Genuine hardware: test drive the Isuzu D-Max pickup. Pickups Isuzu D-Max According to the color scheme, the new Isuzu D Max is available in

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Isuzu D-Max is not just interesting, but perhaps the most unexpected novelty of the Russian automotive market in 2017. This is a car of the Isuzu brand, which for many years was going to enter the Russian market not as a seller of commercial vehicles, but as a company that offers cars for private clients, such as hunters, fishermen, travelers. Isuzu D-Max pickup is a great car for such people.

Isuzu D-Max is a modern classic of pika building. At the heart of the machine is a frame, at the back is a continuous bridge. On the springs - in front of a double-lever suspension. On the test there was a version with a double cab, although the Isuzu D-Max also offers one and a half cabs.

No matter how much you look under the hoods of different versions of Isuzu D-Max, which are presented in Russia, there will always be the same engine. Diesel volume of 2.5 liters with twin turbocharging and a power of 163 hp. Plus impressive, but absolutely necessary for such a car, 400 Nm of torque. Such a diesel has already been installed on other cars. He is, as they say, time-tested and that's good.

Gearboxes are more interesting, because there is a choice. This motor can be equipped with both a six-speed manual and a five-speed automatic Aisin. The test was a real man's car with a manual transmission. The Isuzu pickup drive, of course, is complete, it is implemented according to the part-time scheme. When you drive on a well-paved road, the car will be rear-wheel drive. On poor surfaces, on slippery surfaces, you can connect the front wheels, and on off-road, you can downshift. During the test drive, I had the opportunity to see how it all works in practice.

Isuzu D-Max and its salon

The main trouble with pickups is that they have a cargo body, but there is no trunk. However, the creators of such machines have come up with something in this regard. There is a small niche left behind the back of the rear seats, where the “Motorist's Kit” fits, and you can also put tools, gloves and some small things that should be in the car all the time. But you should not rely too much on this space, after all, it is small. Therefore, most likely, bags of food from the supermarket will be in the back seats.

Often the problem of a pickup truck is that with a decent length of the car, the rear row of seats is not spacious enough. However, Isuzu D-Max does not feel any problems. There is a place above the head, there is enough space in front of the knees. Another thing is that there is nothing else but space in the second row. Is that a pair of coasters, and quite small, and there is also an armrest. It looks artisanal, but in practice it is quite convenient. That's all, because even the air ducts are not observed behind.

Isuzu pickup in the driver's seat

It seems that the supporters of fashion trends were clearly not allowed to create the Isuzu D-Max. Such an interior could be called modern in the last decade, but today it gives the feeling that the car has not been updated for a long time. However, the way it is, because we perceive this model as a novelty, although in fact it has been on sale since 2011, father-in-law for several years now. By the standards of passenger models, the period is sufficient for the release of a new generation, but this is still a commercial vehicle. She constantly reminds me of this. Say, there is no need to feel the plastic. It is as firm as the confidence of its creators that luxury does not suit a commercial car.

Only in one the creators of the car took liberties and made a large round climate control switch. The thing is really interesting, but everything else is the interior of an ordinary pickup truck.

But, as it should be for a representative of commercial vehicles, there are a huge number of containers for all sorts of small things. Let's say glove box. Normal full glove box. Not to say that it is very large, but if it is missed, then there is a second glove box. Let's say you need to put some very small things somewhere. In this case, the cup holder with a slight movement of the hand can be turned into a small box. An interesting design find.

In addition, Isuzu has a pickup truck and a third glove compartment, which is usually found on vans. As for the key, it is simple and straightforward. Not even folding, let alone some kind of engine start buttons. You just need to put it in the well, turn it, start the engine and go.

One more detail. We start the engine and the inscription appears on the screen: Premium Sound System. This is about the display, which is like a calculator. Still, the Japanese were clearly greedy about electronics. Because it's a very simple radio. It is clear that this car is utilitarian, if it catches the radio, then this can already be considered sufficient. There is also a USB connector, but on verification it turns out that this is a mini-USB. Therefore, if you want to listen to music from a USB flash drive or recharge your phone, you will not find a normal USB port. Why? Unclear.

Isuzu D-Max 2017 does not encourage active driving. The cabin is frankly noisy, and the gear lever is loose. Another thing is the suspension. You stop paying attention to pits and potholes. Yes, it shakes a little, but by the standards of a pickup truck, the Isuzu suspension can be called comfortable. It allows you to drive in a straight line where cars zigzag.

Body Isuzu D-Max

The most important part of a pickup truck is its body, but there is virtually nothing to tell about it. This is explained by the fact that all pickup trucks that are officially sold in Russia are, in fact, made in the same format. So, the length of the Isuzu D-Max is 5.2 meters. This is almost exactly the same to the nearest millimeter as the Mitsubishi L200 or Wolksvagen Amarok.

With a body, the story is similar. The cargo platform has a plastic coating that protects the metal from damage. The tailgate can withstand decent loads. As for the dimensions of the loading platform, it is actually square: one and a half meters by one and a half. This is not the largest body in the class, but its gap from the leader is measured in centimeters at best. Therefore, the cargo compartment of the Isuzu D-Max is exactly what a pickup should be.

As for the interesting nuances. There is a very useful bulkhead. The fact is that it allows you to isolate a small compartment from the entire cargo body and you can put some things in it. They will not fly all over the body. For some reason, many pickup sellers do not offer such options for their own. Otherwise, it's just as spacious, just as roomy, just as versatile as most other pickups.

