since 1976
since 1976
By Lee Pang Seng
THERE is obviously a market for premium pick-ups and Isuzu is certainly capitalising on this niche demand with its D-Max X-Terrain. Recently, it introduced the latest D-Max variant that carries styling and equipment updates to stay ahead of the competition. This is based on the third-generation model that was launched in 2021 and Malaysia is the third country globally to launch the facelift model.
Positioned as the flagship pick-up for senior construction company people as well as property and plantation owners, the D-Max X-Terrain provides the needed off-road performance qualities for area surveys and workstation operations with a decent ride comfort and premium equipment to match.
Regular design and technical updates introduce a fresh element to the product that increases its appeal and improves sales. In the 1980s, this was done on a yearly basis by the Japanese carmakers although that is now stretched over a longer timeframe. In any case, updates continue to play a significant part in this very competitive automotive world, even in the pick-up segment.
The latest update package by Isuzu that is timely classified according to the year, which is 2024, sees styling changes to portray a fresh face for a contemporary status. Complementing its pick-up image, giving the latest model a more muscular stance was indeed the way to go. This comes in a bonnet with a more distinct central bulge to suggest power, which is more relevant to the 3.0-litre X-Terrain, than the 1.9-litre variants.
There are no significant updates for the 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine that remains an undersquare unit with long stroke configuration to displace 2999cc. Its power output is rated as 140kW (190PS) at 3600rpm and 450Nm from 1600 to 2600rpm. The 1.9-litre (1898cc) engine, also with VGS (variable geometry) turbo, holds its own too with 110kW (150PS) at 3600rpm and 350Nm from 1800-2600rpm. Both engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift.
The power bulge of the bonnet flows fluidly with the broad angled shoulders to underline the D-Max’s muscular look. Good colour elements also combined well to give the latest D-Max sharper and aggressive overtones. There are three segments to the nose design starting with a top section with thick horizontal ribs in black and silver accents that carries the Isuzu name.
This is followed by a lower radiator grille that features a new honeycomb pattern over the previous slats design. It is underlined by a third segment finished in silver for a nice contrast. Flanking them are foglamps that see a new air curtain design that ducts air from the recess area via the front wheel arches. The foglamp housings are enlarged and the turn indicators relocated to the headlamp area to reflect a more stylish and visible impact. Adding more aggro to the headlamp clusters are the new Bi-LED (light emitting diode) units and the integrated LED DRLs (daytime running lights).
The rear sees a new tailgate that has a dimple and flared lip to break the monotony in styling. There is also a new handle design that features a keyhole to allow the tailgate to be locked when a canopy or lid is fitted. Rounding up the changes here are the taillamp clusters with redesigned LED lamps that are intended to be just as stylish as being visible to drivers from the rear.
Viewed from the side, the latest D-Max profile is largely unchanged with its muscular shoulders and familiar character lines. Adding a new perspective here are the new pattern alloy wheels that come as matt black six-spoke units on the X-Terrain. They are seen as stylish while looking rugged and easy to clean.
But what would a new model be without fresh colour options and for the updated X-Terrain, it comes with the striking Namibu Orange Mica that joins the existing options in Islay Grey, Onyx Black and Dolomite White Pearl.
Premium Feel
As the flagship model in the D-Max range, the X-Terrain has to exude the class that befits its price at RM157,938.40 on the road without insurance. A nice touch is the welcome light that projects from the door mirror but this is best enjoyed at night. Likewise, the scuff plates that carry the model’s name – X-Terrain – and ambient lighting as you open the doors.
While the previous model already had ambient lighting, what is new is that there are now seven colours to choose from to suit one’s mood for driving that day. Or you could choose to turn this ambient lighting off completely, perhaps in the daytime when this feature has less visual impact.
Another thing that caught our eye were the door panels that feature a new Miura design. Isuzu describes this as a ‘classic Japanese origami-inspired parallelogram design’ and this is carried over to the dashboard for a more complete impression. It’s little touches like this that amps up the premium aspect of the vehicle.
Ramping up the comfort aspect are the front seats. They are said to feature a new pattern with perforations along the central area that provide cooling ventilation for the back and thighs. That is a certainly something to enjoy - a cool ride or drive on a hot day, what with local temperatures hitting record numbers with climate change.
