Isuzu bring their D-Max to India’s none-too-crowded pickup truck segment – high on importance but low on competition. Can the Japanese major hit the bull’s eye? We find out in a first drive
Story: Gaurav Nagpal
Photography: Isuzu Motor India
Pickups in India are a symbol of utility, loaded with farm produce, construction material, and what have you. Indian automobile manufacturers, including Tata (Xenon) and Mahindra (Getaway), have tried to change their image, but without much success. Into this arena steps the D-Max, a purpose-built Japanese pickup that seeks to stand apart from (and above) competitors that are essentially variants of existing models. I took it for a spin on the WABCO test track near Chennai to find out how good it is.
The D-Max comes in three variants with identical overall body lengths. The single cab flat deck variant has two seats in the cabin, while the space cab flat deck has the cabin extending for about 1.5 feet behind the seats, where you can store items unsuitable for the cargo deck. The space cab arched deck variant, pitched at lifestyle users, has a flat deck and sides, as against the ribbed surfaces in the flat deck variants.
I drove the space cab arched deck variant, painted in a rich Nautilus Blue shade. Viewed head on, the big, toothy chrome grille grabs attention, and is a smart touch in our chrome-loving automobile market. The bumper has space for fog lamps, and a sporty scoop adorns the bonnet.
