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13/10/2008
By EWAN KENNEDY
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One of the world’s biggest selling utes, the Isuzu D-Max, is now on sale in Australia. Built in Thailand with specifications tailored to the Australian market it’s being marketed by a new Queensland based company called IUA (Isuzu UTE Australia).
 However, the D-Max is not quite as new as it seems, having been sold here for many years under the badge of Holden Rodeo. A squabble between Isuzu and General Motors recently saw Holden losing the rights to the Rodeo name, so it is now tagged Holden Colorado. In about two years time that vehicle will probably cease to be offered to Holden from the Isuzu factory in Thailand.
IUA says the biggest strength of the D-Max is its low fuel consumption, a vital consideration for many business operators. Official figures rate it at 7.9 litres per hundred kilometres in 4x2 format and 8.1 litres per hundred kilometres as a 4x4. This makes it the most economical of all 3.0-litre utes sold in Australia, and better than all 2.5-litre models with the exception of the Nissan Navara.
We have done extensive fuel testing of the D-Max both in real world running and also in full-on economy driving, more about the latter in a separate story.
The 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine is a modern common rail unit and produces its best torque of 360 Nm all the way from 1800 to 2800 rpm. That’s with a five-speed manual gearbox, the four-speed automatic transmission can’t quite cope with that big torque, so is slightly detuned to 333 Nm. A benefit of that lower torque is that the peak is even more extensive. More a plateau than a peak it runs from 1600 rpm to 1600 to 3200 revs.
 The new IUA organisation is a lean efficient unit and will concentrate purely on importing, selling and servicing Isuzu utes. To date 40 dealers have been appointed Australia wide, with others to follow soon.
The concentration on a single vehicle range lets IUA hold prices down and equipment levels up, as well as keeping its product knowledge high from a technical viewpoint.
Standard equipment includes air conditioning (not always a given in this market segment), ABS brakes, dual front airbags in all except the EX variant, and a limited-slip rear differential. Underneath the 4x4 models is a steel guard for the sump that was specially designed for Australian conditions.
Recommended retail prices begin at $23,300 for a D-Max 4x2 single-cab chassis up to $42,500 for an upmarket LS-U Crew Cab automatic. On-road costs have to be factored in to your purchasing decision.
Isuzu D-Max has a carrying capacity of around 1.1 tonnes. As always, this varies with the mass of the body fitted.
Transmission can be by rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. In a clever move, both vehicles have the same ride height. Thus not only giving the 4x2 plenty of rough road ability, but also endowing it with a macho appearance. In today’s ute market looks means a lot…
 At this stage body types are single cab and dual cab. IUA has opted not to import an extended cab version as it feels there's not a lot of demand on our market. Some countries have D-Max in station wagon format, a hard-edged SUV. This may come to Australia later.
Queensland is the number one market for utes in Australia, hence the decision to base IUA in Brisbane rather than the more common choice of Melbourne or Sydney by other automotive importers.
Details on the new Isuzu Ute Australia organisation, its vehicle and dealer locations can be obtained from the website, www.isuzuute.com.au/
The complete Isuzu D-Max range, with prices (excluding on-road costs) is:
SX single cab 4x2 cab chassis: $23,300 (manual)
SX crew cab 4x2 ute: $31,800 (manual)
LS crew cab 4x2 ute: $34,800 (manual), $36,800 (automatic)
EX single cab 4x4 cab chassis: $27,800 (manual)
SX single cab 4x4 cab chassis: $32,000 (manual)
SX crew cab 4x4 cab chassis: $36,700 (manual)
LS-M crew cab 4x4 ute: $38,700 (manual), $40,700 (automatic)
LS-U crew cab 4x4 ute: $40,500 (manual), $42,500 (automatic) |
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