THE mighty Isuzu D-Max has rightly earned itself a reputation as one of the hardest working pick-ups, writes William Scholes.
But nothing stands still in the motoring world, and rivals such as Toyota, Ford and Mitsubishi have been steadily tweaking their own pick-ups.
Isuzu is fighting back with a heavily revised version of the D-Max. The biggest change is under the bonnet, where a 1.9-litre diesel turbo engine replaces the current truck's 2.5-litre unit.
It's almost exactly as powerful, with 162bhp compared to the 161bhp currently, though has slightly less torque, with 266lb.ft playing 295lb.ft.
Isuzu promises better refinement and economy from the new engine, and it meets the latest emissions standards without asking owners to periodically pour special 'AdBlue' additives into the exhaust system.
Unchanged is the D-Max's 3.5 tonne towing capacity, 1 tonne payload and 'shift on the fly' four-wheel-drive system. The Isuzu continues to carry a five-year, 125,000-mile warranty.
Trim levels run from Utility, Eiger and Yukon to Utah and Blade, and single-, extended- and double-cab bodywork is available.
Entry level Utility models start at £15,749 (CVOTR) and come equipped with LED daytime running lights, hill start assist, hill descent control, Bluetooth connectivity, electric windows and air conditioning.
Eiger double-cab models are priced from £20,499 CVOTR and add a reversing camera, 16-inch alloy wheels, body coloured bumpers, audio system with CD player and six speakers.
The Yukon versions, which also start at £20,499 CVOTR, have 18-inch alloy wheels, silver side steps, a new 7-inch multi-function touchscreen, LED rear lights, cruise control, rear load liner and a leather steering wheel.
Utah (from £24,149 CVOTR) models gain keyless entry with push button start, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, DAB digital radio, roof bars, leather upholstery with heated front seats, rear parking sensors and automatic air conditioning.
The range-topping Blade (from £26,999 CVOTR) adds tinted windows, 9-inch multi-function touchscreen, remote locking lower tailgate, Blade puddle lamps, front and rear parking sensors and a colour-coded Aeroklas canopy or sports bar with roller cover.
The new D-Max is due to reach dealers next month.
