Isuzu D-Max XTR

What is it?

Divisive, that’s good description, and with this particular body wrap, it’s certainly something you can’t lose in a car park, that’s for sure.

You may recall that last year I reported back on the Isuzu XTR after its launch, and hands down it was the best car launch I’ve ever been on thats main objective was to show off a 4x4s off-road capability. It was astounding.

Everyone knows that Isuzu makes a tough truck, after all, they’re the oldest commercial vehicle manufacturer in the world and were the first company to offer diesel engines in commercial vehicles over 80 years ago.

The XTR is Isuzus attempt to get a foothold in the lifestyle pickup market that appears to be making a resurgence. Isuzu have said that the XTR will sit firmly between the Blade and AT35 in their adventure range.

So, what do you get with the XTR? Well the most obvious addition is the unmistakable black cladding which covers the bumper, bonnet and wheel arch extensions. There are proper heavy duty side steps, too, that are protected by a ‘Raptor’ coat.

At the rear there’s a tailgate spoiler and a new rear bumper with fake twin exhaust outlets. Although it looks good, I’d probably remove them if it was mine.

Flashes of green are dotted around on the wheel arches and the brake callipers, which hide behind 17”black alloy wheels and 32” (265-70-17) Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tyres. Isuzu incidentally are the first manufacturer to fit the Pirellis’ as standard.

Suspension wise, Isuzu have worked closely with Pedders who have furnished the XTR with its own suspension package, which raises the body by 25mm and provides an extra 250mm of ground clearance.

There’s more XTR loveliness on the inside too, but I’ll get to that later.

So, what is it like to live with?

On the road

On the launch last year I shared driving duties with Liam from Professional Pickup & 4x4 website, and I seem to remember us both being quite impressed with its on-road ride. In fact, it was this very vehicle that we drove both on and off-road, and at the time it had less that 300 miles on the clock.

Around 5 thousand miles later, which I’m going to assume haven’t been easy miles as it’s a press car, and the XTR feels just as solid and stable as I remember.

Although the ride is firm it isn’t uncomfortable, the Pedders suspension does a fantastic job of keeping you on the straight and narrow. In fact, it controls body lean and handles the bumps and bends so well that it can give you a false sense of security, despite being 250mm taller than normal. On occasions you can forget you’re in a pickup with all-terrain tyres. The steering feels heavier than a normal D-Max, but it’s just as precise. Braking is equally as impressive as Pedders have also improved the XTR’s stopping distances by including their new Kevlar ventilated discs and pads at the front.

Heavy acceleration can prove a noisy task, but once you’re up to speed noise levels are unobtrusive and it’s really quite pleasant.

If I’m going to moan about anything it’s that the 6-speed manual box isn’t the smoothest to operate, I’d much prefer an automatic. I’ve been told by good authority that the next generation D-Max, which is out later this year, is far smoother.

Worthy of a mention is that the XTR retains its kerb weight of only 1970kg, meaning that you’re able to drive legally at 60 and 70mph on dual carriageways, unlike some offerings from the Ford stable.

Off road

Just look at that approach angle, I don’t think there’s another 4x4 currently on the market with a better one.

I’ve already mentioned that the XTR with its 32” Pirelli Scorpion all-terrain tyres is simply quite phenomenal off the beaten track, despite not having a rear locker. If I was to buy an XTR, would I retrofit a rear locker? I don’t know, I’ve driven the XTR up some incredibly steep and slippery ascents with total ease, so if a locker was on a shopping list, it would be near the bottom.

I took the XTR along some scenic Cumbrian green-lanes which didn’t challenge it a bit, I considered driving up Parkamoor, but as I was on my own I thought better of it.

As an extra, you can have a light bar fitted between the roof bars, and I have to say, what a fantastic addition it is, both on and off-road, I seriously need one of my 4x4, Deux Smurf.

Interior

The XTR comes with a whole host of goodies over the standard model, there’s a D shaped leather and suede hand finished steering wheel, which is a joy to use. The XTR also gets its very own ‘sports seats’, which are padded and finished in mix of leather, suede and carbon fibre leather upholstery with green overstitching. As well as being quite snug they are very comfortable and offered exceptional support both on and off road.

The only problem I had was the heated switch which is situated by your right bum cheek, and although very effective with 3 settings, it’s impossible to actually see it safely whilst driving.

Infotainment is provided by a Pioneer system which includes a 7” touchscreen display, eight speakers, steering-wheel mounted controls, USB ports front and rear and of course Bluetooth. The XTR Nav+ which costs £1,150 more than the standard XTR, adds sat-nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a DAB radio.

Pickup stuff

The XTR has a 3.5t towing capacity and one tonne payload, and although it has a load bed that’s wider and deeper than most of its competitors, at 1,485mm long it’s one of the smallest in the double-cab segment.

Included as standard are the load bed liner, lashing points and the tailgate dampener.

Engines‘n’transmissions

The D-Max only comes with their 1.9ltr diesel engine which doesn’t require the extra expense of AdBlue. It produces 162bhp (at 3,600rpm) and 360Nm (between 2,000 and 2,500rpm).

On a personal level I much prefer the smooth 6-speed automatic ‘box over the manual, it just feels more relaxed.

Conclusion

Although I love the look and overall feel of the XTR, I have to be honest and say that in some places it feels a little dated. Not only is the engine quite noisy, but the gearboxes aren’t as smooth as the competition, and although the interior lacks flair, there’s no denying that it’s functional.

Granted, the body kit and wheel extensions may not be to everyone’s taste, but there’s no denying it stands out. Despite my earlier moans I wouldn’t refuse one. I’d remove the rear bumper and roll bar, and add a rear canopy, roof tent and awning, then head off and enjoy as many foreign adventures as I could. The D-Max is a tough and reliable pickup that gives me heaps of confidence, both on and off-road.

The XTR starts at £33,999 plus VAT, rising to £34,999 for the automatic, the Nav+ is £1,150 more and available on both manual and automatic. The D-Max XTR has Isuzu’s reputable 5-year, 125,000-mile warranty.

more at » https://www.isuzu.co.uk/xtr