5 Surprising Things About The Isuzu D-Max 1.9L Low-Ride 4×2 MT

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This working man’s variant of Isuzu’s D-Max pickup actually has a few nice surprises up its sleeves.

So a little while ago, Isuzu has very graciously provided Automacha with a D-Max Low Ride 4×2 MT to rock around in for a few days. And while this writer didn’t have any practical use for a working man’s pickup during his time with it, here are nevertheless 5 surprising things he discovered about it as he just pootled around town in it.

Surprisingly Comfortable Seats

Among the first things that stood out upon just stepping into the D-Max Low Ride was just how comfortable its front seats were.

Despite not being the climate controlled leather thrones found in the flagship variant, these seemingly basic set of chairs were nevertheless still rather supportive (at least for this writer’s thin frame). Thanks to a thin layer of foam just beneath its fabric upholstery too, these seats do indeed have an old school cushy feel to it.

And while this writer admits he has perhaps not done the best job in the world when it comes describing how good these basic seats on the D-Max were here, just note that he was so taken by these chairs that he was half-tempted to ask Isuzu for one to turn into a work chair.

Surprisingly Good Sound System

Another highly-unexpected feature for a predominantly work-type truck with a single-din audio player (something this writer hasn’t seen in a new car for a looooong while already) was just how good its speakers were. A feat that is made all the more surprising given it has only two of them!

Now of course, the D-Max’s speakers wasn’t exactly on par with the top class automotive sound systems, but it nevertheless had more than decent enough clarity and bass, which is more than could be said for a LOT of cars that cost the same as this work truck. And if truth really be told here too, this writer actually had a better auditory experience in this basic Isuzu, than with the Harmon-Kardon system in Volvo’s posh new EX30.

Surprisingly Easy To Drive

While many might think that a manual pickup is something only the most macho of men (or women) could be capable of taming, the D-Max Low Ride however was a total gentle giant on the road.

Despite its large size and relatively low overall height (compared to all the other jacked-up trucks that is), the large green house and commanding driving position in this Isuzu actually affords a relatively good view out of it, for decently stress-free manoeuvrability.

What more is that while this Low Ride variant is only available with a six-speed manual transmission, the stick-shift in this D-Max is very forgiving, with the torque-y turbodiesel engine and an incredibly low first gear further helping even a stick-shift noob feel completely at ease when rowing through the gears in traffic.

Besides, most people tend to yield to this giant pickup on the road anyway. So driving this truck around could actually be said to be easier than a tiny hatchback!

Surprisingly Refined Drive

The Isuzu D-Max has always been one of the more refined pickups in its class, and this still (surprisingly) holds true in even this bare-bones entry-level variant.

While there is little doubt that one is in a pickup when riding in this D-Max, the actual ride of this Isuzu however is surprisingly well-damped, even when there is no load in the bed. In fact, this writer has in recent memory driven worst-riding family SUVs (all of Chinese origin) than this working man’s pickup!

Despite being a ostensively workhorse too, Isuzu has somehow been able to keep road and wind noise within the cabin to a level that would shame some contemporary cars costing twice its price. And while the diesel clatter is still ever-present in this D-Max, stick it in the right gear to drop the revs and with the music turned up just a tad, the canal boat sound track then just discreetly disappears into the background.

Surprisingly Brisk Performance

Despite only coming with a 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel under its hood — incidentally the smallest engine of any pickup in Malaysia today — the D-Max Low Ride could surprisingly still boogie when given enough stick. In fact, it could be alleged that this utilitarian Isuzu pickup can out muscle a Volkswagen Polo GTI in a toll booth drag race.

It could be further alleged too that this little engine that could under its hood is also capable of seeing this D-Max get a respectable way into the triple digits, in a surprisingly short stretch of road no less. And thanks to the aforementioned surprising refinement and stability from being a huge truck, let’s just say that the driver won’t actually notice that he’s well past the legal speed limit until he stares down at the digital speed readout…