Published on December 10th, 2021 | by Subhash Nair
0Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain Can Double As A Weekend Family Vehicle
Have you considered using the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain as a family vehicle?
It’s the end of the year and Malaysian families are excited to go out and have a good time. Understandably, there are many out there who have a new vehicle in their garage, waiting to be driven out. While many may have opted for a traditional SUV, there is probably a fair number who have looked at the latest pick-up truck offerings and become enticed. This year was particularly special, as Isuzu rolled out their all-new D-Max and this kind of new generation product only comes around every decade or so. Where previous generations of the D-Max were more utilitarian, this latest generation model has taken passenger comfort and attention to detail to a higher level and blurring the lines between SUV and pick-up truck.
Cabin Like A Crossover
Just take one look at the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain‘s cabin and you can immediately tell that it’s more SUV-like than ever. The top layer of the dashboard and the door cards are finished in supple but durable brown leatherette material with contrasting double stitching. A lot of attention has been put into designing a dashboard that looks dynamic and luxurious enough to pass as something traditional SUV buyers might enjoy while sticking to very robust materials that can take years of abuse. Digital elements like the extra-large 9″ infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple Carplay, climate control interface and the 4.2″ TFT screen in the instrument cluster all contribute to the modern feel of the cabin.
Real Technological Leap
What’s more, these new pieces of technology represent an overall substantial shift in Isuzu’s overall philosophy behind the D-Max. While most pick-up trucks lack many advanced driver assist systems, Isuzu has gone all-out with theirs. The Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain is equipped to help the driver keep his or her occupants safe at all times. You get Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Pedal Misapplication Mitigation and so much more. All this shows that the pick-up truck is now ready to ferry the family around.
Best Of Both Worlds
When SUVs became popular, many consumers were looking at the added benefit of having a vehicle with a higher ground clearance and build in all-wheel drive. In fact, initial SUVs seemed to always emphasize the presence of all-wheel drive as a key selling point. Only in recent years have we started to see front-wheel drive SUVs being offered. What’s more, most all-wheel-drive systems fitted to SUVs tend to not be user-engageable, and only send torque to the rear wheels when the system determines the time is right. In fact, ground clearance on most SUVs creates the illusion of off-road capability without any ‘meat’ to back it up.
With the Isuzu D-Max, you get some real off-road capability. The high ride height is not just there for show as it has a class-leading 800mm wading depth and a user-selectable 4 wheel drive and a low-range gearbox when off-roading is required. As the video shows, this can come in handy even when you’re out having a picnic with your family!