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| Kirsty Harwood from PE admires how nicely the Isuzu D-Max cleans up when dressed in Isuzu’s ‘Black Meet Kettle’ body colour and bolted to big, 18-inch alloy wheels. |
THERE are big moves afoot in the bakkie market.
Tomorrow sees the official reveal of the next-generation Isuzu D-Max bakkie in Thailand — a country where people love their bakkies even more than we do in South Africa.
This next model D-Max will still use the current three-litre turbo-diesel, first because it was recently updated to make 130 kW and 430 Nm; and second because Isuzu drivers trust this engine.
This next D-Max is only expected to arrive next year in the other top bakkie-buying markets of Australia and SA.
LIMITED EDITION ON SALE NOW
Meanwhile, Isuzu is turning heads with the limited edition, all-extras standard X-Rider Black Edition, which sells for R462 000 with all the bells and whistles, including an eight-inch AX2 touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth for audio streaming and hands-free calling inside.
The one luxury the X-Rider does not have is an auto box, being sold only with Isuzu’s five-speed manual gearbox. Courtesy of Isuzu, I got to work this gear shift on the highways, urban roads and a short stretch of dirt near PE to compare how the X-Rider compares against its main rivals — the 2,5 Di-D Fiat Fullback, the 2,2 TDCi Ford Ranger, and the 2,4GD-6 Toyota Hilux.
In terms of price, the Isuzu is on par with the Fullback, but R40 k dearer than the Ranger and some R7 k more than the Hilux. In the downturned economy it is a buyer’s market, hence demand the discount.
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| As functional as it if fancy, the interior of the Isuzu is enhanced by the red detailing in X-Rider cladding. |
As for the ride, I found the X-Rider and the Ranger softer on the kidneys, an important consideration for the leisure drivers for whom these limited edition double-cabs are actually built.
Appearances are the most important part for leisure vehicle buyers, and the Isuzu X-Rider certainly turns the heads of both sexes with its Black Meet Kettle body colour and 18-inch black alloy wheels.
“I can see myself driving this black beauty, it stands out on the line,” said Natasha Schultz, who fits wiring harnesses on the D-Max production line at Isuzu’s plant in PE.
Dealers expect the limited offer will again fly out of the showrooms. Executive technical services Dominic Rimmer, said the X-Rider Black is for people who want to stand out in the urban jungle. “It’s bold, stylish and in your face. It brings all the familiar Isuzu attributes of rugged reliability but will not look out of place parked in an upmarket urban setting,” he said.
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| The X-Rider Black Edition. |
SHARING BAKKIE DESIGNS
The new Isuzu D-Max will form the basis of the next Mazda BT-50 in an agreement dating back to July 2016, but their JV is not alone.
Recent news is that Ford will supply its Ranger know-how to underpin the next Volkswagen Amarok. This “Rangerok” is due for market launch in 2022, but there is as yet little news how much of the Blue Oval will go into the VW bakkie.
Equally vague is the news from Japan that the next Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara will share parts.
The Navara already shares its underpinnings with the Merc X-Class, and if Renault gets around to building the Alaskan bakkie, it will also use the Navara chassis and engines.
While Renault dithers, rival French brand Peugeot confirmed that plans are far advanced to sell a Peugeot double-cab in 2022.
