Off the Beaten Track: Isuzu D-Max V-Cross and MudMaster Review
Off the Beaten Track: Isuzu D-Max V-Cross and MudMaster Review
Reviews, Isuzu D-Max
26 Jul 2024
Images by
Isuzu UK
At first glance, an off-road pickup from Isuzu might not be a typical RUSH vehicle, but as Tim Dunlop argues, that doesn’t mean it's not capable of being a drivers’ car…once in the right environment.
Tim Dunlop
By
At first glance, an off-road pickup from Isuzu might not be a typical RUSH vehicle, but as Tim Dunlop argues, that doesn’t mean it's not capable of being a drivers’ car…once in the right environment.
A few weeks ago the editor of RUSH and one of the fellow contributors headed to a Bentley press event which included time out on the road in the Bentayga and then some track time in the Continental GT. I have to admit I did go a funny shade of green with jealousy when they shared some pics from the day of them chauffeuring each other around in the extended wheelbase version of the SUV and videos of the on-track exploits at Oulton Park - which looked superb.
Still gutted I couldn’t make it, I was offered by way of a consolation a press invite to the Isuzu 4x4 Festival. Now I must admit, at first glance this didn’t seem much of a comparison, however on reading the invite the thought of some time in the latest D-Max and V-Cross pickups in the awesome setting of Parkwood Off Road Centre near Bradford sounded like great fun.
A 4x4 pick up is perhaps not the usual thing that would grace the pages of RUSH, however I had sold it to myself that should I own a track car and need a work horse to tow it along to the circuits around the UK and abroad, then something like the D-Max would certainly warrant a closer look.
Arriving at Parkwood it becomes clear that Isuzu are serious about giving the assembled journalists a good introduction to the D-Max and V-Cross in its different forms. Various trim levels and configurations were on display including the awesome looking Arctic model, resplendent in metallic red and conveniently parked on one of the large rock structures of the welcome area - I doubt you would find a Bentayga parked like that!
The session would be divided into two sections, a welcome and press briefing would be followed by some time out in a D-Max out on the road over a choice of two predefined routes. Once you had returned to base you would then be given the chance to take to the woods, slopes and tracks of the centre with an instructor across a variety of routes that increased in difficulty and severity.
Assigned my vehicle I grabbed the keys and headed to my stead for an hour of time out on the road. Press launches are sometimes a lottery in terms of what car you get allocated with a mixture of base and top spec models, however today I seemed to have won, as my car for the road test was a limited-edition D-Max V-Cross Steel. This car, one of only 300 made for the UK market, was finished in Steel Grey Mica which certainly suited it.
The additional spec of the Steel edition offered external enhancements including flared wheel arch extensions, roof rails and Steel side graphics. Internally I would find Steel embossed headrests, branded LED scuff plates, puddle lamps and luxury carpet mats. Overall a very good looking car with some tasteful additions.
Isuzu had given each journalist a laminated sheet with a handy QR code containing a Google Maps route, offering a quick chance to pair my phone while exploring the infotainment system with its 9” screen, Apple CarPlay and eight speakers. The set up was super easy to complete, enabling me to select drive on the auto gearbox and be on the move within minutes.
Now 4x4 pickups are not something I have spent a lot of time in. My wife’s last car was an SUV so I am used to a high up driving position, although the D-Max was a fair bit higher than my current daily driver which did take a few moments to get used to. It’s also been quite some time since I last drove a diesel car so the additional noise of a freshly started engine was something I initially noticed, although I was surprised at how quickly the noise subsided as the car warmed up and I settled into the route.
The gearbox was as I had expected: not as refined as some of the high-end brands, and not as quick in changing as a sports auto but perfectly acceptable. A quick flick of the gear lever to the right enabled me to push forward and back for up/down shifts if I felt the need to, although I think regular ‘D’ was where the gearbox felt the most comfortable.
