Isuzu D-Max 4X4 Blade Double Cab Auto review

A rugged pick-up truck with a hint of luxury that’s versatile enough to use as a family vehicle.

By motoring journalist Tim Barnes-Clay. Follow on Instagram @tbarnesclay.

The D-Max is big and bold and great for lugging stuff everywhere. Yes, first and foremost, the Isuzu is a workhorse, but that’s no surprise as it’s a pick-up truck.

The six-speed automatic “Blade” version, tested here, has a double cab, so it’s also a vehicle you can transport your family around in. It’s a versatile set-of-wheels, then, if you’re, say, a builder or whatever and you don’t want to buy another car for non-work trips.

Behind the wheel, you do feel a bit like a character from the 1972 film Deliverance, but you won’t be squealing like a pig with its driving dynamics. Don’t get me wrong, the Japanese-made commercial vehicle is fine in straight lines, but it takes a lot of energy to make it go around corners smoothly. It’s also slow off the mark, raucous and bouncy when not loaded. In other words, it never lets you forget it’s a working truck at heart.

The D-Max’s 1.9-litre turbo diesel power unit puts down 164 PS and produces 360 Nm of torque. This makes it capable of towing 3.5 tonnes and hauling a 1-tonne load. As with other D-Max models, its 4×4 capability is a key feature, with a dial allowing you to opt for four-wheel drive on the fly. There ‘s also a low-range setting, should you need extra traction and muscle for particularly tricky terrain.

For all its ruggedness, the £35,707 Blade Double Cab Auto does have its little luxuries, like tinted windows, a multi-function touchscreen and a remote locking tailgate. It also sports parking sensors, and a roller cover to conceal whatever’s in the load bed.

Finally, the pick-up is sold with a five-year/125,000-mile warranty, and running costs are kept down by 12,000-mile or 24-month service intervals. Roadside rescue and recovery, a six-year anti-corrosion guarantee and a three-year paint warranty come as part of the package, too.