Road Test
D-MAX ISUZU
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
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1 Picture Key
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.
Powertrain
Keyless ignition with a push-button start fires up the Isuzu’s four-cylinder turbocharged engine. Maximum power kicks in at 3,600rpm while torque of 360Nm bites across a 2,000rpm-to- 2,500rpm plateau.
AdBlue is used to ensure the engine complies with the Euro 6 exhaust emission rules. The filler point for the 14-litre reservoir is located beneath a flap on the nearside of the body which also conceals the diesel refuelling inlet.
Driving We’re getting so familiar with electronic parking brakes that reverting to a manual handbrake lever such as the one fitted to D-Max takes a bit of getting used to, and we had to be reminded to release it on at least a couple of occasions. Perhaps it is just as well then that acceleration from rest is not all that brisk.
Nor does the kick-down facility engage all that rapidly when you need to overtake. It is as though the engine
1. Rear bumper incorporates step 2. Load area cover is an optional extra.
3. Lockable tailgate is supported by gas-filled strut
4. Reversing camera comes as standard
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WhatVan? January 2024
www.whatvan.co.uk
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