The latest Isuzu D-Max has recently undergone some cosmetic changes which includes a freshly styled front grille & new wheel designs for the vehicles. The All-Purpose & Adventure models have also received new wheels.
Some body colours have changed as well. Dolomite White exclusive to the V-Cross replaces Pearl White, with Biarritz Blue replacing Sapphire Blue both on V-Cross & DL40. And inside, both the DL40 & V-Cross have been upgraded with newly designed leather upholstery, utilising horizontal layering for a more spacious feel.
Just before the new look models came to market, we spent a week in the DL40 to see just how far the D-Max range has improved over the previous generation
Model range
The D-Max comes in 3 Ranges; Business, All-Purpose & Adventure with four trim levels; Utility, DL20, DL40 & V-Cross. Plus the steroid injected Arctic Trucks AT35.
Engine & chassis
The 1.9 litre 162bhp diesel engine carries over from the previous model. The ladder frame chassis now comes with larger rails, additional bracing plus newer steels, all of which contribute to make it stronger. There’s a longer wheelbase, re-designed rear suspension, a shorter body, with increased load space both inside & out & a newly designed front & rear end.
Inside
The latest D-Max features electric power assisted steering, which makes a big difference to the truck both on & off road. The seats are hard wearing as well as comfortable plus the dashboard is decidedly more upmarket than D-Max’s of old, with a decent touchscreen infotainment system. All models come with a height & reachable adjustable steering wheel, steering wheel mounted audio & cruise controls, DAB radio, Bluetooth, a front USB port & a 4.2″ multi-information display.
Fuel economy & emissions
DL40 manual offers 33.6 mpg/auto 30.7 mpg with emissions of 220g/km & 241g/km respectively. And, thanks to Euro 6D emission standard, the D-Max is fitted with a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system to reduce harmful Nitrogen Dioxide levels.
Payload
Every version has a payload rating of at least 1070kg, which is important for commercial vehicle tax purpose.There’s also a 3.5 tonnes towing capacity. Another interesting point is that, every variant of the All-New Isuzu D-Max weighs under 2,040kg. Therefore Extended & Double Cabs are subject to normal passenger car speed limits. Many double cab pick-up trucks – Ranger & Hilux included – exceed this weight limit so must comply with goods vehicle speed limits which are 10mph lower on single & dual carriageways. A fact that many pick-up customers are unaware of.
Can it handle the tough stuff ?
The D-Max is perfect for anyone who need’s to use their truck off road. The selectable shift-on-the-fly 4WD drive engages faster, rear axle articulation has increased & all models bar entry-level Utility models, come with a mechanical rear diff lock in addition to electronic aids that include hill descent control & hill start assist. The 4WD engages faster than on previous D/Max’s & the locking diff, low-range gearing & electronic aids work perfectly.
Safety
All double-cabs get a radar system, with Isuzu choosing to use stereo-imaging via a pair of cameras at the top of the windscreen enabling the AEB, lane keeping, traffic sign recognition & intelligent speed limiter to work more accurately than offered elsewhere. Plus, the new system enables cross traffic alert, blindspot monitoring & emergency lane keeping, all new to the pick-up sector. And if that’s not enough, Double Cabs get eight airbags, Single & Extended Cabs seven.
DL-40 specifics
The DL40 comes very well kitted out. There’s a 7″ multifunction colour touchscreen that’s is compatible with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto & comes with 6 speakers. Keyless entry, a push button start, dual-zone climate control, bi-LED headlights, leather upholstery, two tone 18″ alloys, silver side steps, front & rear USB ports & an 8-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat also feature. Safety features include Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, front & rear parking sensors, a reversing camera.
On the road
We weren’t disappointed by the DL40 whatsoever. When you press the the push button start the engine roars into life with a noticeable diesel growl. Select D in the automatic gear box & away you go. Despite it’s size the D-Max is actually quite nimble, with the electronic steering making it easy to manoeuvre. The DL-40 handles the road much more like a large SUV than the previous D-Max showcasing how much more refined this latest version is over it’s predecessors. The bigger brakes means it stops faster. The seats are way more comfortable & coupled with the improved body structure, there’s far less body-roll. Rear passengers get more leg room & the rear seats are angled to make the back more comfortable as well.
The suite of safety options includes adaptive cruise control & on our test model, autonomous driving, so in all motorway situations the D-Max feels impressively safe. We undertook a 100 mile round trip up & down the M6 & the DL-40 didn’t skip a beat. True, on tight roundabouts & in small parking spots, you’ll need to flex your arm muscles a bit more to control the large wheels, but the addition of a reversing camera mean that fitting into tight spots is really quite simple. Parking at my local supermarket meant a slight front overhang from the parking spot but otherwise it fit’s into most parking spaces.
Thanks to a couple of empty farms located close to where we are based, we were able to venture slightly off-road alongside the River Bollin. The D-Max has a wading depth of 800mm, so the 500mm of flooded road we drove through after the recent heavy rain was easy to get through. A drive along a gravel track & across a grass field were also dealt with comfortably as we utilised the 4WD. It will of course tackle a lot tougher terrain than that offered in Bowdon Vale & Dunham Massey.
Pros
Whilst other pick-up manufacturers shied away from the sector, Isuzu are to be congratulated on the amount of choice across a range of single, extended & double cab model’s & conversions. DL40 is incredibly good value for money. Furthermore, there’s a D-Max priced for everyone.
Any negatives ?
Isuzu switched to a smaller 1.9 diesel unit when they launched the previous D-Max range & its still here. It works fine in almost every situation, but it’s lack of out & out pull could be an issue if you’re towing a heavy load up a very steep hill. Inside the cab, there are some cheap plastics in evidence on the lower part of the dashboard, centre armrest & door pockets, but, it’s solidly made nonetheless.
Conclusion
The Isuzu D-Max offers customers a myriad of models to fit the customers budget. It also features class-leading safety, on trend tech & does most of what a pick-up is supposed to do. If you can’t quite stretch to the range topping V-Cross – the double cab auto is £1,500 cheaper – then the DL40 is not a bad compromise. The slight tweaks to the front & rear ends, internal upholstery & wheel options, also illustrate that Isuzu aren’t resting on their laurels, especially with a new Ranger & Amarok in town.
A bit of bargain 4.25/5
