Isuzu D-Max V-Cross inspires you to keep on trucking

There’s nothing like a second pair of eyes to give you fresh perspective, especially when they are from a much younger generation. 

As number one teenage son climbs in the cab and settles into place in the latest Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, he poses the question: “Why on earth would you want to buy a truck like this?” 

Well, he’s driving now, has just jumped out of his little sporty Hyundai i10 N-Power and I’m glad he is taking an interest in anything automotive for the first time. 

It makes me think, order my thoughts and gives structure to this road test, which is always useful. 

I’ve always loved the D-Max, in all its various varieties, but why? Here’s why. 

I ask him, when he is driving home and he passes Ghyll Head Reservoir, what can he see? Drystone wall, he replies. Well I can see the surface water and the view is glorious across the fishing lake. 

When you meet someone on the single track road, what do you do son? He admits having to reverse to find somewhere to pull in to let the other vehicle by.  

All I do in the V-Cross is pull off the asphalt into the dirt because the D-Max is blessed with all manner of mud-plugging kit that allows you to emerge from the green and brown stuff – all wheel drive, low transfer box and diff locks make this leviathan unstoppable. 

Where do you park your i10 son? Again, he has to go in search of tarmacadamed clad areas most of which he has to pay for, while the D-Max can be plonked virtually anywhere because everywhere is accessible thanks to rough terrain mode and it is hidden in plain sight as it looks like a country vehicle. 

I’m also less likely to kerb my alloys like you have son as the 18-inch tough style matt dark grey wheels are shod with higher profile tyres than your liquorice thin affairs. 

But surely in towns and cities it’s going to be like a fish out of water, agricultural on the motorways, cumbersome in car parks. 

Wrong again son. I’ve just been to Birmingham and it was fabulous. It was easy to manoeuvre and park in the multi-storey, thanks to parking sensors and reverse camera, and in traffic it was brilliant.  

I’m the fish out of water in urban settings yet the D-Max allowed me to be daring and deft in heavy traffic.  

The first two miles out of the city took me 40 minutes and as I tried to follow the satnav I ended up in the wrong lanes and had to cut up countless other road users of all shapes and sizes. 

Not a single one honked in anger and everyone was surprisingly polite and helpful.  

Why? Because the people who generally drive huge pick-ups are not to be messed with – if you know who I mean. 

Once on the motorway and pointing north, D-Max was as refined and comfortable as any diesel-powered car.  

Its low revving nature, delightful automatic gearbox and low levels of noise, vibration and harshness in the double cab made it relaxed and forgiving, its high spec cabin, with heated leather seats and dual zone climate control, was comfortable and cosseting and the journey passed surprisingly quickly as I sang along to the eight-speaker infotainment centre which comes with Android and Apple Car Play – yes son, it has one of those just like your car. 

D-Max is VAT-back qualified – is yours son? It also has the same five-year warranty as yours but with five-year roadside assistance, not that you are likely to need it. 

Also my boy, how do you fair when you head for the council recycling centre? Well, the Isuzu is blessed with a large, covered load bay that will carry a tonne which is ideal for the tip run, or to throw walking gear or bicycles in the back. Try that in an i10. 

In fact, in the current on-the-brink-of-Armageddon society in which we dwell courtesy of our global despots, I can’t think of a better vehicle to be in.  

It must surely be the dystopian truck of choice when the balloon goes up. 

And the final words come from the boy: “You should be a salesman dad; I’m totally convinced.” 

Factfile