The declared load capacity of the machine is 975 kg. That is, the Isuzu D-Max does not fall under the restrictions for commercial vehicles established in the capital.

About the ergonomics of the Isuzu D-Max

Isuzu D-Max 2017 chairs are quite comfortable. In addition to everything, a richer package includes electrical adjustments. True, only in the driver's seat. On the passenger - only mechanics. In addition, it is felt that you will not get tired in this seat even after a long journey. You can safely go "for a long distance." There is an armrest, it is made of plastic, pleasant to the touch, under it there is a small glove compartment.

There is only one detail that makes it a little worse. The fact is that it is impossible to put an elbow on it. It is too far back, so the hand will constantly slide off. Strange, from the point of view of ergonomics, the decision, but what is, what is.

Isuzu pickup is produced in Thailand, a country far from Russia, where the climate is completely different. However, the car was prepared for sale in our latitudes. In particular, a battery with increased capacity was installed. Reinforced thermal insulation on some units. In addition, the more expensive configuration has heated seats, but, unfortunately, there is no heated steering wheel and windshield. This, of course, is a minus, but you can live without it.

What is the Isuzu D-Max capable of?

The Isuzu D-Max really shines off-road. To open it, we move off the asphalt and turn on the four-wheel drive. Impressive ground clearance and the absence of a center differential allow you to get quite far on the move. As it turned out during the test drive, Isuzu D-Max is well equipped for trips outside the paved trust. He has a large ground clearance, namely 235 mm. This is really a lot, even against the background of modern SUVs.

In addition, the car, of course, has all-wheel drive, which works according to the park-time algorithm. Accordingly, we can connect the front axle. We can choose a downshift. However, its off-road capabilities are not unlimited. Much depends on the tires and the level of pressure in them. In addition, in some situations it may happen that the car does not have cross-wheel locks, which, it would seem, should be in a pickup truck, at least as additional equipment. To be honest, the lack of a rear lock is still a gap in the Isuzu D-Max.

What can you say about the price of this car. The situation here is somewhat paradoxical. The fact is that only the UAZ Patriot is fundamentally cheaper than the Isuzu D-Max in our area. But this is such a niche car that not everyone will choose. As for analogues, there are Mitsubishi L200 and its twin brother Fiat Fullback. In the basic version, they are more affordable than the Isuzu D-Max, but all other pickups are already more expensive. Yes, the car is ascetic. But she is honest, masculine, simple and understandable. This is an ATV for those people who have everything going well in life and they can afford toys of this size and with such capabilities. In addition, Isuzu D-Max is certainly a great car in those places where this car is needed for work.

Competitors: once again updated Amarok, Ford Ranger, L200, new Nissan Navara.

Isuzu pickup test drive video

Cars for work are not always used for their intended purpose. Often, pickups are bought for the purpose of operation as an SUV, for which these cars are remarkably adapted. Judging by the reviews of some representatives of the Isuzu Corporation lineup, it is this fate that awaits them most often in Russia. We are talking about the Isuzu D MAX model. The corporation offers a productive and reliable Japanese car with excellent technical characteristics. But Isuzu D Max is not only a well-known representative of the model range of the Japanese corporation, but also a participant in many other developments.

Isuzu is known for actively selling the technical developments of its SUVs and excellent pickups to other manufacturers. For example, half of the famous Chinese SUVs used the base and engines on which the Isuzu pickup is built to manufacture their cars. Of course, the reviews about these Chinese developments are not as exciting as the opinions about the original pickup truck, which we will talk about today.

Constructive solutions and design of a pickup truck

The 2008 model year already seems so far away that one should not expect any pleasant surprises from the SUV. However, in its best photos, the car looks quite attractive. Even if you compare the development of Isuzu D Max with modern pickup trucks from other corporations, you will not find serious outdated parts. However, an SUV is known not so much in design as in constructive solutions. In this regard, the Isuzu pickup surprises the buyer well:

• the photo shows that the passenger cabin of the 4-door Isuzu D MAX is quite spacious;
• there is a lot of space in the back row for passengers, the knees do not rest against the backs of the front seats;
• the finish is quite simple, this is not the representative of the model range for which chic is needed;

• everything in the interior is quite practical, but the quality of plastic is not inferior to competitors;
• operating reviews indicate that the car has very good ergonomics;
• instead of two seats for the driver and passenger, the pickup truck has a one-piece sofa.

Constructive solutions can be judged by convenience and beauty. Inside, everything is not too modern, but the buyer of an SUV does not need to be delighted with the design. From the photo you can understand whether such an interior layout in Isuzu D MAX will suit you - it is not necessary to go for a test drive or a personal acquaintance. The price of finishing is quite low, but this practically does not affect the quality of operation.

Specifications - no surprises

The corporation decided not to surprise Isuzu D MAX buyers with the incredible technical features of the car. Unpretentious engines, the most practical drive system and several serious off-road functions - this is all that paints off-road vehicles. Given the fact that we're looking at a pickup truck and not a full SUV, the suspension is also very basic, especially on the rear set of wheels. The main features of the Isuzu D MAX in technical terms are as follows:

• the first engine in the lineup of cars from Isuzu is a simple 2.5-liter diesel engine and 136 horses;
• the second power unit is somewhat more powerful - a 162-horsepower 3-liter unit;
• acceleration to hundreds is anti-record - as much as 25 seconds, but after this threshold the car does not accelerate at all;
• Isuzu D MAX diesel fuel consumption pleases - a little more than 8 liters in the average cycle;
• reviews about the management say that the car reacts too sharply to the steering wheel.

