2022 Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 review

On sale Now | Price from £57,529 (including VAT). £47,999 (excluding VAT)

If you see the Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 anywhere other than on the side of a mountain or crossing an Arctic glacier, the term ‘fish out of water’ undoubtedly springs to mind. Indeed, those massive tyres and aggressive wheelarches really don’t fit in when you head to the supermarket. No, they literally don’t fit. 

You see, not only has the Arctic truck’s suspension been raised by 50mm over the standard Isuzu D-Max, but the AT35 also covers more real estate, having been widened to ensure those 315/70 knobbly tyres still fit within the arches. As a result, it’ll quite happily fill a parking space to the very edge of the lines and is an imposing presence on the road. 

So, what exactly is the point of this extreme D-Max variant? Well, as its rugged appearance might suggest, it's been designed to take on everything you can throw at it, whether that's crossing tundra or conquering a mountain. In fact, if you point it at pretty much anything, it should make it over with breaking sweat. 

That’s not all just marketing guff, either: the very name ‘Arctic Trucks’ comes from a company that helped to develop this monstrous off-roader. Indeed, that company’s previous work includes variants of many vehicle models that have been used for everything from driving on a volcano to crossing the North Pole. 

There aren’t all that many aggressive trucks on the market, but the D-Max Arctic Trucks’ natural rival is the Ford Ranger Raptor, another pick-up designed to survive in the wilderness but one that’s yet to arrive in the UK. Alternatively, there are plenty of less hardcore pick-up trucks that are still capable off road, including the standard D-Max, the Ford Ranger (our reigning pick-up of the year) and the Toyota Hilux. 

Is the most extreme version of the Isuzu D-Max the version to go for, then? Let’s find out. 

What's it like to drive? 

Choosing an engine for the D-Max Arctic Trucks is really easy because there’s only one – the 162bhp 1.9-litre turbocharged diesel that you’ll find in the normal D-Max. That doesn’t sound like much power for the AT35’s size, but it actually proves strong enough to give it a maximum payload weight of 1045kg (1075kg if you go for the manual) and the ability to tow up to 3500kg. 

From a standstill or low speeds, the Arctic Trucks has plenty of torque and pulls well, but it quickly runs out of puff as speeds increase. Put your foot down for a sudden burst of pace and all you get is little more than engine noise. And lots of it at that.

The automatic gearbox's inconsistent decision making doesn't help matters either. It takes several seconds before it will shift down a gear when you actually want power, and yet, it will frequently shift to a lower gear just to maintain speed when you have the cruise control on. Unless you frequently drive in stop-start traffic, the manual gearbox will make more sense.

Indeed, the diesel engine under that bonnet is, for want of a better phrase, very agricultural – there's a lot of diesel clatter, regardless of whether you’re at a standstill or on the move. There's also plenty of wind noise at higher speeds, but, surprisingly, not much road noise from those huge tyres.

Settle down to a cruise and that ‘fish out of water’ feeling never really fades away. Large knobbly tyres aren’t designed for a trip to the shops or a motorway commute, so the ride isn’t great. In fact, there’s a constant fidget that moves you from side to side in your seat even on smooth roads, while sharper ruts and expansion joints can jolt you upwards from your seat. 

The same could be said for the normal D-Max though, although to a lesser extent. The Ranger Wildtrack will be a more comfortable and supple option if you’re planning to mainly drive around on roads.

The D-Max Arctic Trucks is tall, you’d probably expect it to be a wobbly thing when you end up on a winding country road. That isn’t the case, though, because its special Bilstein suspension is quite firm, giving the vehicle surprisingly good body control and reducing lean as you drive through corners. 

That said, the light steering isn’t all that confidence-inspiring, only giving you a vague idea of what’s going on, so we wouldn’t really want to take it for a spirited drive. The Ranger Wildtrack is definitely better in this respect, giving you more precise steering and proving to be less affected by mid-corner bumps.

It’s off road where the Arctic Trucks is really in its element, using that 266mm of front clearance and 290mm at the rear to conquer rough terrain. Meanwhile, the 35-degree approach angle, 29-degree departure angle and 34-degree breakover angle helps to ensure you can get up, in, over and through pretty much anything that stands in your way. 

The list of off-road tools is extensive, including a switchable two and all-wheel-drive mode, low and high range gears, a locking rear diff and hill-descent control. In fact, without heading into the middle of nowhere or on to a glacier, we doubt you’ll get to really explore this pick-up’s limits. 

What's it like inside? 

If you’re a fan of sitting high above the road, the commanding driving position of the D-Max Arctic Trucks will be right up your street. What’s more, the electrically-adjustable driver’s seat gives you plenty of movement and powered lumbar support to help you get comfortable. Unfortunately, the seats themselves aren’t comfortable on a long journey because the base doesn’t have much padding. 

The added advantage of that high driving position is that it gives you good visibility all round, while the sizeable door mirrors help you keep an eye on how close those rear wheelarches are to obstacles. In fact, despite the initially intimidating size, it quickly becomes quite easy to keep track of all four corners and to place the D-Max where you want it. It is quite long, though, so you’ll be thankful for the front and rear parking sensors, and rear-view camera when parking. 

Even in total darkness, visibility remains good thanks to the standard LED headlights and foglights. The, er, highlight is an optional LED light bar that gives new meaning to turning night into day. It’s almost comically bright but it’s nice to know you’ll be able to see even when you’re far from civilisation. 

As the Arctic Trucks is structurally the same as the standard D-Max, things haven't really changed when it comes to interior space. That means space in the front is great, spoiling the driver and front-seat passenger with lots of head and leg room, while rear space is nothing special. You can read all about the interior in more depth in our dedicated Isuzu D-Max review. 

Of course, when it comes to ferrying items around, the D-Max really comes into its own. That’s thanks to the 1495mm bed that can fit a standard pallet lengthways between the wheelarch intrusions. There are four tie-down hoops in the bed, one for each corner, and a damped tailgate for ease of opening. The rear bumper has a step you can stand on to reach over the sides to get at anything in the bed of the truck.

Verdict

Beyond the novelty of being a massive truck, the Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 is just as capable as its styling suggests. In fact, unless you spend lots of your time challenging yourself and your car way off the beaten track, you’ll find it hard to really explore its limits. If that does sound like you though, we expect it’ll be a great companion even on your most extreme adventures. 

On top of that, the carrying and towing capabilities will be more than enough for pretty much any situation, making it a handy thing when you need to tow heavy machinery and carry tools around. That said, we suspect the normal Ford Ranger or D-Max would be just as capable, giving you similar carrying and towing limits, while costing you quite a lot less. 

The upcoming Ford Ranger Raptor, with its more powerful diesel engine and uprated Fox dampers, may be a better balance of off-road capability and on-road comfort. Alternatively, if you don’t need the extensive off-road capabilities and can forgo the mad exterior styling of the D-Max, opting for something like the Ranger Wildtrack will give you a pick-up truck that’s easier to live with every day, while proving to be more eager when you put your foot down and far more comfortable when driving around on the road. 

What Car? rating 3 stars out of 5

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Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 automatic

Price £59,329 (including VAT) £49,499 (excluding VAT) Engine 4cyl, 1898cc, turbocharged, diesel Power 162bhp at 3600rpm Torque 266lb ft at 2000-2500rpm Gearbox 6-spd automatic 0-62mph 13.0sec Top speed 112mph Official economy 30.7mpg (WLTP) CO2, tax band 241g/km, 37%

Rivals:
Ford Ranger
Toyota Hilux

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