Tag Archives: Isuzu

Isuzu, Pick-up/4x4

Arctic warrior takes on the toughest terrain

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Isuzu D-Max Arctic AT35

By Bill McCarthy

If anything defines the phrase full-fat off-road beast, then surely it will be this D-Max on steroids.  But that’s the point of this vehicle.

It’s about its capability and this has been recognised as Isuzu UK again secured the prestigious Pick-Up of the Year 2024 award from Company Car & Van magazine. This marks the third consecutive win for the Isuzu D-Max in this category, a testament to its unrivalled performance and versatility in meeting the needs of small to medium fleets.

This Arctic version, designed in collaboration with Icelandic off-road specialists Arctic Trucks, who know a thing or two about harsh off-road conditions, is a showstopper.

This vehicle is huge as discovered on a trip to a supermarket with the tightest of tight parking  spaces, squeezing it in, 35-inch tyres included, was a tricky manoeuvre.

Featuring a 1.9 litre diesel engine, it comes in either manual, or in this case an automatic transmission. It offers two all-wheel-drive mode, low and high range gears plus a locking rear diff for the most challenging conditions.

Cliches abound. It does what it says on the tin etc and just one look gives the impression of huge off-road capability, from the 35-inch rubber on 17-inch alloys, to huge wheel arches with massive ground clearance of a minimum of 266mm, running plates, flared wheel arch extensions, and roof rails.

The flat bed has a remote lockable roller cover and the tailgate has a soft opening and closing for ease of access.

Built on the best-selling Isuzu V-Cross model, it features strengthened chassis, Bilstein Performance Suspension which has  35 degree approach angle, 34 degree breakover and ramp angle of 22 degrees, allowing it to overcome the most challenging of obstacles.

Those mighty wheels and tyres give it the capacity to tackle anything from Iceland’s ‘fire and ice’ environment, to rain forests and harsh desert conditions. It’s pretty good for a small business or for use in a farming environment.

The 1.9 litre, 164PS turbo diesel engine delivers 360Nm of torque, a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes and a payload of more than a tonne.

 The interior is pretty impressive as well with premium black leather finish which features bespoke Arctic branding and badging, a nine-inch multimedia system that provides navigation, connectivity for smartphones and infotainment via an eight-speaker sound system. There are even dedicated locking wheel nuts and an Arctic Trucks torque wrench. 

It is packed with high equipment bells and whistles, the kind of equipment found on premium motors.

On or off-road, the driver always feels in control thanks to the high driving position and numerous safety aids in place. Clearly designed for off-road work, on the road it performs OK, considering what it is although it tends to bounce around a bit, especially on lesser roads.

But the enhanced suspension means it feels pretty stable otherwise, particularly on bends and corners. It’s a more than adequate motorway cruiser as well.

The diesel, mated in this case to an auto box, is pretty noisy, but offers enough grunt to get out of tight situations while economy at a claimed 30-odd mpg is pretty good for such a heavy four-wheel drive vehicle. 

Safety is key with a vehicle of this nature and it features Traffic Sign Recognition, Automatic Windscreen Wipers and Emergency Lane Keeping, Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking to keep drivers safe.

Factfile

Isuzu D-MAX Arctic AT35

Price: £52,499 CVOTR

Mechanical: 1898cc 164PS four cylinder diesel engine driving all wheels rear wheels via eight speed automatic transmission

Max speed: 112mph

0-62mph: 12.4 seconds

Economy: 30.3mpg

CO2 emissions: 241g/km

Insurance group: 42

Warranty: 5yrs/125,000 miles

Isuzu, Pick-up/4x4

Stylish and practical pick-up

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Isuzu D-Max V-Cross

By Bill McCarthy

When it comes to pick-ups, it’s no longer just how capable the vehicle is off road, although that is pretty vital in most cases.

But these days it’s as much about the catwalk as the dirt track.  I have said before that the Isuzu is an impossibly stylish pick-up and nothing in the latest version has altered my opinion.

Obviously, there are model grades offering different levels of comfort, trim and equipment, not to mention double cab, extended cab, single cab, open top or closed cargo bay.

But the double cab is surely the most appealing of this dual-purpose vehicle with its five seat arrangement and comfort to match most family saloons.

But it’s unusual for a range-topper, like the V-Cross driven here, to be the best selling version of a particular model.

Maybe that is not surprising as it clearly is a dual purpose vehicle, offering off-road ruggedness and impressive load capacity, married to car-like comfort, surprising economy and an attractive purchase price when you take into account standard equipment. This range topper will set you back £33,849 plus VAT.       

Thanks to its upgraded suspension, 3.5t towing capacity, shift-on-the-fly 4WD system with locking rear differential and one-tonne-plus payload, it now offers even more than ever, with high-end interior and plenty of standard equipment.

Clearly its workhorse credentials are self evident. But addressing practical problems, such as boot capacity for family items such as shopping and household goods on this open back version, needs a bit of creativity while still allowing for transporting  the likes of pallets, fence panels or bags of cement.

Netting strapped to lashing points and investing in a metal roll top could be one answer.

It looks the part decked out with gunmetal grey bold new grille and running plates, together with colour-coded door mirrors and bumpers. It also features LED lights, day time running lights and a clever damped tailgate on the open cab.

It sits on snazzy 18-inch six-spoke alloys with tyres, designed for off-road, but more than capable of delivering a reasonably comfortable ride on-road,

The double cab means five are carried in reasonable comfort and major functions are operated via a nine-inch touchscreen, while a 4.2 inch display gives vital driver information. 

Other features include eight speaker sound system, push button starter, auto dimming mirror, dual zone climate control and  multi-function steering wheel.

The roomy interior also features powered and heated, multi adjustable leather-style seats and V-Cross branded mats.

Also included is a raft of safety kit and, importantly for such a long vehicle, rear camera. It  is the only pickup in the UK to have a rear radar fitted as standard on all double cab variants together with rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitor and emergency lane keeping.

The vehicle is powered by a 1.9 litre diesel engine, with auto transmission and on-the-fly capability of selecting four wheel drive. The firm says it is built to endure the harshest conditions, with a 250mm ground clearance and no compromise on vehicle handling and stability.

The 162bhp engine is more than capable of delivering the grunt needed for serious off-road work, while at the same time offering enough pace on road to more than cope with both general and motorway driving. Economy is surprisingly good with a claimed 36-odd mpg seeming pretty much near the mark.

The modified suspension means it can cope with extreme terrains, but does not make you feel seasick when on flat roads. Although you cannot escape some wallow on corners, it is surprisingly agile for such a big beast. 

In addition there is the 125,000 mile/five-year warranty and five-year roadside assistance to offer quite a tempting package.

Factfile

Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Double Cab Auto

Price: £40,549 inc VAT

Mechanical: 162bhp, 1,989cc, four-cylinder diesel engine driving four wheels via six-speed auto gearbox

Max speed: 112mph

0-62mph: 12.7 seconds

Combined mpg: 30.7

Insurance group: 50

CO2 emissions: 241g/km

BIK rating: 37 per cent

Warranty: 5yrs/125,000 miles