In the new generation, cars began to be equipped with a 3-liter engine with somewhat more potential. Specifications were mediocre. Of course, the pickup was not equipped with some overly expensive machine guns and other amazing equipment. Everything was done for the sake of a low price, simply, but quite qualitatively. The best role of this car is an SUV. Here Isuzu shows himself in all his glory, demonstrates his best capabilities.

Prices for Isuzu D-MAX in the secondary market

It is possible to buy a new Isuzu D MAX in Russia - in some stores there are versions of 2012-2013 production. Their cost is excessively high, but a new engine for 163 horses and 3 liters has appeared in the configuration, which significantly improves the potential of the car. Most potential Isuzu D MAX buyers prefer used options. The benefits of buying a used Japanese pickup truck are obvious:

• the car is as simple as possible, one inspection at the service station will show all the flaws;
• in our country, cars were used in moderate modes;
• this is far from the car that was bought for killing on Russian off-road;
• prices for cars in adequate condition start from 500-600 thousand rubles;
• with a small investment in maintenance, an SUV will serve you for a very long time.

Despite some negative reviews that are associated with not too interesting technical characteristics, most buyers of the Isuzu D MAX are satisfied with their purchase. The car can be operated in any mode, used for cross-country travel and not worry about the safety of important technical components.

Summing up

The classic pickup truck, which is most often bought for operation as an SUV, pleases a potential buyer with its price in the secondary market. New cars are too expensive, they have more attractive competitors. If you are aiming to purchase the new Isuzu D Max, go to the showroom and test the car for the characteristics that suit you.

You can choose a car in this difficult class for a long time and consider dozens of interesting models, but Japanese classics always remain relevant, cars are simply indestructible, although they do not demonstrate the dynamics of supercars.

From the editor:

This is a truly detailed test drive of the Isuzu D-Max, with lots of technical information and historical digressions from a major off-road expert and former owner of three Isuzu SUVs. Reading can take many exciting minutes, so we recommend that you bookmark the text and, in extreme cases, overcome it in a couple of tricks. It's worth it!

About the role pickups in Russia

Pickup trucks as a class were born precisely as vehicles intended for the transport of goods, and their main buyers were primarily farmers. And today, a pickup truck in Europe or Asia is really a pure workhorse. It is not for nothing that in the advertising photos the bodies of pickup trucks are loaded with something like bales of pressed hay, ruddy farm daughters shine with a Hollywood smile nearby, and barns, barns, farms and other pastoral with horses serve as a background.

But in our area of ​​evergreen tomatoes, pickups skyrocketed in the 2000s, when protective duties abruptly stopped the flow of used SUVs from European countries and the United States. It was then that it turned out that if a person wants to buy a certain car with a 4x4 wheel formula, and produced by a famous company, then a pickup truck will be the cheapest option.

And it’s quite understandable why: for example, the prices for the Mitsubishi L200 (third generation) pickup truck started at $21,500, and the Pajero Sport (first generation) built on its basis and equipped in the same way cost no less than $28,000. Soon to the L200, the twins Mazda B2500/Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara were joined by Chinese manufacturers, who occupied the lower part of the price segment, then Sollers joined the game, having mastered the assembly of SsangYong Acty on Sports in Russia, and as a result, pickups confidently took the place of budget substitutes for classic SUVs.

Today, the situation has changed somewhat: Nissan has left the segment, but they have also entered the game, confidently dominating in the upper part of the price range. Mitsubishi spread to opposite corners of the market ring and equipped them with completely different motors and gearboxes. He replenished the cohort of fighters .... But the most important thing is that our pickup trucks still act mainly as recreational vehicles, and they are bought primarily by those who are fond of outdoor activities or have country houses. And against this background, another major player in the global pickup market, the Japanese brand Isuzu, came to Russia.

ABOUT come wiiIsuzu in Russia

Who said that the Russians take a very long time to harness? Perhaps, if we arrange international competitions for harnessing speed, then the Japanese can win ... In any case, the period that can be described by the words “trying on, sniffing and looking closely” lasted for Isuzu for more than ten years.

In 2008, they even made some kind of reconnaissance attempt and brought the first generation D-Max to the Moscow Motor Show, but then they did not dare to certify the car and start deliveries. The reasons for this decision are not clear to me, because by that time the Japanese brand had already found a strategic partner, which became the Sollers concern, launched a SKD truck assembly at the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant and began building a car assembly plant in Yelabuga. Nevertheless, the decision to start deliveries of D-Max to Russia was ripe only by the autumn of the last, 2016, and had to do with a difficult situation in the automotive market.

About the test version of D-Max

Of all the variety of options for deliveries to the Russian Federation, one was chosen, with part-time all-wheel drive and a 163-horsepower version of the 4JK1 four-cylinder diesel engine. Potential buyers were offered two body options - with a one-and-a-half (Extended) and a double (Double) cab, two transmission options - a six-speed "mechanics" and a five-speed "automatic", and five equipment levels with poetic names - Terra, Aqua, Air, Flame and Energy (respectively, "Earth", "Water", "Air", "Flame" and "Energy").

I got the top-end Energia for a test with a 5-speed "automatic" (6-speed "mechanics" - the only difference between the "Flame" from the "Energy" - most likely really adds a little fire to this solid guy from a working family ).

An attack of nostalgia

I climbed into the cab (raised-raised, 235 mm of ground clearance and a frame structure lifts you above the road to quite a decent height) with a distinct sense of nostalgia.

