Pick-up trucks have come a long way from hardy workhorses in the early years to something of a jack-of-all-trades today.
These days, they are expected not only to haul goods or tow gear, but have become – gasp! – family carriers and grocery-getters as well.
That partly accounts for why double cabs exist – to fit five people if need be like sedans do but in a much more robust frame that can tackle slopes and floods where normal cars fear to tread.
They are virtually a godsend in rural country. Just ask people in Sabah and Sarawak.
Pick-ups surely don’t come any more varied than Isuzu’s. A 4X4 double cab D-Max 2.5-litre Super Commonrail variant was launched locally last September.
In Malaysia, while many pick-ups are used for commercial purposes, the majority are for personal use. In fact, the Malaysian Automotive Association says that up to 70% registered were for private use last year.
You can never mistake the D-Max for anything but a pickup. It has added some niceties both outside and inside to quiet the rumbles from some quarters used to having creature comforts on the go.
Isuzu says the exterior looks like a 3.0-litre model and the interior offers a similar level of equipment.
As far as pick-ups go, it is dressed up as the good-looking one that Isuzu intended to be, but one simply doesn’t get excited about its appearance.
Two trim levels are offered: Type B and Premium.
The Premium version under review gets projector headlamps, fog lamps, aero-type side steps, reverse sensors and chrome door mirrors with turn signals.
These goodies turn a truck from merely basic to a rather nice-looking urban vehicle.
Isuzu doesn’t expect the Premium owner to wander far from paved roads, otherwise why bother with soft aluminium sidesteps that are likely to be ripped off in any offroad misadventure.
Inside, the bluish e-Lumax instrument panel complete with multi-info display, a 2-DIN audio system, two airbags and leather-wrapped gear knob and steering wheel confer some premium touches.
The Commonrail model gets you the five-speed manual gearbox which is also the same one fitted into the non-Commonrail version.
You get what you pay for.
Upgrade to the RM89,000 test unit, and tap into 114hp at 3,600rpm, and peak torque of 280Nm from 1,800rpm to 2,200rpm.
This is a 47% increase in power and 59% more torque over the base model. Coupled with the part-time 4X4 transmission, they are an acceptable set of numbers to start mucking around in the mud.
At the heart of the new 2.5-litre Super Commonrail D-Max is a well-proven four-cylinder engine that has been designed to provide reliable and efficient operation even when pushed to the limit.
Commonrail technology has to an extent quiet the typical diesel clatter but not completely. The capable intercooled direct injection four-cylinder mill is still somewhat boisterous when picking up the pace to cruising speed.
The Touch-on-the-Fly 4WD system is sheer convenience as it allows the driver to choose between 2WD and 4WD at speeds of up to 100kph at the touch of a button.
The D-Max’s turning radius is not the tightest in its class at 6.2m but is good enough to give it a fairly agile character.
The engine has enough low-end torque over a stretch of the rev band to make highway driving a smooth and pleasant affair.
At highway speeds, the D-Max surprises with a relatively cushy ride given the basic suspension.
The ride only becomes less comforting on poorly surfaced roads, causing chassis shudders that characterise vehicles with body-on-frame construction.
Offroading is facilitated by a limited slip differential, ultra-low first gear ratio, reasonable 225mm ground clearance and long rear axle travel.
Break-over, approach and departure angles of 21.0, 34.6 and 23.3 degrees respectively suggest general competence when bumping around on the wilderness trail.
Man’s to blame for the climate change that has brought on unpredictable weather. Expect flash floods, landslides, pulverised roads and cave-ins as nature’s riposte.
It’s not a bad idea in this instance to have a pick-up as insurance that your personal mobility will not be stymied by such inconvenient mishaps.
As far as pick-ups go, this D-Max is up to the task of tackling the after-effects of calamities where they fall.
And in moments of sobriety, to handle its usual range of chores with aplomb.
It’s after all a 4X4 with enough power and unbelievable range to get the job done.