MODEL ON TEST: DOUBLE CAB V-CROSS AUTOMATIC – MILEAGE – 4,379

The planned longer trip mentioned in the last report didn’t unfortunately happen due to illness. So, to keep my two teenagers busy during the Easter holidays, we headed East, along with the dog, to one of our favourite places on the Suffolk coast – Southwold – for the day. The good news is that my wife, lanky teenagers, and spaniel all fit. Even with my driving position with the seat set way back,my daughter has (just) got enough kneeroom behind me. Even better, the mini picnic, towels, spare shoes, and other assorted dog paraphernalia needed, as you would expect, didn’t even make a dent into the carpeted Winbo Electric Roll Top covered 2,315mm load bed.

With Apple CarPlay activated, and Google Maps set for the 105-mile route, we ended up with a mix of A- and B-roads, plus some dual carriageways for good measure. But, did I actually learn anything more about the D-Max’s driving experience? Considering how capable this Isuzu is off-road, the fact that the ride is sometimes unsettled is to be expected.The D-Max felt happiest on the faster, smoother A120, where it appeared planted and comfortable at the national speed limit.

The 1.9-litre diesel engine and performance remain my major issues. Grumbly from cold, I’m surprised at
how slowly this Isuzu accelerates, and the lack of torque still catches me out at junctions – mostly after I’ve been driving other cars. On the move, it’s best to let speed just build naturally rather than wringing the life out of the Isuzu engine, which hurts ears, and adds to the D-Max’s diesel thirst. And talking of the Isuzu’s economy, it does its best work on long trips, so exceeding the D-Max’s combined figure with 31.5mpg over this 210-mile round trip was a welcome surprise. Although the over-optimistic range estimate gave me a mini heart attack on the way home. The range improves the more efficiently the D-Max is driven. But on arrival home, the D-Max’s range and fuel gauge were telling very different stories. The gauge was showing almost empty, yet the range display still claimed there was over 100 miles left in the tank. It turns out it’s best to just rely on the Isuzu’s gauge, because after a couple of short trips, the fuel warning light illuminated, and more alarmingly, the range dropped to zero. Thankfully, I was near a fuel station. This wasn’t a one-off either, it happened again with the next tank of diesel, too.

Otherwise, this month I’ve been making the most of the Isuzu’s load bed. First by taking two big loads of garden rubbish to the tip, then, by picking up the tiles for our home bathroom renovation. I turned down the tile shop’s offer of delivery, thinking I’d save cash by collecting them in the D-Max. All was well with the forklift loading the small pallet, until we realised the electric roll top does eat into the load space, just enough for the small pallet not to fit! Instead, much to the tile shop staff’s frustration, they ended up loading this surprisingly heavy cargo

by hand. The extra weight in the back was noticeable and with a more settled low speed ride the result, but it felt as though the Isuzu’s springs were working a lot harder.

MARTYN COLLINS

WHAT’S HOT: Off-road ability, easy to drive, dependability, value for money, equipment.

WHAT’S NOT: Rivals have more power and torque, only average fuel economy, ride is sometimes unsettled.

CLICK HERE TO READ OUR LONG-TERM REPORTS ON THE ISUZU D-MAX

FACTS & FIGURES

ARRIVED: 14th March 2026

PRICE WHEN NEW: £49,594 (including VAT)

PRICE AS TESTED: £54,848 (including VAT)

ECONOMY: 31.4 mpg (official WLTP) 31.5 mpg (on test)

COSTS: None

FAULTS: None