The route selected took about 45 minutes and covered around 30 miles with a mixture of town driving, country roads and some motorway, giving a real chance to experience the V-Cross in a wide variety of settings. At motorway speeds the car surprised me with how quiet and refined it was, a conversation could have easily taken place without any intrusion. The car felt stable close to the speed limit and the radar cruise control was a welcome addition which meant I could have happily travelled long distances in the car without any issues.
With the road course duly completed, I arrived back at Parkwood with enough time to spare to grab a few pictures of the Steel edition before I passed the keys on to the next journalist who would head out as I made my way to the activity that I was really looking forward to.
I have not spent loads of time ‘off roading’ - my previous experiences were in a Land Rover Defender on a course at Silverstone which I was given as a birthday present a few years ago, and prior to this around twenty years earlier when I was selling Kia's where we spent some time learning the capabilities of the then new Sportage. The original Sportage actually had a few things in common with the D-Max V-Cross, the most relevant being that both vehicles have a separate ladder chassis. This format offers high ground clearance and extensive wheel articulation, which is suited for rough terrain, and looking at the course at Parkwood I am sure this would be put to the test.
The one hour off roading session would be split into three sections, two in regular D-Max versions, plus some time in the ‘MudMaster’ a specially commissioned one-of-one vehicle with some impressive aftermarket additions and modifications designed for the serious off roader. It is equipped with a snorkel, winch, lifted suspension, powerful lamps on the grille and roof, steel chassis armour, and numerous other accessories. This is an amazing piece of kit.
Taking to the course for the first time in a Valencia Orange V-Cross the instructor talks me through the various modes for the 4-wheel drive system. We have 2 high (regular), then we move to 4 high which can be done on the move, before coming to a stop and engaging 4 low for when the going gets tough. The course has a mixture of steep inclines, rutted paths, puddles and muddy slopes, all of which the Isuzu gobbles up without the slightest whiff of an issue. All with a standard car on road tyres which is certainly impressive.
Next up it's time for the MudMaster, we are going to cover the same route as we have just taken in the Orange car but with a deviation at the end for some deep wading. Having just covered the route it was perhaps not first apparent where the benefit of the extras to the Mud Master were, as the regular car had coped just as well with the course. As we were about two thirds of the way through the course the instructor advised me, we would now put this special vehicle through its paces and he advised me to turn left where in the previous car we had gone straight on.
Immediately I noticed a change in terrain, the ruts were deeper, the greenery was far more encroaching and the slopes got steeper, and there was much more water. It soon becomes evident that the Mud Master would rise to the challenge, a particularly rutted part of the track is safely conquered as is what looks like a very deep section of water. Then the instructor informs me that the next section of water is much deeper, he’s not wrong as the bow wave I have created disappears into the distance before hitting the bank at the end and starts to come back towards the windscreen, it's not a problem though for the Mud Master, thanks in part to the fitted snorkel.
Would the standard car have coped with this punishing environment? I don’t think so, but then I am not sure a regular owner would ever subject it to such extreme conditions. Regardless, the Mud Master is certainly very impressive, and I am sure some of the extras on this car will be popular with D-Max owners.
The final vehicle of the day is another V-Cross, and this time we head back into the woods on a slightly different course. The terrain is not especially tricky, but the idea of this session was to experience the hill descent system on the D-Max.
Arriving at the top of what is a very steep incline I am asked by the instructor to pause, select the hill descent control and then approach the slope at a speed I am comfortable with. He then tells me to take my foot off the brake and let the car control the descent. This goes against all natural instincts, but the car takes it in its stride and we arrive at the bottom of the incline safe and sound. We repeat this on a few more inclines, having full confidence in the systems that Isuzu have engineered into this car.
Back at the car park I pause and message RUSH’s self-proclaimed ‘Bentley Boys’ telling them they can keep the Bentayga, as I reckon I’ve had much more fun deep in the woods of Bradford than they had in the leafy lanes of Cheshire. Thanks to Isuzu for the invite and for introducing me to the D-Max V-Cross, it’s a great offering and I am sure any readers who buy one will agree.