The fact is that I spent almost ten years of my driving life behind the wheel of Isuzu Trooper SUVs. I had three of them: two gasoline and the last, my favorite, diesel, with a turbocharged 4JB1. This car passed, as they say, “Crimea, Rym and Ladoga”, worked as a tow truck for off-road tests and competitions, regularly drove me to work and fishing ... In a word, I parted with him at one time with great regret.

So, of course, if you look at the details, then the D-Max interior had absolutely nothing to do with an SUV from the eighties of the last century. But here is the spirit of the car, designed to be a working tool, and not an expensive toy - this spirit remained ...

And neither the leather upholstery of the steering wheel and seats, nor the electric drives, nor the 6 speakers of a quite decent sound system, nor the climate control can disguise this cargo tone. So I sat down at the driver's workplace and immediately felt that this is exactly the workplace. And I settled on it almost instantly. This was not prevented at all by the fact that the steering column is adjustable only for tilt (and in the “junior” Terra and Aqua trim levels, adjustment is not provided at all). I sat down, as if on an irradiation, examined the surroundings (“I sit high, I look far away”), stuck the key in the lock and enjoy the tractor rumbling. If you don't want to listen to the rumbling, turn the music up louder...

About the body and the cab

By the way, about the keys. I had to deal with them separately ... The key itself is not folding, even the sting is not thrown out. There are buttons for controlling the central lock - here are the patties ... But another key fob and an additional key were attached to the main key.

An additional key fob is a remote opening of the side windows of that thing that in the West is called a “cab”, and we have a “kung” (which is completely wrong, because KUNG is an abbreviation for a very specific product, namely “universal body of normal size” , allowing trucks on platforms to safely pass through railway tunnels). The thing, in fact, is necessary, because the first problem that any newly-minted pick-up owner faces is the problem of the loading platform. Firstly, a box open from above is a terrible temptation for irresponsible citizens, provoking them to throw some kind of rubbish into it.

At one time, having driven a brand new Korean pickup truck to the house, the next morning I found empty packs of cigarettes, bulls and wrappers from chips and ice cream in it. In addition, we do not live in Nevada, we have snow sometimes. In general, the body must be closed, and at first glance, a hard cab is the best thing you can think of. It not only closes the transported cargo from intruders and bad weather, but also makes the pickup visually similar to an ordinary SUV.

But… First of all, try to get some thing that has rolled up to the front side from the body equipped with such a hood. The opening side windows of the “kibitka” installed on the test D-Max to some extent solved this problem, but not completely. Because the procedure for accessing the cargo compartment looked like this: stop, turn off the car, take out the keys, open the cab glass with a small key, open the tailgate lock with a large key, and only after that you can start loading something large. Secondly, in bad weather, the rear window instantly turns into something opaque, and in cold weather, the unheated volume tends to freeze over, so that the salon mirror becomes a useless decoration.

Only the side mirrors help out (and here everything is very good with the D-Max - huge "mugs" provide excellent visibility, you just need to remember to turn your head). But in the side mirrors it is not very clear what is happening directly behind the car, so you need to park very, very carefully, not forgetting that you have an almost meter tail sticking out behind the rear axle.

Finally, the cab fitted to the D-Max did not, in my opinion, suit it very well from an aesthetic point of view: the horizontal roof line of the cab did not match well with the sloping roof line of the cab, which made it look like the car had broken right through. "Along the midship frame".

In general, for those who decide to buy a pickup truck, I would recommend looking for just a hard cover for the cargo compartment. As my experience shows (a pickup was my main car for six years), the volume under the cover is enough in 99% of life situations, but there are no problems with visibility.

And, of course, it is worth combing American sites. There is an entire industry in this “pickup country” that makes all sorts of devices for placing cargo in the back of pickups. In daily city life, for example, a removable divider is quite enough for you, which allows you to throw packages from the supermarket into the body and not be afraid that upon arrival home you will need to play miner, crawl after them on all fours and collect the rolled purchases all over the body, which has one and a half meters by one and a half meters ...

Moreover, the list of standard D-Max accessories includes a body cover made of durable ABS plastic, and separator nets, and, importantly, plastic liners in the body - initially D-Max comes with a cargo platform protected from the inside only by a layer paints. But it is quite possible that you will have to carry, for example, some metal objects that will inevitably damage this paintwork.

About salon

But back to the cockpit. Yes, all the plastic in the cockpit is hard. What do you want from a commercial truck? But the number of different containers is simply amazing. First, the main glove box. But there is another one above it! The container for small things is at the bottom of the front panel, to the left of the steering column. There is another container with a lid in the center of the panel, above the radio. If you open its cover, then you can place a smartphone or tablet with a navigator there. Well, you never know, maybe your holder with a suction cup is broken ...

Plus a traditional box armrest and voluminous pockets in the doors. Plus, a retractable cup holder in front of the front passenger, which also essentially represents some kind of drawer. Plus a large eyeglass container above the windshield. All this, as well as the traditional niche behind the back of the rear seat, to some extent solve the problem of placing small things that is common to all pickups. You can’t throw them in the trunk, and there are no regular pockets in the cargo compartment either ...

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The instrument cluster is also quite simple: two round analog speedometers and tachometers and a monochrome display with columnar indicators of temperature and fuel level in the tank, but it must be admitted that the instruments are read very well. But the screen of the audio system in the second decade of the 21st century, frankly, surprises. Because this is not a familiar touch multifunction display with navigation capabilities, namely, that the glass, which displays the operating modes of the audio system, the volume ... And, in fact, that's all. Of the pickups featured in our group test, only the D-Max didn't offer native navigation, even in the top trim levels. Accordingly, there is no regular rear-view camera, but pickup trucks with their huge dimensions really need it.

