKA maroon) paintwork that adorns my DL20.

Last year’s redesign of the front grille and the addition of new wheels have enhanced the D-Max’s aesthetic appeal too.

Another advantage of the D-Max’s comparatively diminutive dimensions is that it has an unladen weight of less than 2,040kg, which means it is subject to car rather than commercial vehicle speed limits, giving it the edge over all its rivals bar the now withdrawn Mitsubishi L200. Goods vehicle speed limits are 10mph lower than car limits on single and dual carriageways. As a consequence, the D-Max can achieve better journey times than competitors while remaining on the right side of the law.

The replacement of the old hydraulic set up with electromechanical steering has improved handling, it is light and easy to manage at slow speeds but stiffens up nicely when you pick up pace. The long overdue installation of a rake and reach adjustable steering wheel also helped.

Isuzu puts a marked improvement in ride quality compared to the first generation D-Max down to reworked leaf-spring suspension and a new chassis cab mount that absorbs
more noise, vibration and harshness and enhances comfort in the cab. The engine can still sound gruff and grumbling when moseying about town but this becomes far less apparent once the truck is out on the open road.

As I suspected, breaking out of the confines of the capital’s streets, where a somewhat hit and miss stop and start system doesn’t help much, also leads to a marked improvement in fuel economy – boosting consumption from well under 27mpg to comfortably over 29mpg on a return trip from London to Birmingham, for example.

The DL20’s gear changes still waiver towards the notchy side but the (relatively) new, shorter gear stick is a vast improvement on its long and spindly predecessor.

Overall though, customers may be well advised to consider the six-speed automatic transmission rather than the six-speed manual driven here. 

Notchy gear changes are not an issue, of course, when bowling along the motorway but it’s as well to be aware of what may trigger any one of the D-Max’s many driver assistance systems to kick in. Neglect to indicate when changing lanes, for instance, and the lane departure warning and prevention system will forcefully pull the truck back into line. This focus on keeping the cab’s occupants safe from harm is admirable but some devices, such as the forward collision warning, can be over zealous, with a tendency to flash red  and bleep hysterically when no obstacle is in the vehicle’s path.

Overall, however, the DL20’s interior is a pleasant place to be on long journeys, the front seats are comfortable and I’ve had no complaints from those in the rear either.

Report card: Driving = 4/5

The Dl20’s handling and ride quality are both impressive for a big truck.

Isuzu DL20 Double Cab 4x4