Review: Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35
Pickup trucks may be more suited to working life, but Julie Marshall likes them anyway
Even though I have no real need for a pickup truck—I live in a small city and am desk-bound five or six days a week—I can't help but enjoy driving them and I've always had a real fondness for them.
In particular, love the elevated seat height, which provides a commanding view of the road and earns respect from other drivers.
However, it’s fair to say that pickups are impractical for urban use in every way: they're thirsty for fuel, difficult to park, and lack accessible luggage space.
For anyone living in the countryside or with a job that requires hauling heavy loads, though, they are valuable workhorses worth every penny.
Recently, I tested the Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35, the most extreme off-road version of the D-Max, which has been around since 2016.
It caters to a niche market, with only 106 sold in the UK in 2024—the most recent figures available—compared to 6,574 D-Max units sold overall.
Arctic Trucks is a vehicle engineering specialist that has been developing and building 4x4 vehicles for challenging conditions for decades.
The D-Max Arctic Trucks started as a standard D-Max but has undergone the Arctic Trucks treatment, now featuring 35in all-terrain tyres, a 40mm increase in ground clearance, and upgraded Bilstein performance suspension, including enhanced springs and dampers.
This combination creates an impressive package.
The radiator grille has a more sculpted design, and the vehicle features massive flared wheel arches, which elicited a few sharp intakes of breath when I navigated the narrow road to my house.
The vehicle also has Arctic Trucks-branded side steps with a non-slip surface, mud flaps, and interior accents, roof rails as standard, along with an AT35 badge to help it stand out even further.
The seats are premium leather with Arctic Trucks embroidered headrests and floor mats
Like all D-Max models, the Arctic Trucks AT35 has a payload capacity of 1 tonne and a towing capacity of 3,500 kg.
All versions are powered by a robust, albeit occasionally noisy, 1.9-litre engine, with an acceleration time of 13 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph.
Official fuel economy is surprisingly decent at 30.7mpg, with CO2 emissions at 241g/km.
Today's pickups are as well-equipped as passenger cars, and the AT35 is no exception. It features numerous on-road and off-road driving aids along with amenities such as a reversing camera, Bluetooth connectivity, air conditioning, cruise control, an updated nine-inch colour touchscreen, and remote central locking.
Additionally, it offers keyless entry with a start button, front and rear parking sensors, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charger, two USB ports in the front, one in the rear, and a 12V power outlet for plugging in a cooler or similar device.
The double cab comfortably seats five passengers. The fully enclosed cargo bed keeps bags and other items secure, but accessing them does require scrambling inside.
Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35
Price: £57,005 as tested
Engine: 1.9 turbo diesel, four-cylinder
Power: 162bhp
Torque: 265lb/ft
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Top speed: 112mph
0-62mph: 13 seconds
Economy: 30.7–33.6 mpg
CO 2 emissions:235g/km