All other features of the D-Max are fairly easy to get used to. Naturally, at first you try to change the temperature in the cabin by twisting a large round object in the center of the climate control unit, and then you find out that this is not a “twist”, but just such a digital indicator, and that you need to press the arrow keys located nearby. Attempts to “twist the unrotable” finally stop only after the third or fourth “approach to the projectile”.

You don’t immediately find the cruise control switch, because it doesn’t occur to you to look for it at the end of the left stalk, because the other cruise control controls are on the right steering wheel spoke! But everything else does not cause any complaints.

I liked the big grippy steering wheel with a constant section, and the landing, and visibility (except for looking back through the saloon mirror) ... As for the second row of seats, in pickups, the passengers of the “gallery” have always been second-class people. So in D-Max they are not supposed to have any special benefits. There is enough legroom - so say thank you ... One way or another, the “cargo” feeling that has arisen from the first minutes does not disappear, because the D-Max, without hesitation, demonstrates its worker-proletarian essence on the go.

In the city

Actually, a pickup truck can accelerate quite actively, and in the stream you don’t feel like a poor relative. But in order to make the pickup truck move more energetically, you need to press the gas pedal with all your heart, with much more force and amplitude than in passenger cars. But then you left the parking lot, built into the right lane ... By the way, when changing lanes, do not forget about the dimensions and carefully control the situation in the side mirrors so as not to hook the “tail” of the car in front of which you are built into the stream.

Average fuel consumption per 100 km

There is a red light up ahead. Slow down… slow down… Slow down, I said! The same situation: to get the desired braking dynamics, you need to press the pedal much harder than you are used to. But you need to do this quite smoothly, because otherwise the pickup truck will “stand up”!

On straight lines, the D-Max is as stable as a flying crowbar, but in fast corners you should be more careful: rear-wheel drive and an underloaded rear axle (there is nothing in the back!) require careful work with gas and steering. Yes, the D-Max is fully characterized by the “pickup effect”, that is, the periodically arising desire to throw a concrete block weighing 300-400 kilograms into the body. For all pickups, the load in the back has a very positive effect on both handling and smoothness. But now there is only frosty air in the back, so we will suffer.

Here is a speed bump ahead. "Gulp!" - Swallows bumps independent front suspension. "Bdyms!" - the back of the rear axle springs are rigidly thrown up, and you feel this blow with your whole being. And no rally tricks, say, “dynamic unloading”, do not help in such a situation: the unloaded rear axle still gets its kick. There is only one way out - to slow down and crawl over obstacles, like some kind of "puzoterka". Or ride with ballast.

Do not abuse the speed and on a hard slippery surface. Naturally, on the snow-covered paths near Moscow, I turned on the 4H mode without any hesitation. You just need to remember that you do not have a center differential, and that in this mode the car tends to understeer. Well, do not forget to turn off the front axle in areas with dry asphalt, so as not to "kill" the transfer case.

off road

But it is worth moving off the asphalt, as the hard worker D-Max is completely in his native element. Here you can safely turn on the lower row, switch the automatic transmission to manual mode, select second gear - and forward, without knowing the barriers!

A pickup truck with a joyful rumbling rushes to prove that truly “iron” cars, devoid of all sorts of electronic whistles and bows, can do a lot in skillful hands: locomotive traction and 235 mm of ground clearance make you feel more than confident in deep snow or mud. Unless in areas with a pronounced hard terrain, you should be careful and remember the huge rear overhang.

In general, during the test, I constantly tried to remember in which car I experienced exactly the same sensations and emotions. Old Isuzu Trooper? Hyundai Galloper? No, there was something very similar, but much later. Here is the second generation Chevrolet Trailblazer I tested in 2014!

And there is nothing surprising in this analogy: after all, the Trailblazer was built on the platform of the Colorado pickup truck, and the Colorado is the American twin brother of our D-Max. By the way, in Thailand, based on the D-Max, they also produce a mid-size SUV called the Isuzu MU-X, which in Asia competes with the Toyota Fortuner no less successfully than the D-Max with the Toyota Hilux.

Will there be demand?

It seems to me that in Russia the market prospects for the Isuzu pickup truck are not particularly rosy. Let's start with the fact that the D-Max is not a cheap car. Even for the simplest version of the Earth - with black bumpers, a one-and-a-half cab, manual gearboxes, adjustable seats and power windows, fabric upholstery and a plug instead of an audio system - they ask for 1,765,000 rubles, and such a car, as we had on the test, costs 2,235,000 rubles. Moreover, this price does not include either a "cab" or a cover for the body, or a plastic liner that protects the internal surfaces of the cargo compartment from damage.

But this is half the trouble. Calling Toyota Hilux or VW Amarok “budget” would also never occur to anyone, unless a person compares them in price with the flagship SUVs of these brands, and we have enough non-poor people who are fond of hunting or fishing. There will be among them those who, like me, are nostalgic for the “real iron car”. I am much more confused by the fact that the Isuzu dealer network in Russia is rather weak (it includes only 11 centers) and is completely focused on the sale of trucks, which means working with corporate clients.