Technical Specs; Isuzu D-Max V-Cross
Engine Type RZ4E Diesel
Engine Capacity 1898 cc
Arrangement Cylinders 4, In line
Bore mm 80.0 / Stroke mm 94.4 / Compression 15.9
Fuel Tank Capacity Litres 76
Power Output
Net Power PS @ rpm 164 @ 3600
Torque Nm @ rpm 360 @ 2000 - 2500
Performance (Automatic)
Maximum Speed (mph) 112
Acceleration (0-62mph) sec 12.7 (13.0)
Gear Ratios (Automatic)
1 4.942 (3.600)
2 2.452 (2.090)
3 1.428 (1.488)
4 1.000 (1.000)
5 0.749 (0.687)
6 0.634 (0.580)
Reverse 4.597 (3.732)
Final Drive 4.300 (4.300)
Fuel Consumption WLTP mpg (Automatic)
Low 27.6 (25.1)
Mid 36.4 (31.4)
High 39.4 (36.0)
Extra-High 30.8 (29.0)
Combined 33.6 (30.7)
CO2 emissions g/km 220 (241)
Emissions Class Euro 6D
Dimensions (mm)
Length 5265
Width 1870
Height 1790
Front Overhang 890
Rear Overhang 1250
Wheelbase 3125
Track (Front & Rear) 1570
Ground Clearance (Rear Axle) 235
Approach Angle (Degrees) 31
Departure Angle (Degrees) 24
Ramp Angle (Degrees) 22
Load Bed (mm)
Length 1495
Width 1530
Depth 490
Vehicle Weights in KG (Automatic)
Kerb Weight 2000 (2030)
Gross Vehicle Weight 3100 (3100)
Payload 1100 (1070)
Wheels & Tyres
Tyres 265/60R18
Wheels 18x7.5 J
Additional Information
Towing Capacity - 3500 KG
Vehicle warranty - 5 years / 125,000 miles
NCAP safety rating - 5 stars
OTR price - £33,354.00
At first glance, an off-road pickup from Isuzu might not be a typical RUSH vehicle, but as Tim Dunlop argues, that doesn’t mean it's not capable of being a drivers’ car…once in the right environment.
A few weeks ago the editor of RUSH and one of the fellow contributors headed to a Bentley press event which included time out on the road in the Bentayga and then some track time in the Continental GT. I have to admit I did go a funny shade of green with jealousy when they shared some pics from the day of them chauffeuring each other around in the extended wheelbase version of the SUV and videos of the on-track exploits at Oulton Park - which looked superb.
Still gutted I couldn’t make it, I was offered by way of a consolation a press invite to the Isuzu 4x4 Festival. Now I must admit, at first glance this didn’t seem much of a comparison, however on reading the invite the thought of some time in the latest D-Max and V-Cross pickups in the awesome setting of Parkwood Off Road Centre near Bradford sounded like great fun.
A 4x4 pick up is perhaps not the usual thing that would grace the pages of RUSH, however I had sold it to myself that should I own a track car and need a work horse to tow it along to the circuits around the UK and abroad, then something like the D-Max would certainly warrant a closer look.
Arriving at Parkwood it becomes clear that Isuzu are serious about giving the assembled journalists a good introduction to the D-Max and V-Cross in its different forms. Various trim levels and configurations were on display including the awesome looking Arctic model, resplendent in metallic red and conveniently parked on one of the large rock structures of the welcome area - I doubt you would find a Bentayga parked like that!
The session would be divided into two sections, a welcome and press briefing would be followed by some time out in a D-Max out on the road over a choice of two predefined routes. Once you had returned to base you would then be given the chance to take to the woods, slopes and tracks of the centre with an instructor across a variety of routes that increased in difficulty and severity.
