ISUZU'S new D-Max was the winner in the 4x4 pickup segment last year, with the flagship X-Terrain boasting not only a sharp and comfortable drive performance but also a premium feel.
Last year's king of pickups is back in the form of the D-Max Auto Plus 4X2 1.9L, released almost six months later than the other variants.
Though it may not be the premium-end model of the range, it has its own appeal that makes it a prize in its own right.
4X2 DRIVE
As you would have guessed, the D-Max Auto Plus is a rear-wheel drive 4x2 variant that does away with the 4x4 drivetrain.
With the front transfer case and differential dropped, the pickup truck weighs at just 1,830kg, which is 85kg less than the 4x4 version.
It is built on the Isuzu Dynamic Drive Platform and suspended by a pair of double-wishbone up front with three-leaf semi elliptical spring at the rear.
At the heart is a RZ4E-TC 1.9-litre diesel engine mated to a six-speed automatic with sequential shift transmission (found on the other non-flagship D-Max variants) that makes 150PS at 3,600rpm and 350Nm of torque from 1,800rpm to 2,600rpm.
The exterior has a new matte grey front grille flanked by Bi-LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, front fog lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, side steps, and "4x2 Auto Plus" decals on the sides.
In the cabin, the fabric seats come with six-way adjustments for the driver's side, while the infotainment system supports all the latest connectivity, including Bluetooth, MirrorLink, Miracast, Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay.
Other nifty features include an e-LUMAX instrument panel, a 12-volt 120W socket, USB slots and rear air-con vents.
The truck is certified with a five-star Asean NCAP rating given its range of safety features, including the anti-lock braking system, brake assist, traction control system, hill start assist, hill descent control and brake override system.
Priced at RM100,999.20 (on the road without insurance), the 4x2 D-Max comes in the five exterior colour options of Splash White Solid, Mercury Silver Metallic, Onyx Black Mica, Sapphire Blue Mica and Valencia Orange Metallic.
LESS IS MORE
The D-Max Auto Plus 4x2 was introduced to address one major question thrown at pickup drivers: How often do you use the truck's 4x4 drive function?
Turns out that not many do, with Isuzu Malaysia reporting only 28 per cent of drivers do so.
Then there's the matter of extravagance. Do you really need leather furnishing and such in your pickup?
As the segment moves from a workhorse to a more lifestyle centred experience, there are many who buy a pickup truck for the feel and want. Not because they are constantly moving a cupboard across semi-rough terrain, with that being considered a bonus instead.
Many don't even have that sort of a payload to carry on a general basis.
Slowly peeling away the wants from the need means eliminating the extra costs. And if you're considering the non-flagship D-Max Auto Plus 4x2,
then expenses are clearly your concern.
But does stripping away these added features, especially the 4x4 function, dumb down the new D-Max experience? The answer is no.
As someone who has sat in both the X-Terrain and Auto Plus, the latter performs just as well for a 1.9L engine.
In fact, you won't feel much difference unless you're comparing it to the flagship model. The cabin is just as modern, the infotainment system is just as comprehensive and the drive performance just as smooth.
One of the reasons the new D-Max is such a champ is because of its near-sedan ergonomics in the cabin and the 4x2 loses none of it.
From experience, you barely feel any rattle or hear loud engine noises to the point it interrupts your drive.
Sound insulation and overall production is spot on.
Being a 4x2 is also all that you need for your daily drive. If you've never experienced it, going 4x4 mode isn't the most pleasant feeling on normal roads and doesn't add to a vast improvement in this situation.
So, you're not missing out on anything other than a function said to be used only by 28 per cent of the market's customers.
Also, this means fewer moving components, which translates to lower maintenance and ownership costs. The more we consider it, the more everything adds up.
Pickup trucks are no longer as affordable as they were a few years back and chances are we'll never see such prices again.
That makes the Auto Plus extra attractive and so much more practical in an economic sense. You're pretty much getting the best for less.
