MAX ATTACK

WE HEAD OUT OF THE BIG SMOKE TO SEE IF THE ALL-NEW ISUZU D MAX HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO PUT FORD’S RANGER WILDTRAK BACK IN ITS PLACE

- ASH WESTERMAN

THE TRAIL IS DETERIORATING as it descends; cracks in the clay base creating fissures wide enough to swallow a wheel, while the rocks have quickly scaled up from softball-sized to bread loaves. Ahead of me, the new Isuzu D-Max picks its path carefully, its shiny flanks now dulling under a first coating of dust. The trail never gets gnarly enough to require low-range but flexes just enough attitude to keep SUVs out as it levels off on the valley floor of the Tarlo River National Park in the NSW southern tablelands, and leads us to a causeway across the gentle flow of the river itself.

It occurs to me that if we perhaps had a couple of mountain bikes in the trays and a few kids grubbing up the rear seats of these dual-cabs, we’d actually be using them in the way their makers intended, and realising the buyer aspirations that are obviously fuelling the popularity of this segment. Yes, 4x4 utes are heavily compromised on-road in terms of dynamics, NVH, and pretty much any other metric you want to throw in their direction. And yes, their leaf-sprung rear ends and drum brakes appear cynical, low-cost throwbacks to a bygone era. But that’s not deterring the tens of thousands of private buyers each year who seem happy to accept this trade-off for the versatility and adventure potential they offer. How many actually use them like this? Doesn’t matter. Knowing they can is what counts.