But in our country, the main consumer of pickups is a private owner, and the private owner wants to be greeted warmly, and at a convenient time for him, drink coffee, offer a package of financial services ... Agree that working with a wealthy buyer who chooses a car for himself, his beloved, and with a person purchasing a truck for a company, the need is somewhat different, and I am not at all sure that dealers will be able to provide a spoiled Russian client with the level of service he is accustomed to.

But such a pickup should not slip out of sight of oilmen, builders, power engineers. Here Isuzu D-Max with its endurance, unpretentiousness and cross-country ability will be absolutely in place - both as a traveling car for middle managers, and as a transport for small teams of repair or maintenance services. This is what allows us to hope that D-Max will still take root in Russia, albeit in back-country areas far from the capitals.

Why Isuzu is cool. From the history of pickups and not only

The “major player” in the off-road class, the company that made a name for itself in trucks, did not immediately become. The first success came in 1963 with the Wasp pickup (KB20), but the brand entered the wide international road in the early 70s, when the Isuzu Faster was released in cooperation with GM.

Under what names was this car with the factory code KB40 sold! Chevrolet LUV, Isuzu Kb, Isuzu Florian, Isuzu P "up, Bedford KB, Holden Rodeo… In Thailand it was known as Isuzu Faster-Z, Isuzu TFR and Honda Tourmaster, in the Philippines as Isuzu Fuego and JiangLing Hunter, in Malaysia as Isuzu Invader, in Israel as Isuzu Ippon, in England as Vauxhall Brava, in Egypt - like the Chevrolet T-Series, in Germany and Central Europe like the Opel Campo, and in China it was assembled and sold as Foton Aoling T-Series, Jinbei SY10 and Jiangling Baodian.

This pickup became the basis for the creation of such popular SUVs as the Isuzu Rodeo and Amigo (aka Isuzu MU), which, in turn, turned into the Frontera and Frontera Sport models, produced under the brands Opel, Holden and Vauxhall. Understanding the intricacies of this automotive genealogy and the intricacies of badge engineering is, of course, an extremely fascinating occupation, but the fact itself is important for us: the Isuzu brand entered the 21st century as a recognized developer and manufacturer of pickup trucks.

And here I would like to digress a little from the pickup topic ... Isuzu as a brand has repeatedly made attempts to break out of the territory of commercial and freight transport, and I can not say that all these attempts were not successful. And if Isuzu cars did not find their place in the market, then all-wheel drive SUVs sold very, very well.

I have already mentioned the MU / Amigo / Rodeo / Frontera family, but there were also such undoubtedly successful models as the Bighorn / Trooper of two generations, Axiom (it was his unlicensed copy that became the popular Great Wall Hover), and even such a masterpiece as the Isuzu VehiCross , and completely entered the history of the world automotive industry forever. This truly innovative SUV, developed in 1997, still looks like a sample from the last car show, and in those days it was completely perceived as a flying saucer of aliens from outer space that landed in a meadow. But the managers of the GM concern, which at that time owned a controlling stake in Isuzu, in difficult years for the automotive industry, took up their favorite managerial business, that is, optimization.

The issue was resolved in the style of “Are you, Ivan, sorry, mua, a brewer? So, brew your own beer...”, and specifically – “Are you specialists in trucks and diesel engines? So do them." In general, in order to slam a number of projects and directions, the decision about the futility of sales of Isuzu SUVs in the US market was quite enough.

Brief specifications

Dimensions (L x W x H): 5,295 x 1,860 x 1,795 Loading platform (L x W x H): 1,552 x 1,530 x 465 Nm Transmission: Aisin TB50LS, five-speed automatic Drive: all-wheel, plug-in Maximum speed: 175 km/h

However, "beer in the morning is not only harmful, but also beneficial," and Isuzu's cooperation with GM had many positive aspects. As a result, even having bought out a controlling stake from GM in 2002, Isuzu continued to cooperate with the American concern, but on different terms, and this moment is of fundamental importance.

By this time, a new joint venture, LCV Platform Engineering Corporation (LPEC), was created, in which Isuzu was responsible for the development of a new pickup truck, and GM - derivatives based on it. In addition, in the company DMAX (development and production of diesel engines), the controlling stake of which was owned by GM, Isuzu retained the technical part, and GM finance and marketing. Well, Thailand was chosen as the main production site, gradually turning into a world center for peak building.

Thus was born the "worldwide pickup" D-Max. A year later, his Chevrolet Colorado clone began to be sold in the USA, and Holden Rodeo in Australia. The model gained popularity very quickly. It was in those years that no one heard anything about Isuzu pickups, and many had the impression that Isuzu was picking up crumbs from the market table, where the Toyota Hilux, Nissan NP300 and Mitsubishi L200 rule the show. Nothing like this! At home, in Thailand, and in other countries of Southeast Asia, D-Max not only successfully competed (and continues to compete) with the same Hilux, but also managed to overtake it in terms of sales. In 2011, the second generation of the pickup truck was introduced. The new D-Max went into production in 2012, and in 2013, as usual, it had close relatives in the US and Australia (Chevrolet and Holden Colorado).

I must say that the changes affected not only the appearance of the car, which began to look much more aggressive. Significantly more important was the emergence of a new frame platform i-GRIP (Isuzu Gravity Responsive Intelligent Platform), featuring a 42% increased resistance to twisting, which, in turn, significantly improved handling, and a wheelbase that grew from 3,050 to 3,095 mm increased stability. when moving and allowed to increase the carrying capacity. For example, for versions with a double cab, it is 1 ton, while for most competitors it is 750-800 kg.

