Range-topping Isuzu D-Max lights up pick-up segment
Normally the suggestion that a vehicle might be ideal fit for a football coach comes down to the fact that it has seats to accommodate plenty of the matchday squad – not so the Isuzu D-Max.
No, the range-topping D-Max V-Cross tested here fits the bill thanks to its optional Lazer LED lighting kit, which comes complete with a roof-mounted light bar and accompanying light units in the grille.
Set to come on in unison with the D-Max’s main beam, they may just melt the eyes of oncoming motorists. However, they could also facilitate a floodlit night match at the local recreation ground.
What practical purpose they serve, I am not sure, but they are damned impressive and add another dimension to the D-Max’s reputation as a practical rugged workhorse.
Updated in 2025, the latest D-Max still sits on a robust ladder chassis and offers a switchable drivetrain that serves up rear-wheel-drive for the road or low-ratio all-wheel-drive traction for the rough stuff.
The twin cab D-Max V-Cross accommodates five and can carry a 1,106kg payload in a load bed measuring 1,520mm in length and 1,530mm in width. It will also tow braked trailers and caravans weighing up to 3,500kg.
But the V-Cross specification is targeted at private buyers with an active lifestyle.
As such, its optional Sienna Orange paint, optional LED spotlights, hugely sturdy rear roll bars and an automated load bay cover bring a dose of bling.
Inside, meanwhile, there are heated faux leather seats, a nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a wireless smartphone charging plate and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity.
The surfaces are dark and more plasticky than those in a Ford Ranger or Volkswagen Amarok, but the quality is solid and there is lots of practical storage space.
Despite a price of over £47,000, the range-topping V-Cross’s price also undercuts those key rivals.
Its four-cylinder, 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine’s 162bhp and 360Nm of torque stack up less well against its more powerful alternatives, however, sounding rather clattery at low speeds and serving up rather sedate, 13 second acceleration to 62mph.
The claimed average fuel consumption of 31.4mpg seemed achievable in our six-speed automatic gearbox-equipped test vehicle, though.
The D-Max’s on-road manners are also significantly improved, the suspension riding in fairly assured fashion, its rear end feeling less skittish than it once did.
The D-Max’s turning circle is also usefully smaller than many modern pick-ups, the V-Cross’s standard reversing camera further aiding manoeuvrability.
Recent changes to the UK’s road tax rules have made pick-ups a more expensive proposition for business users.
As such, Isuzu is out to capture more private buyers. On this evidence, there is appeal in the rugged assurance the well-equipped D-Max V-Cross serves up.
Isuzu D-Max V-Cross
Price: £47,926 (basic)
Engine: 1.9-litre turbodiesel
Power: 162bhp
Torque: 360Nm
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Top Speed: 112mph
0-62mph: 13 seconds
Economy: 31.4mpg
CO2 emissions: 235g/km