D-MAX a rugged contender

Sales of light commercials, more commonly known as workhorses, again jumped sharply last year.

Interest in the segment, especially dual-cab, four-wheel-drives, has never been higher.

However, it is not brickies, chippies or farmers who are driving the surge. Dual-cabs have become the vehicle of choice for growing families, younger males, tradesmen seeking dual-purpose transport and, increasingly, for baby boomers joining the throng of grey nomads wending their way across our vast nation.

Dual-cab 4WDs, particularly turbodiesels, have found a niche as towing vehicles, with nearly 100,000 sold last year.

And there is no shortage of choice, with 15 brands and more fresh entrants just over the horizon.

Established names such as the Toyota HiLux, Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi Triton and the Ford Ranger account for the lion's share of sales.

One relatively new addition is the Isuzu D-MAX, a Japanese-bred vehicle bolted together in Thailand.

The Isuzu brand will be familiar to some, having supplied Holden with the Rodeo, Jackaroo and other models since the early 80s. It also is the No.1 brand in the light-truck segment.

Interestingly, the Colorado, which now bears a Holden badge, is almost identical to the D-MAX, although they are built in separate Thai plants.

The test vehicle, a LS-U Crew Cab ute, sells for $42,500 plus on-road costs, giving it a price edge over some of its better-known and longer-established rivals.

The D-MAX has quickly gained a foothold, with sales up more than 40 per cent last year to 5114 units.

The diesel-only D-MAX has a 3.0-litre, four-cylinder engine which, when mated to a five-speed manual transmission, produces 120kW and 360 Newton metres of torque.

The intercooled turbodiesel is a cracker, with ample bottom-end torque, lively highway performance and little of the harshness and clatter which afflict some diesels in the segment

Able to tow up to 3000kg - maximum towball load is 300kg - it is little surprise the D-MAX is attracting the attention of well-heeled, caravan-crazy baby boomers.

At freeway speeds the dual overhead cam powerplant is miserly, using a little over 7L/100km, climbing to 9L/100km in city traffic - a more-than-satisfactory return considering the vehicle's 1869kg tare weight. A 76-litre fuel tank ensures fuel stops are kept to a minimum.

Sitting on a heavy-duty, ladder-frame chassis, with a torsion-bar suspension up front and a live axle with leaf springs at the back, the D-MAX is built to handle the most rugged off-road assignments.

Rather than using a shift lever, selecting high or low-range four-wheel-drive is via push buttons on the dash.

The shift-on-the-fly system can be switched to high-range 4WD at up to 100km/h. In low range, first gear is a crawler for extreme off-road work or for steep descents.

On the black-top, the D-MAX is a surprisingly pleasant drive. There is little noise from the engine or the 16-inch Bridgestone Duelers.

Even without any load - maximum payload is just over a tonne - the ride has little of the lumpiness or agrarian traits often inherent in vehicles of this class, particularly when unladen.

However, the steering is not the most communicative and the steering wheel has no reach adjustment. And while we're grumbling, the driver's seat has no height adjustment.

With its reserves of torque, gear changes can be kept to a minimum but the shift mechanism is sloppy. A four-speed automatic box, a $2000 option, probably would be a better bet.

The front bucket seats are excellent and legroom in the back is not too bad but, for taller people, the skinny rear doors make it difficult to get in or out.

Only the hardest markers will find fault with interior finish, layout or level of standard equipment, which includes cruise control, air-conditioning, power-operated windows and anti-lock brakes.

After spending a couple of weeks with the D-MAX, it is not hard to fathom why the vehicle has made such a strong impression.

It is a highly competent vehicle from a manufacturer with a long history of building hard-working, bulletproof products.

If you're in the market for a dual-cab 4x4, make sure the Isuzu is on your list. You may be pleasantly surprised.