The range of diesel engines has also been updated. The iTEQ family of diesel engines became the basis, with the base 2.5-liter 4JK1 being presented in two versions, with single or twin turbocharging (136 and 163 hp, respectively). Those to whom such power seemed insufficient were offered a three-liter 4JJ1, which develops 180 hp. With. and issuing 380 Nm of torque. Since 2015, the line has been replenished with a 1.9-liter RZ4E-TC I4, which develops 150 hp. With. and has a torque shelf at 350 Nm.

The newcomer outperforms the single-aspirated 4JK1 not only in terms of power and torque, but has 20% lower fuel consumption. First, a five- and then a 6-speed “automatic” appeared in the transmission (the first cars came with a 4-speed automatic transmission inherited from the first generation pickups), as well as a Terrain command all-wheel drive connection system. And it is precisely such cars that will attempt to conquer the capricious and unpredictable Russian market.

This is not America for you. Pickup trucks are almost a national symbol there, and all because a small entrepreneur has always been the backbone of the economy there. Historically, pickup trucks in Russia are perceived exclusively as commercial vehicles, and only in recent years has a stratum of the public appeared who was able to appreciate the beauty of this format. Since the time of the emka, GAZ M1, a pickup truck based on it has been exotic and almost the only representative of the class that is mass-produced. The car was called GAZ 415, and today only a narrow circle of enthusiasts knows about it. In the States and in Asia, a pickup truck is a breadwinner and a work tool, and I wonder how we would feel about a roofer who decorates his Dewalt screwdriver with LEDs and stickers? Like abnormal. Getting to know a typical and seemingly unremarkable truck, the Isuzu D-Max, will help put yourself in his place. This is also a tool, this is also a breadwinner, this is also a sacred cow in the States, Australia and in Asian countries.

Pickup truck can be beautiful

Isuzu D-Max seeks to take the leading position in the pickup class in Russia

If we put aside all prejudices and forget that in Russia SUVs are bought mainly for entertainment or dusting in the eyes, it turns out that the niche of pickups is almost empty. Offhand, you can call Mitsubishi L300, Toyota Highlax and a couple of Chinese based on them. And the Isuzu company has always been and will be a giant in terms of building commercial equipment of this kind. There are no equals to these machines in terms of quality and functionality, although they are not popular among the masses. Just not everyone needs working tools. In terms of functionality, such a car, especially in the Double Cab configuration, with a double cab, will bypass any SUV. Here the interior is spacious, and a ton of carrying capacity, and all-wheel drive, and high ground clearance, power and even speed. And the new Isuzu D-Max 2016-2017 model year is also beautiful.

In Australia, Thailand and the USA it is better known as the Chevy Colorado and there is nothing surprising here. GM has bought most of the shares of the Japanese company, so it may use different logos depending on the market. Since the Isuzu D-Max has not yet been officially sold in Russia, it could get to us through the channels of gray dealers under different names, which does not change the essence of the car. Isuzu lorries and trucks are sold by officials and these are mainly cars that are assembled in Ulyanovsk in a SKD way, and the Isuzu D-Max is assembled only in Japan and Thailand, but the dealer network announced the start of official deliveries of the pickup truck.

Prices and specifications Isuzu D-Max 2016-2017, photo

The new Isuzu looks organic on the road

In mid-September 2016, officials in Moscow will present an updated D-Max, which can be bought for at least 1,800,000 rubles. So far, the only 2.5-liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 164 forces is available for this money, which can be equipped with a five-speed hydromechanical automatic transmission, as well as a conventional five-speed manual gearbox. In the database, a pickup truck is sold with mechanics, unpainted bumpers and a lorry cab, and for an extra charge you can buy an automatic transmission, a double cab and a whole bunch of comfort options:

• exchange rate stability system;
• six airbags in a circle;
• climate control;
• premium multimedia Isuzu Connect with an eight-inch touch screen;
• central locking with remote control;
• parking sensors and navigator.

In addition, the car has changed externally - the front bumper has been improved, LED running lights have appeared in the basic configuration, the architecture of the headlights has changed, roof rails and a basic towbar have appeared. In the US and Asian markets, the car received several more engines - a 150-horsepower 1.9-liter biturbo diesel engine and an atmospheric three-liter diesel engine with a capacity of 177 forces with a torque of 380 Nm. The top Isuzu D-Max in Moscow can be bought for 2.3 million rubles. This is more expensive than the base L200, but cheaper than the top-end Hilux by almost half a million.

There are connoisseurs of this pickup not only in Asia and in the States, but also in the UK. A tuning version of the Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 went on sale there. The car is not custom, but quite serial. This is the most off-road-ready version of the latest version of the pickup, which can be sold with both a double cab and a one and a half cab. The extreme off-road machine is built on Fox Performanse tuning suspension, as a result of which the ground clearance has increased by as much as 125 mm and now stands at 331 mm. Almost bigfoot. The Nokian Rotiva AT off-road mud tires on 17-inch standard aluminum alloy rims also played an important role here. The outer diameter of the toothed tire is 35 inches. In addition, externally, the pickup truck is distinguished by several color options (bright red, matte black), extended wheel arches, powerful crankcase and transfer case protection, additional LED fog lights, and powerful power thresholds.

AT 35 is very difficult in the cabin. In terms of architecture and organization of space, the car did not receive any special changes, but in terms of comfortable chips it is in full order: a top-end Pioneer audio system with 6 speakers, cruise control, a heated leather steering wheel, warm rear-view mirrors with an electromechanical drive are installed. The British are also sure that a real pickup should be with a diesel engine, so they installed a 2.5-liter CRDi with a double turbine under the hood of the Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35, the same as on pickups sold in Russia. The engine produces 164 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. Uncompromising all-wheel drive, but the transmission can be either automatic or manual. The carrying capacity of the car is at least one ton, and the mass of the transported trailer is 3.5 tons. In England, the Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 costs 31,000 pounds. Deliveries of the car to Europe begin in January 2017.

