Very disappointed with the review of the Isuzu D Max in the PC towcar review, already seen in the club magazine. I am a very happy owner of one and it is far and away the best (of the dozen or so) towcars I have owned. Reading it I can't believe it is the same vehicle I drive.
" the Isuzu D-Max feels most like an old-school pick-up." No. it feels more like a modern Jeep type 4 x 4.
"The ride is bouncy in solo driving" The ride is extremely good for a pick up, though with rear leaf springs and a one tonne load capacity it's never going to be like air suspension on a Range Rover. At least as good as any other pick up including the Amorok which they do not criticise.
" the steering is slow to respond" Totally wrong.
"The engine has lots of mid-range pull, but it’s very noisy." It has torque of 400 nm which comes in at 1400 to 2000 revs: superb for towing and good for economy. The engine note is gruff at low revs, fine at 50 mph plus. Not unpleasant: do they not realise this a working vehicle, not a hatchback?
" in the lane-change test the D-Max felt out of its depth. The pick-up struggled to keep the caravan under control, with big steering inputs needed from the driver." This is the most bizarre comment in this test. From my experience this is simply not true, the truck feels totally planted and in control of the caravan. I'd also suggest they look at the YouTube video of slalom tests towing a 3 ton rally car trailer: most impressive and in direct opposition to what they are saying here.
" the caravan repeatedly shunted the back of the D-Max, which felt very unpleasant from inside the cabin." Well what the FLIP does that mean? I can only think it was something wrong with the caravan brakes. How the hell can it have anything to do with the towing vehicle? You do an emergency stop, either the caravan brakes work properly or they don't. I've had to brake suddenly and my Bailey never "shunted" the truck.
"In the hill-start test the Isuzu’s handbrake needed a firm pull before it would hold. " Yes indeed, you do have to operate the handbrake to operate the handbrake. Same as any other vehicle, no easier, no harder.
"Tackling the hill was predictably much easier in 4WD low-ratio than in 2WD high-ratio." Why? Was it muddy? What a STUPID comment.
Frankly I think where Isuzu have gone wrong is they are not Ford, VW Group or Land Rover. These are the only cars that do any good in these so-called tests. That they are the biggest advertisers is, of course, a total coincidence.
I believe Toyota stopped submitting vehicles after the totally dismissive reviews of the HiLux and Landcruiser which this lot thought were useless. Unlike the many owners across the world.
" the Isuzu D-Max feels most like an old-school pick-up." No. it feels more like a modern Jeep type 4 x 4.
"The ride is bouncy in solo driving" The ride is extremely good for a pick up, though with rear leaf springs and a one tonne load capacity it's never going to be like air suspension on a Range Rover. At least as good as any other pick up including the Amorok which they do not criticise.
" the steering is slow to respond" Totally wrong.
"The engine has lots of mid-range pull, but it’s very noisy." It has torque of 400 nm which comes in at 1400 to 2000 revs: superb for towing and good for economy. The engine note is gruff at low revs, fine at 50 mph plus. Not unpleasant: do they not realise this a working vehicle, not a hatchback?
" in the lane-change test the D-Max felt out of its depth. The pick-up struggled to keep the caravan under control, with big steering inputs needed from the driver." This is the most bizarre comment in this test. From my experience this is simply not true, the truck feels totally planted and in control of the caravan. I'd also suggest they look at the YouTube video of slalom tests towing a 3 ton rally car trailer: most impressive and in direct opposition to what they are saying here.
" the caravan repeatedly shunted the back of the D-Max, which felt very unpleasant from inside the cabin." Well what the FLIP does that mean? I can only think it was something wrong with the caravan brakes. How the hell can it have anything to do with the towing vehicle? You do an emergency stop, either the caravan brakes work properly or they don't. I've had to brake suddenly and my Bailey never "shunted" the truck.
"In the hill-start test the Isuzu’s handbrake needed a firm pull before it would hold. " Yes indeed, you do have to operate the handbrake to operate the handbrake. Same as any other vehicle, no easier, no harder.
"Tackling the hill was predictably much easier in 4WD low-ratio than in 2WD high-ratio." Why? Was it muddy? What a STUPID comment.
Frankly I think where Isuzu have gone wrong is they are not Ford, VW Group or Land Rover. These are the only cars that do any good in these so-called tests. That they are the biggest advertisers is, of course, a total coincidence.
I believe Toyota stopped submitting vehicles after the totally dismissive reviews of the HiLux and Landcruiser which this lot thought were useless. Unlike the many owners across the world.
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