Other new touches are the bigger 10-inch infotainment touchscreen located on the centre dash area and the new seven-inch e-Lumax multi-information display for the driver. The former is said to provide a quicker reference to key areas like the reverse camera and 360-degree Around View Monitor.
The latter offers easier gleaning of the relevant information a driver needs. The instrument panel also come with new graphics for important information like fuel level, coolant temperature and engine speed. The graphics and information displayed could be changed using the steering wheel controls.
Added ADAS for safer drive
Safety is stepped up too and this comes in the form of better object and human detection in front. This is done through the new and improved fourth-generation stereo camera that has an increased viewing angle of 120 degrees, useful for detecting humans, especially kids bolting onto the road from the side. The forward detection distance is also improved from 120 metres to 150, which leaves more room to react and hit the brake pedal.
Isuzu Malaysia conducted some simulation runs under controlled conditions, using a dummy boy that was movable on overhead rails to show the practicality of this ‘detection’ improvements. Using the dummy boy didn’t quite lead to the desired effects in two of the three runs but at least, the better detection quality did prove to work once. So, it’s a good chance that it would come into proper play in real life situations involving actual humans.
Another update is the Rear Cross Traffic Brake to complement the Rear Cross Traffic Alert that is already a standard feature. What it does is to apply the brakes should the driver be too slow to react to the Rear Cross Traffic Alert. This new active safety feature was also demonstrated under controlled conditions with much better results, that is, the D-Max X-Trail’s brakes were activated when the driver didn’t apply them while reversing and a vehicle was coming along.
This newly added feature is most definitely useful in the urban environment. Even though the D-Max X-Terrain is a tall vehicle and there is a rearview camera, rear view could be still be obstructed by taller vehicles such as trucks and cargo vans. The driver might also not see the approaching vehicle via the rearview camera quick enough to apply the brakes.
Highway and sandy drives
The modern pick-up is no more a ‘hopping’ vehicle on highways due to its stiff rear leaf spring suspension design. The suspension engineers have tuned the leaf springs to ensure that it would carry its weight for ample loads on the rear cargo bed while giving vehicle occupants an appreciable level of ride comfort.
The D-Max comes with independently sprung double wishbone setting in front that is served by coil springs, gas shock absorbers and an anti-roll bar. The rear has semi-elliptical leaf springs and gas shock absorbers.
We could attest to the ride comfort for the highway drives between KL and Malacca as we even took naps along the way when we were the front passenger. We believed our impression would remain the same had we been a rear seat passenger on the highway as our experience here in urban areas was generally good.
There would be some slight yo-yo effect when running over undulating sections of the highway but the well-tuned suspension system regained the vehicle’s composure quick enough. There were no jarring impacts when going over bumps and rumble strips other than a firm note that hardly dented its good ride comfort for a pick-up, a flagship one at that.
The 3.0-litre VGS turbodiesel engine ran quietly and strongly at low revs. For the highway drive, moseying along at just under 2000rpm was enough to stay on the right side of the law at 110-120km/h. But do watch your accelerator foot because you could easily be in the sights of a speed camera as the D-Max X-Terrain picked up the pace quickly and go above speed limits.
The low engine rev factor for highway cruising is the main factor why the D-Max is so frugal on fuel consumption. We didn’t need to rev hard in urban drives either as there was plenty of initial torque to get moving at the slightest prompt of the accelerator. For the two-day drive, we hardly used half a tankful.
To help one in off-road driving, the 4x4 models come with the Rough Terrain Mode that one could activate via a control on the central console. Once selected, the system uses sensors to detect wheel grip level and apportions engine torque from the spinning wheel to the wheel with most grip. This feature was also demonstrated to the media under controlled conditions with mediocre effect.
We tried using the Rough Terrain Mode in an offroad venture but found using 4H(igh) in four-wheel drive mode more to our liking in making our way over such terrain. We were at least assured that the four-wheel drive system worked on offroad courses to drive along confidently. And that was how we enjoyed our sandy terrain excursion in premium comfort on a reclaimed area in Tanjung Kling, Malacca.
