A really useful vehicle. That’s what the Isuzu D-MAX V-Cross pickup truck is and it is no surprise that it won the Best Pick Up Truck of the Year in the What Van? Awards 2023.
I have a lot of green waste that has been piling up over the summer and this is an ideal opportunity to take it to the tip. It takes me a little while to understand how to operate the top lid cover on the load bay because I initially think it’s a roll top but it isn’t, it simply pops up like a car boot lid. When I do finally figure it out there’s a nice large space, which swallows lots of my bagged up hedge cuttings. Two journeys are all that’s required to clear my pile.
The D-Max pick-up truck, reminiscent of the one on popular ‘80s US TV programme, The Fall Guy, has the cool factor. It also allows me to help my elderly mother-in-law whose overgrown garden we’ve tidied up. She has plenty of cuttings to get rid of so we use the Isuzu to dispose of these at her local tip.
Thanks for your help D-Max.
“These are popular in the countryside,” says Graham, the delivery driver. “Especially among farmers.” I can see how budget conscious landowners would prefer this over a considerably more expensive and lower down Land Rover or Range Rover.
“It’s even got roof lamps, which they say are excellent for spotting rabbits.” I can’t figure out how to operate these.
It’s equipped with switchable four wheel drive – you just turn a dial. Powering four wheels uses more fuel so everyday road driving is best done on two wheel drive.
It’s a big, tall beast, taking up the best part of my driveway, and commanding respect from other road users. There’s no tailgating this vehicle when you dare to do 30mph in a 30mph zone. Being an automatic, it is very easy to drive and although there’s a push button start, to my delight, there is a traditional handbrake rather than a silly little switch for an electric one as is so often the case these days. It feels heavy duty for tough work.
The cabin is finished to a high standard with good quality hardwearing carpet and black leather seats. The children love this vehicle. Henry is especially smitten with it and enjoys opening the rear bay. Those seats are also heated, which I can imagine will be a Godsend for a soaking wet farmer on a cold winter’s day. The double cabin allows for five occupants to travel in comfort. Behind them is a standard size load bed with security cover, large enough for a calf or a few hay bales, I should think.
It’s a good looking truck and this particular model is fitted with a stone chip protector on the bonnet.
Acceleration and braking remind me of the old Mitsubishi L200, a little jerky and swaying due to the height but you expect that from such a vehicle and it adds to the overall character. In two wheel drive care is required when driving in the wet around roundabouts, I discover, when a little too enthusiastically I accelerate and the off-side front wheel skids but fortunately I’m able to correct this. As a result I select four wheel drive when driving round roundabouts in the wet. The beauty of the system is that you can select four wheel drive while driving up to a speed of about 60mph.
Price: Around £34,000
Engine: 1.9-litre diesel
Top speed: 112mph
0 to 60mph: 13secs
Power: 164bhp
Economy: Around 30mpg
Towing capacity: 3,500kg
Tim Saunders is a travel writer and photographer regularly contributing to publications with a combined audience exceeding 100,000 readers. You can read more from Tim on his website travelwriter.biz and www.testdrives.biz.
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