Assigned my vehicle I grabbed the keys and headed to my stead for an hour of time out on the road. Press launches are sometimes a lottery in terms of what car you get allocated with a mixture of base and top spec models, however today I seemed to have won, as my car for the road test was a limited-edition D-Max V-Cross Steel. This car, one of only 300 made for the UK market, was finished in Steel Grey Mica which certainly suited it.
The additional spec of the Steel edition offered external enhancements including flared wheel arch extensions, roof rails and Steel side graphics. Internally I would find Steel embossed headrests, branded LED scuff plates, puddle lamps and luxury carpet mats. Overall a very good looking car with some tasteful additions.
Isuzu had given each journalist a laminated sheet with a handy QR code containing a Google Maps route, offering a quick chance to pair my phone while exploring the infotainment system with its 9” screen, Apple CarPlay and eight speakers. The set up was super easy to complete, enabling me to select drive on the auto gearbox and be on the move within minutes.
Now 4x4 pickups are not something I have spent a lot of time in. My wife’s last car was an SUV so I am used to a high up driving position, although the D-Max was a fair bit higher than my current daily driver which did take a few moments to get used to. It’s also been quite some time since I last drove a diesel car so the additional noise of a freshly started engine was something I initially noticed, although I was surprised at how quickly the noise subsided as the car warmed up and I settled into the route.
The gearbox was as I had expected: not as refined as some of the high-end brands, and not as quick in changing as a sports auto but perfectly acceptable. A quick flick of the gear lever to the right enabled me to push forward and back for up/down shifts if I felt the need to, although I think regular ‘D’ was where the gearbox felt the most comfortable.
The route selected took about 45 minutes and covered around 30 miles with a mixture of town driving, country roads and some motorway, giving a real chance to experience the V-Cross in a wide variety of settings. At motorway speeds the car surprised me with how quiet and refined it was, a conversation could have easily taken place without any intrusion. The car felt stable close to the speed limit and the radar cruise control was a welcome addition which meant I could have happily travelled long distances in the car without any issues.
With the road course duly completed, I arrived back at Parkwood with enough time to spare to grab a few pictures of the Steel edition before I passed the keys on to the next journalist who would head out as I made my way to the activity that I was really looking forward to.
I have not spent loads of time ‘off roading’ - my previous experiences were in a Land Rover Defender on a course at Silverstone which I was given as a birthday present a few years ago, and prior to this around twenty years earlier when I was selling Kia's where we spent some time learning the capabilities of the then new Sportage. The original Sportage actually had a few things in common with the D-Max V-Cross, the most relevant being that both vehicles have a separate ladder chassis. This format offers high ground clearance and extensive wheel articulation, which is suited for rough terrain, and looking at the course at Parkwood I am sure this would be put to the test.
The one hour off roading session would be split into three sections, two in regular D-Max versions, plus some time in the ‘MudMaster’ a specially commissioned one-of-one vehicle with some impressive aftermarket additions and modifications designed for the serious off roader. It is equipped with a snorkel, winch, lifted suspension, powerful lamps on the grille and roof, steel chassis armour, and numerous other accessories. This is an amazing piece of kit.
Taking to the course for the first time in a Valencia Orange V-Cross the instructor talks me through the various modes for the 4-wheel drive system. We have 2 high (regular), then we move to 4 high which can be done on the move, before coming to a stop and engaging 4 low for when the going gets tough. The course has a mixture of steep inclines, rutted paths, puddles and muddy slopes, all of which the Isuzu gobbles up without the slightest whiff of an issue. All with a standard car on road tyres which is certainly impressive.
Next up it's time for the MudMaster, we are going to cover the same route as we have just taken in the Orange car but with a deviation at the end for some deep wading. Having just covered the route it was perhaps not first apparent where the benefit of the extras to the Mud Master were, as the regular car had coped just as well with the course. As we were about two thirds of the way through the course the instructor advised me, we would now put this special vehicle through its paces and he advised me to turn left where in the previous car we had gone straight on.
