Auto tested more than 80 cars in 2024. As is tradition, we re-publish our twelve favourite tests of the year as our Best Tests daily through December. Then we present three Auto Special Awards in Best EV, Best Bakkie and Performance car of the year 2024. And then we choose the Top 3 Best Tests, before we announce Best Test 2024 on 1 January 2025. So come back for your daily Auto entertainment everyday through your holidays!
Auto Best Tests 2024 #3: Isuzu D-Max V-Cross
The top bakkie man also needs a real bakkie
We have always considered the Isuzu D-Max to be the bakkie man’s bakkie. The most bakkie-like of the double cabs that seem to want to be cars more than pick-ups, it still has it all. But D-Max is still very much a bakkie at heart. So we were keen to see how that applies to the flagship V-Cross.
For whatever reason, we have missed this one, having tested pretty well all of the rest of the range, which generally impressed anyway. So we were quite excited when this nine hundred and sixteen grand flagship finally showed up on our driveway. It was stormy, for a change too, and it never changed much throughout the week. Cue Riders on the Storm!
D-Max is a South African bakkie for South Africans
Anyway, Isuzu always told us that the current D-Max was a giant step forward when it arrived a couple of years ago. Packing state of the art tech to enhance its every aspect, it was intensively developed, engineered and durability tested in South Africa, for South Africans. Not that it is unique to Isuzu, but we like that! Still, everything, from suspension to tyres, it’s tough load box and tailgate, to dust sealing, was exhaustively tested in the most demanding of local conditions.
Not that you’d notice it straight up. Park the new D-Max next to an old one and you need to squint to notice the difference between the two. Sme for the step up to this V-Cross. You must look twice to notice the blacked out bits, colour coded pieces and those handsome dark grey wheels. It really looks the part. Should do, the regular models also look the part.
There’s more special stuff to keep you entertained inside though The pretty, angular and sensibly laid out dash is once again neither over the top nor ostentatious. Significantly, that’s great if you just want a bakkie. Maybe not if you’re after carlike refinement. V-Cross does add a little extra style though.
V-Cross has a full range of driver aids
With extra luxury and comfort, piano black trim and eight-way power leather pews have lumbar support too. V-Cross also adds auto high beam lighting, but it’s real trump card is a truly impressive array of driver assistance and safety features. The Intelligent Driver Assist System uses cutting-edge stereo camera, sonar and radar technologies to keep you safe on the road.
It enables the full range of active driving aids from forward collision to autonomous emergency brake, and turn, attention assist, to adaptive cruise control, assist, lane departure warning, prevention, rear cross traffic assistance. Add regular and emergency lane keep, blind spot, autonomous emergency braking, cyclist and pedestrian detection assistants and an alphabet soup of other assistants. Sounds safe as houses.
This airconditioned V-Cross cabin has power windows front and rear, and remote central locking. The grippy cross stitched power multifunction steering wheel falls nicely to hand. There’s also cruise control, and rear park distance control aided and abetted by a reversing camera.
V-Cross infotainment you can actually operate
The infotainment is usable with Auto, CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity, USB ports front and rear, and an AUX input too.. The touchscreen is backed by dash and steering wheel buttons that also toggle the trip computer nestling between fine and legible analogue dials.
D-Max 3.0 LS neat dark alloys sport more street-oriented bakkie tyres. You can pack a tonne in the bak and this 4×4 D-Max can pull a 3,500 kg braked trailer. Beyond that it’s just get in and go. There are no stupid driver aids that are near impossible to switch off. There’s still traction and stability control, and ABS brakes with EBD and assist. Add seven airbags, Isofix kid seat mounts. Never mind that astounding list of acromyms noted above.
This three-litre four-pot drives well. It has more than enough usable power. There’s a touch of turbo lag, but nothing to write home about. And it’s close among the quicker four-pot turbodiesel double cabs we’ve tested, too.it makes 140 kW at a relatively low 3,600 r/min peak. 450 Nm torque offsets that in a decent band between 1600 and 2600 revs.
Does all we’ve come to expect from Isuzu
Reasonably economical, Isuzu claims 8.2 litres per hundred. So you should manage 900 km, drive accordingly. The six-speed box shifts smoothly, those seats are comfy, and V-Cross is a pleasant, spacious driving environment. Supremely equipped in this spec it’s a great all-round package and reasonably priced, too.
On the flipside, it’s a bit bouncy unladen, but gets a little better id loaded a little. Build is maybe a little behind in some areas inside and out, but then it’s a bakkie after all and as always, this Isuzu owns that very well. Stormy it was, but our V-Cross did not care. This top pf the line Isuzu goes toe to toe with the best, without the bravado and bragging,
That on its own stands the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross well apart from that brash crowd it actually competes with better than well. Which is precisely what we have come to expect from Isuzu. – Michele Lupini
Test data: Giordano Lupini
TOW TESTED: Isuzu D-Max 3.0TD DC V-Cross 4x4
Engine: 140 Kw 450 Nm 3.0 litre turbodiesel
Drive: 6 speed manual 4x4
Load Capacity: 1,100 kg
Braked Trailer: 3,500 kg
TESTED:
0--60 km/h: 4.02 sec
0-100 km/h: 9.37 sec
0-120 km/h: 13.03 sec
0-160 km/h: 25.23 sec
0-400m: 16.1 sec @ 136 km/h
80-120 km/h: 6.78 sec
120-160 km/h: 12.22 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 185 km/h
Fuel: 8.2 l/100 km
CO2: 192 g/km
Range: 925 km
Warranty/Service: 5y 120K/5y 90K km
LIST PRICE: R916K
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