Tax Man Mr Thief, a line from the Beatles & one that Isuzu plainly took to heart when they launch their D-Max Commercial. We spent a week in one & here’s what you need to know.
What is it ?
It’s a premium-spec, two-seater pick- up engineered for SMEs, farmers, trades, and construction professionals. It features a permanent rear cabin conversion into a secure load zone and full commercial specification. It’s fully compliant as a commercial vehicle with VAT reclaimability and a flat £4,020 BIK rate, ensuring long-term tax efficiency.
Price
Priced at £41,995 CVOTR with road tax kept at a fixed rate of £345.
Tell me more ?
This new model offers the comfort and specification of the V-Cross combined with full commercial compliance. It’s been specifically designed for business use & I based on the CC&V Pick Up of the Year the D-Max V-Cross double cab.
The rear passenger space has been permanently adapted into a secure load zone, ensuring the vehicle cannot be returned to a passenger configuration.
Practicality
Equipped with a commercial-ready specification as standard, this includes a lightweight commercial canopy, tow bar with towing electrics, load bed liner, rear passenger door window tints, and protective driver and passenger seat covers. To further underline its identity as a business tool, the vehicle is registered exclusively as a commercial model and carries distinctive “Commercial” badging.
Capability and performance
This new model retains the strengths of the D-Max range, coming as it does with a 1-tonne payload, 3.5-tonne towing capacity and full four-wheel drive, Rough Terrain Mode and a rear differential lock.
Tax benefits
It qualifies for Plant & Machinery Allowance under Capital Allowances, retaining 100% writing down status. For company drivers, the model keeps its flat-rate £4,020 Benefit in Kind for the 2025/26 tax year. These benefits are particularly significant for SMEs and self-employed professionals looking to reduce the potential costs introduced under the new April 2025 legislation changes affecting double and extended cab pick-ups.
Features
Built on Isuzu’s highest trim level, drivers benefit from leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, a 9-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a new 7-inch Multi-Information Display. USB-C ports and an upgraded ADAS suite, including Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control and Traffic Jam Assist are also offered.
Exterior
Commercial comes with a Tow Bar and Towing Electrics, a Load Bed Liner, a Lightweight Commercial Canopy, Bi-LED Headlights, LED Daytime Running Lights, Automatic Headlights, High Beam Assist, Automatic Headlight Levelling, an LED Rear Combination Lamp, LED Front Fog Lights, Rear Fog Lights, a 2 Tone Dark Grey Radiator Grille, a Body Coloured Rear Bumper with Integrated Step, Dark Grey Side Steps, Dark Grey Door Handles and a Tailgate Damper with V-Cross Branding.
Warranty
Every model comes with a five-year/125,000-mile warranty, plus five years of UK and European roadside assistance.
Speed limits
With a kerb weight under 2,040kg, it also qualifies for passenger car speed limits on dual carriageways and motorways.
Emissions & fuel economy
Pick-up emissions & fuel economy are not a selling point. V-Cross with an automatic gearbox comes with around 32 mpg & emissions of 235g/km of CO2. However our week & almost 550 miles saw us do even better averaging 36.4mpg.
Comfort & convenience
Plenty. Keyless Entry & Push Button Start System, Power Windows, Sun Glass Holder & Overhead Console, Map Lights, Driver & Passenger Sun Visors with Illuminated Vanity Mirror, Auto Dimming Rear View Mirror, Height & Reach Adjustable Steering Wheel, Steering Wheel Mounted Audio & Cruise Controls, 12-Volt Power Outlet, 7″ Multi-Information Display & Dual Zone Climate Control
Safety & pick-up specifics
Front & Rear Parking Sensors, reversing Camera, Rear Differential Lock, 4WD Shift-On-The-Fly, Rough Terrain Mode, Traction Control, Trailer Sway Control, Brake Assist System, Hill Start Assist & Hill Descent Control, Multi-Collision Brake and a Stop & Start System all came as standard.
Infotainment
Commercial is equipped with an updated 9″ Multifunction Colour Touchscreen, Bluetooth, DAB Radio, wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, eight speakers and 2x front USB C Ports.
Comfort
With loads of electric seat adjustment & my usually fickle bad back felt no twinges, even after 5.5 hours on one day spent in the cab. So a big tick here. You also get the following to make things more comfortable; Protective Seat Covers, Leather Upholstery, the 8-Way Adjustable Driver’s Seat (Electric), Driver’s Seat Lumbar Support (Power) and Heated Front Seats.
Cabin practicality
Two gloveboxes, a storage cubby on top of the dash, under armrest space, pop-out cup-holders with two more in the centre console. Plus a drivers foot rest.
Driving
It’s no secret that Company Car & Van are big fans of the D-Max, but what about this Commercial version ? Whilst we are not going to use it for what it’s been designed for i.e working hard for your business, many want a workhorse as a daily & after a week behind the wheel we were suitably impressed.
Several local jaunts around including to the supermarket, gym and Cheshire Oaks showed us that in auto form this is an easy pick-up to live with. Simple to park as well utilising the reversing camera.
Motorway
With both adaptive cruise control and autonomous driving the Commercial just eases itself along the motorway at 70mph. There may be no frills and in some heavy rain the tyre noise does get intrusive at this kind of speed, interrupting my podcasts.
Moreover a 300 mile round trip to Lechlade & back to attend a car launch & all in one day showed us that it’s pretty damn good on the motorway too.
Negatives ? If you’re overtaking you’ll need to be aware that it’s not dynamic & you’ll need to judge just what the truck will do & how long an overtake or getting back up to motorway speed is going to take you, especially on a steeper incline.
Back roads
Having said that at least 30 mile of my journey was along small B roads & lanes around Fairford & the Commercial belies it’s size & bulk by keeping up with fast moving traffic on back roads. Of course pot holes & poor tarmac are no issue either with great ground clearance & the massive tyres on 18″ alloys.
Pros
An excellent addition to Isuzu’s comprehensive model choice of single, extended & double cabs. Tax savings cannot be ignored.
Cons
Despite the V-Cross badging it definitely feels more workhorse than lifestyle.
Verdict
If you need a vehicle that offers pick-up usefulness but don’t need the rear seats, then the Commercial is a logical step for your business to consider. What surprised us most is just how easy it is to drive & manoeuvre & how well it will handle a long motorway journey. It’s a given as a workhorse but tax savings may be a consideration & if they are, we urge you to take a look.
A Clever Trevor 3.75/5
