TOP GEAR: Isuzu D-Max 250 double cab 4×4 X-Rider…6th Gen D-Max refuses to die

THERE  can’t be a person in southern Africa who doesn’t know that despite my passion for all things motoring, I’m very unlikely to be found in a bakkie showroom hunting out a new set of wheels for personal use.

Gloss of the “Pull Me Over” red paint is self-evident

I simply cannot fathom why so many people in RSA use this mode of transport for their daily urban commute for the simple reason that the driving characteristics of any vehicle equipped with a ladder frame chassis are sub-standard compared with what is served up by modern monocoque SUVs.

Given this situation, my expectations of the latest Gen 6 Isuzu D-Max in 250 X-Rider 4X4 manual guise were not set very high but read on as it’s not all negative. First off, the test unit sported a coat of bright red paint dubbed “Pull Me Over Red” that positively glowed and despite being an impractical shade for this type of vehicle, it really added a lot to its visual appeal compared with boring white, for example.

Isuzu’s Eastern Cape plant clearly take pride in its output as the D-Max also sported very respectable panel gaps to complement that gleaming paint, not to mention very smart alloy wheels housing knobbly 255/60R18 rubber. Lots of black bits that were once the preserve of a Limited Edition model are now permanent features of this X-Rider which means running boards, door handles, mirror housings, roll bar and bumper inlays. And the bold red badging that adorns this model also stands out especially well along with that lovely red paint.

Inside, lots of hard surfaces – admittedly appropriate for a vehicle that might spend a lot of time bundu-bashing – greet occupants. Fortunately, any sense of austerity is dissipated by neat design elements and most especially by the very smart tailoring of the seats which are clad in an unusually high grade of cow hide that’s way superior to the thinned-out skins that masquerade in many other bakkies.

Lots of smart add-ons for the X-Rider version

Those seats, up front at least, are nicely shaped and provide decent location and support, and while space in the back is fine for two adults, seating posture is not great as the lowish cushion and relatively upright backrest make for a knees-up posture. As for creature comforts, the D-Max provides air con, electric windows all round, remote entry, an 8-inch infotainment unit with i-Phone connectivity and Bluetooth, mapping, CD player and voice control. Two air bags are provided for those in the front only (ISOFIX mountings are in the rear) where the driver will enjoy playing with a partially adjustable multi-function steering wheel while externally, LED daytime running lights and a high-level brake light add to the safety factor.

Compared with KB-badged Isuzus, this X-Rider is positively dripping in accoutrements, but given that the trend to fitting out double cabs with everything bar the kitchen sink is common practice among purveyors of this mode of transport in RSA, the latest iteration of this stalwart is around class average on the equipment front.

The truth is that marketing considerations have changed the face of Isuzu bakkies, or at least double cab derivatives, in that the focus on simple presentation and down-to-earth mechanical components such as a diesel engine delivering just 58kW, has mostly gone out of the window as far as the leisure market is concerned.

I’m not suggesting that these titivated derivatives are less fit for purpose in terms of durability as this aspect remains a core element of Isuzu’s persona, and happy to report, the company still spends many, many hours traversing all terrains in Mzansi to ensure that their locally manufactured examples are honed for local conditions.

Rear eg room is good; seat comfort is average.

Despite the plethora of decals adorning the test unit, there is no badging to tell the world whether the engine up front is a 2.5TD or a 3.0TD. Indeed, in my quest to establish exactly what was under the bonnet, I spend some while scanning documents lurking in the cubby hole to acquire a definitive answer which happened to point towards a “250.”

In specific terms, that means a 100kW/320Nm 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel was doing duty in this test unit. Those peak kWs are achieved at a very leisurely 3 400rpm while the Newtons hold good from 1 800 to 2 800rpm. These figures should telegraph most of what you need to know about the way this mill delivers its energy reserves but not about the commotion it makes in doing so. As for thirst, expect around 9.4L/100km in mixed conditions.

In simple terms, it’s a lugger with a bit of a punch thrown in thanks to the presence of turbo boost. As ever, it makes itself heard, especially when it’s chilly in the early morning. The combustion process was loud enough for my neighbour to be observed closing his bedroom window on the one occasion I had to make a pre-dawn exit from my abode.

Indeed, the clatter never really goes away even if it abates as heat seeks through the block but having said that, on the cruise at 120 clicks, only a mild thrum pervades the cabin and the bakkie-typical effective suppression of road noise, along with reasonably low wind noise levels, ensures that cruising on a smooth road at least, is acceptably peaceful.

It’s around town that this Isuzu becomes a bit of a chore. The relatively agricultural timbre of that engine as revs rise under load becomes a bit tedious and the power steering, while offering low levels of resistance, but with little real feel, is low geared which demands an excessive amount of wheel twirling to negotiate car parks that it invariably overhangs, such is the size of modern double cabs.

A five-speed manual box did service in this unit and offered precise if mechanical feeling long throws. A medium weight clutch with a well-judged bite point helped reduce the effort factor but I must admit I did hanker for the simplicity of an auto box, especially in an application such as this where a low first gear always demands early upward shifts to diminish mechanical commotion.

Good quality leather mixes it with hard cabin surfacing

The brakes, complete with ABS, EBD and Assist proved to be thoroughly effective and endowed with a nice pedal weighting. For the record, the braked towing capacity is 2100kg.

And the ride! For long a bakkie bugbear and a sore point for Isuzus in particular, there’s no doubt that the engineers in the eastern Cape – I can’t spell the name of the city where they are based without looking it up – have spent many hours taking the harsh edge off the primary ride. There’s more initial pliancy in evidence than I recall, and I suspect this is sourced in softer springing offset by stiffer damping, but no amount of fine tuning will get rid of the fact that a ladder frame, leaf-sprung bakkie that needs to accommodate (in theory at least) variable loads and offer generous articulation, will not ride like a decent passenger car.

The result is that even small surface imperfections generate obvious vertical reactions not to mention a constant shuffling feeling which gets wearing after a while. Roll control is mediocre but even if the 250 feels a little like boat-like when rapid directional changes are made, it is provided with Stability Control and with Traction Control and on that subject, I really must mention that off-roaders are provided with an AWD system that includes 2H, 4H and 4L accessible via a simple rotary switch. A diff lock is also on board, and I know from experience that this Isuzu will make headway where most drivers fear to tread, but the absence of specific terrain-related traction systems means the pilot will have to make more of a contribution to progress than those who are flattered by vehicles with more electronic nannies in the off-road armoury.

The imminent if inordinately delayed arrival of the new model 7^th Gen D-Max doesn’t mean the end of the road for this old 6^th Gen stalwart as production of specific models for the RSA and export markets will continue. Please have a word with your Isuzu dealer to get a grip of all the specifics. In the meantime, I have every reason to believe that those who have already committed to Gen 6 will enjoy the inherent honest-to-goodness qualities of their steeds for many years to come even if the neighbours will be more than aware of their comings and goings thanks to that rowdy power unit!