Test Drive. Isuzu D-Max in action

Good, visually it is really beautiful. Modern forms of the cabin and cargo platform, fashionable LED headlights, neat rear lights, optionally you can install a kenguryatnik and this will give the Isuzu D-Max even more elegant aggression. But this is external. Inside, the pickup remains quite simple and functional. As close as possible to traditional SUVs, a double cab option. The interior is spacious, the plastic is very high quality, the level of panel fit is impeccable. Even in a new car, nothing creaks, crunches or cracks on the go. As for the choice of cabin, the difference between a lorry and a double is minimal. To get on the back sofa (and this is exactly a sofa, not side chairs), in a lorry you need to recline the front seats. The double cab provides access to the back row through additional doors.

The front panel is solved as ascetically as possible in the basic configuration, but everything you need is always at hand here. And before my eyes. An on-board computer display is installed on the tidy, which will provide the necessary operational information automatically or on demand, the center console is logically designed - there are climate control buttons, in expensive versions - a multimedia display, as well as a washer for controlling transmission modes. Landing, as in any SUV - high with excellent visibility.

The only complaint that may arise after a long drive on the road, and not only - undeveloped lateral support for the front seats and a narrow pillow.

The rear sofa is comfortable, and there is more than enough space for three rather big passengers, in addition, there is a separate airflow for the rear section of the cabin.

Functional and working interior, no glamor

Any Isuzu D-Max equipment will immediately give out a characteristic roar when starting the engine. This is an unchanged diesel engine, which, however, is practically inaudible from the cabin, the sound insulation is excellent even for a high-class SUV. The twin-turbo diesel engine holds traction well on the bottom, which is not surprising. 400 Nm of torque is already available at 1200 rpm, so it is no wonder that the automatic transmission has adapted perfectly to work in tandem with this engine. The only complaint about the box is thoughtfulness in kick-down mode, but hardly anyone decides to go for a sharp overtake in a diesel pickup. Isuzu D-Max - frame, conventional springs are installed at the back. Therefore, in turns at speed, judging by the reviews of the owners, it collapses uncritically, which is quite understandable and predictable. But the straight car holds excellently at any speed, without taxiing and unnecessary pulls to the side. The power steering is set up humanely, which did not affect the information content of the steering wheel.

Under normal conditions, the car is driven by the rear wheels, and if necessary, you can connect the front axle with a slight movement of the hand by pressing one button. The front axle is connected at speeds up to 100 km / h, but in order to engage a lower gear, you need to stop. But how the car rows on the sand or on a slippery slope! You can't imagine anything better than a high-torque diesel engine. He will confidently drag even a fully loaded pickup truck along ruts, and over loose snow, and over muddy clay (hey, Prado, do you need a tug?) And to find a suitable ravine for diagonal hanging, but such that Isuzu D-Max helplessly rotate wheels, you have to try hard. But even in this situation, the pickup truck has a trick up its sleeve - a self-locking differential of the rear continuous axle. It will not be possible to land the car if you do not set such a goal for yourself.

Video: test drive Isuzu D-Max 2016-2017

Unlike sleek SUVs, the Isuzu D-Max doesn't take such bullying as something extraordinary. For him, this is work. The daily work he is used to. Dirt, loads, frost or heat, this is part of his life and he cannot let down the owner, who has only one hope for a pickup truck, as a reliable assistant and breadwinner. And he won't let you down. The breed is like that.

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The Japanese company Isuzu has announced prices for the new D-Max pickup truck in Russia. Car sales began in October 2016.

On the Russian market, the pickup truck will be offered in five trim levels: Terra, Aqua, Air, Flame and Energy. Also, the car will be available with a "one and a half" and a double cab.

Photo Isuzu D-Max 2019. http://website/

The overall dimensions of the novelty are: length - 5295 mm, width - 1860 mm, height - 1795 mm. The wheelbase is 3,095 mm. Clearance (ground clearance) is 225 mm.

Specifications. The all-wheel drive Isuzu D-Max 2019 is equipped with an uncontested 2.5-liter ISUZU 4JK1 turbodiesel engine with a capacity of 163 horsepower (400 Nm). The engine can work together with a 6-speed "mechanics" and a 5-band "automatic".

Fuel consumption on the highway is about 6.5 liters per 100 kilometers, and in the city - 8.9 liters per 100 kilometers (official data).

salon photo

The basic equipment of the pickup truck includes unpainted bumpers, six airbags, ABS, ESP and air conditioning. The Air package is complemented by body-color bumpers, improved interior trim, heated front seats, keyless entry, radio and alloy wheels.

Video

Test drive and review of the Isuzu D-Max 2019 pickup truck (video):

Price

In Russia, prices for the new Isuzu D-Max 2019 pickup truck will range from 1,885,000 to 2,349,000 rubles.

Top trims are equipped with a leather interior, climate control and an electric driver's seat.

In addition, a cross-country version of the Arctic Trucks AT35 is sold in Russia, which is distinguished by modified bumpers, a suspension lift, reinforced brackets for attaching the body to the frame and shock absorber brackets, and wheel arch extensions.

The cost of the Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks version is 2,515,000 rubles.