* The new Isuzu D-Max XTR
Isuzu D-Max XTR road test by Steve
Rogers
Young Eddie showed more than his usual
interest in my test car as he cycled up and down the cul-de-sac.
No surprise there. The D-Max XTR is
built to stand out in the crowd, its body armour suggesting it is about to go
into battle. It also happened to be the first test car to grace my drive since
lockdown so I have certainly announced my return with a bang.
The Isuzu pick up has done rather well
since it replaced the Rodeo in 2012 collecting numerous awards and sending several
warning shots to big hitters Toyota, Mitsubishi and Nissan that D-Max is a
force to be reckoned with.
In the years that followed the pick-up
market went berserk, no longer seen just as muddy, rugged things that plied
their trade on farms and building sites but fashionable wheels perfect for
hauling leisure kit or doubling as workhorse and family car.
And it is that spirit of adventure that
has spawned the new XTR version. It is too swank for a building site or muddy
field with its in your face body kit comprising bonnet protector, bumper guard
and wheel arch extensions. Even the side steps have a smart angular design and
then there is the snazzy paint job topped off with several vibrant green
accents.
I asked Eddie how many XTR body badges
he could spot and the sharp-eyed youngster came up with nine. Right answer. I
thought he might have missed the hard to spot black embossed badges on each
wheel, come to think of it Isuzu missed a trick and should have gone for bright
green there as well.
XTR is not just style over substance.
The company turned to Australian specialist Pedders to upgrade the suspension
and brakes and the end result is a sophisticated and relatively comfortable
4x4.
Ride height has been raised to 250mm and
as well as beefed up suspension XTR boasts Kevlar ceramic brake pads and
performance front discs with visible brake and suspension hardware sprayed in signature
vibrant green.
Isuzu is not the most fashionable name
on the strip, especially when you can now buy a pick-up with a Mercedes,
Volkswagen or Fiat badge, but it has got street cred when it comes to toughness
and the XTR moves it into a higher league.
When considering a pick up as a multi
purpose vehicle ride quality is key - no one wants the kiddies being bounced
around with the inevitable mess that brings - and Pedders have done a decent
job smoothing out the ride. It is not up there with Nissan Navara or
Mitsubishi's L200 but it isn't far off and remember pick ups are workhorses so
do not expect the level of comfort from a big SUV.
Inside has been nicely trimmed with a
mixture of leather and durable plastics and there is plenty of XTR branding on
the seats and mats. It is flexible too with the seat back folding flat or the
cushions lifting back creating enough floor space to take a bicycle. Oddment
slots are well catered for, 11 in total plus two neat pull out cup holders.
Power comes from a 1.9 litre turbo
diesel which lets the side down against the best opposition. Performance is
fine with adequate mid range grunt but the engine is too noisy on tickover and stays
noisy until fourth gear when the volume comes down to a more civilised level.
Wind and road noise is fairly well managed.
Expect 25-30mpg and there is a good useable
range thanks to a generous 76-litre tank.
The only shock came when I looked up the
price. D-Max starts at just under £21k with XTR models kicking off at £41,340.
My double cab Nav+ model is all but £44,000 and while a lot of the cost is out
of sight it still feels like too much money.
It has the usual luxuries like
powered windows, heated front seats, cruise control and satellite navigation,
but where were the automatic lights and wipers and digital air con. Small
things may be but for this money I expect the kitchen sink.
That aside the XTR model is an
impressive piece of kit and will do nothing but add to the appeal of the D-Max
range.
Fast facts
D-Max XTR Nav+ 6sp auto
£43,920
1.9 litre; 161bhp; 360Nm torque
0-62mph 13secs; 112mph
36.2mpg combined
205g/km. Road tax £264
Insurance group 42
Warranty: 5 years or 125,000 miles
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