Immediately I noticed a change in terrain, the ruts were deeper, the greenery was far more encroaching and the slopes got steeper, and there was much more water. It soon becomes evident that the Mud Master would rise to the challenge, a particularly rutted part of the track is safely conquered as is what looks like a very deep section of water. Then the instructor informs me that the next section of water is much deeper, he’s not wrong as the bow wave I have created disappears into the distance before hitting the bank at the end and starts to come back towards the windscreen, it's not a problem though for the Mud Master, thanks in part to the fitted snorkel.
Would the standard car have coped with this punishing environment? I don’t think so, but then I am not sure a regular owner would ever subject it to such extreme conditions. Regardless, the Mud Master is certainly very impressive, and I am sure some of the extras on this car will be popular with D-Max owners.
The final vehicle of the day is another V-Cross, and this time we head back into the woods on a slightly different course. The terrain is not especially tricky, but the idea of this session was to experience the hill descent system on the D-Max.
Arriving at the top of what is a very steep incline I am asked by the instructor to pause, select the hill descent control and then approach the slope at a speed I am comfortable with. He then tells me to take my foot off the brake and let the car control the descent. This goes against all natural instincts, but the car takes it in its stride and we arrive at the bottom of the incline safe and sound. We repeat this on a few more inclines, having full confidence in the systems that Isuzu have engineered into this car.
Back at the car park I pause and message RUSH’s self-proclaimed ‘Bentley Boys’ telling them they can keep the Bentayga, as I reckon I’ve had much more fun deep in the woods of Bradford than they had in the leafy lanes of Cheshire. Thanks to Isuzu for the invite and for introducing me to the D-Max V-Cross, it’s a great offering and I am sure any readers who buy one will agree.
Technical Specs; Isuzu D-Max V-Cross
Engine Type RZ4E Diesel
Engine Capacity 1898 cc
Arrangement Cylinders 4, In line
Bore mm 80.0 / Stroke mm 94.4 / Compression 15.9
Fuel Tank Capacity Litres 76
Power Output
Net Power PS @ rpm 164 @ 3600
Torque Nm @ rpm 360 @ 2000 - 2500
Performance (Automatic)
Maximum Speed (mph) 112
Acceleration (0-62mph) sec 12.7 (13.0)
Gear Ratios (Automatic)
1 4.942 (3.600)
2 2.452 (2.090)
3 1.428 (1.488)
4 1.000 (1.000)
5 0.749 (0.687)
6 0.634 (0.580)
Reverse 4.597 (3.732)
Final Drive 4.300 (4.300)
Fuel Consumption WLTP mpg (Automatic)
Low 27.6 (25.1)
Mid 36.4 (31.4)
High 39.4 (36.0)
Extra-High 30.8 (29.0)
Combined 33.6 (30.7)
CO2 emissions g/km 220 (241)
Emissions Class Euro 6D
Dimensions (mm)
Length 5265
Width 1870
Height 1790
Front Overhang 890
Rear Overhang 1250
Wheelbase 3125
Track (Front & Rear) 1570
Ground Clearance (Rear Axle) 235
Approach Angle (Degrees) 31
Departure Angle (Degrees) 24
Ramp Angle (Degrees) 22
Load Bed (mm)
Length 1495
Width 1530
Depth 490
Vehicle Weights in KG (Automatic)
Kerb Weight 2000 (2030)
Gross Vehicle Weight 3100 (3100)
Payload 1100 (1070)
Wheels & Tyres
Tyres 265/60R18
Wheels 18x7.5 J
Additional Information
Towing Capacity - 3500 KG
Vehicle warranty - 5 years / 125,000 miles
NCAP safety rating - 5 stars
OTR price - £33,354.00
AUTHOR
Tim Dunlop
Contributing Editor
Photography by;
Isuzu UK
Published on:
26 July 2024
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tim Dunlop
Contributing Editor
Tim is a hugely passionate petrolhead and historian who favours lightweight and innovation over brute force, as evidenced by his current steed; an Alpine A110
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