ISUZU D-MAX CREW CAB Test Drive since 2012 Pickup
About grated jeans and orange pants
Over the past year, the line of pickups in the Russian market has noticeably expanded that in itself great, especially considering them a relatively low price. Interestingly, the other: those several models that are represented by official and independent dealers, are amazingly close in tactical and technical characteristics. And stand around the same way, and look like. So did the choice of Russian lovers appear or is it just visibility?The European version of the new Picap of Isuzu D-Max The Japanese announced the day before the Parisian car dealership. What was our amazement when we saw the advertisement of this car on the site of one of the Russian independent dealers, and even before Paris ... And since it has become the need to start to balance the representatives of the representative of the Army of Pickups to figure out who is who, the unconditional interest in The newcomer was decided to warm up the match and the match. Who to take into rivals? Mitsubishi L200 on the market has already been older, SsangYong Musso Sports will be available on sale to the exit of this room, Mazda B-Series is a little known to the buyer, Toyota Hilux is sold with a more powerful engine ... Yeah, Ford Ranger: and for sale only six months, and According to the characteristics very close, and in size, and by mood. American pickup We recently tested and remained very pleased with them, so we will take it for the standard.
History of the river
Since the ISUZU brand is familiar from all our readers, let's allow a small historical retreat. The Japanese company, which now enters the family General Motors, was formed in 1916 and was called differently and so long that it makes no sense to bring her full name. It is more important that she immediately took up the release of cars. Actually, ISUZU brand appeared in 1933. As the corporate legend says, one of the rivers in Japan is called. In 1936, the first Japanese diesel engine of air cooling was developed, which was put on small trucks. The company released its first SUV - Isuzu Rodeo / Bighorn - the company released at the beginning of the eighties, and at the end of the nineties it stops the production of cars, while moving exclusively on cars of increased passability, minivans and pickups. In the middle of this year, at the subsidiary of Isuzu in Taiwan, the build of a new D-MAX pickup was launched, developed in conjunction with GM.
A constructive new pickup and is similar, and does not look like all the former developments of Isuzu. Now they produce several versions of the car - with three diesel and two gasoline engines, with a one-hour and double cab, with automatic and mechanical transmission and configuration options. We got a modification with a 2.5-liter turbodiesel 4JA1-L, a 5-speed manual box, manual locks of hubs, double cabin and minimal equipment, but with air conditioning. Ford Ranger is more seriously staffed - he, in contrast to the opponent, at least electric windows are - and armed with a 2.5-liter turbodiesel, a manual box and a lounge on five. Actually, in this form, the American car is officially supplied to us, although the sets are options.
The image matters
It would seem that the appearance cannot be decisive in the choice of a vehicle intended for the transport of potatoes, refrigerators or mud atv. But not here and not in this case! The distinction of styles is so striking that it is not noted that it is impossible - after all, almost twenty years differences between Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max ... The silhouette of the Japanese pickup is felt focus on modern youth, for which the image is all. In short, ISUZU looks more interesting than Ford, which can boast except that the abundance of chromium compensating for his somewhat boring look. The elegant d-max curves, wonderful headlights, an expressive hood and a raised grill of the radiator form the appearance of a certain tourist equipped in the style of Haytech. From D-Max it is easy to go out in orange pants, but Ranger asks old good shabby jeans. On the other hand, American style can be called a real, and Japanese - artificial. And if we consider that in the XXI century there is a lot of real ...
Wash - at least from the hose
But from the point of view of the comfort of the salons of Isuzu, we were somewhat puzzled: instead of the seats ahead, a one-piece sofa, which is regulated only at the distance to the pedals, all the windows are manual, there are no central locks, the mirrors and the audio adjustments are not, the speakers are six, and not four, as in Ranger . Air conditioning when turned on, the engine is noticeably strained. True, it's great that the floor is made washing, even the transmission tunnel is covered with rubber.
Ford was equipped with much richer: electric car, comfortable chairs, airbegie, leather steering wheel, CD receiver. Moreover, the cost of cars is approximately the same, and the basic version of the Ranger is also cheaper. The poverty of the configuration D-MAX, however, did not say too much on the convenience of landing the driver and ergonomics of his workplace. The steering wheel is adjustable along the corner of the column, the place for the legs could be more and in general, it is not bad. The review is excellent, at least better than in Ford. But the fact that there is no airbag, it is not good. Do not please the lack of heating seats that are on the Ranger.
Constructive pickups are very different. ISUZU D-MAX 2.5-liter turbodiesel and Ford Ranger also, but the first bottom with eight valves per cylinder, and the second 12-valve OHC. In motion - just heaven and earth. Japanese is a trap, a leisurely grouse-phlegmatic, and the Yankees - sharp, restless crying choleric. Both give up about hundreds of horsepower, but the American rotary torque peak motor moves to the middle turnover and the shelf runs almost to 3000 rpm. After 1800 rpm turns on the turbine, providing up to 2300 rather vigorous pickup. ISUZU also gives the engine maximum thrust at 1600 rpm and then gradually fades that after 3500 strokes finally. It is worth throwing gas pedal as a car begins to slowly slow down, as if you switched to a lower gear. As for the turbine, it works absolutely imperceptible - in the sense that it is not clear when it turns on, and whether it turns on at all ...
In practice, all this means that if the Ranger can easily maneuver in an intensive stream, without feeling accidentally caught in the city by a tractor driver, then D-MAX in such a situation godlessly lags behind. Its overclocking up to 100 km / h takes more than 25 seconds - Ford is almost one and a half times more dynamic. But on off-road they change places. Under the rough terrain, on the road with large potholes, violence and pits, Isuzu sneaks calmly, very confident, without unnecessary jerks and twigs, on the second gear. Well, the Ranger on the same site behaves like spaniel at the sight of ducks - then jumps forward, then, overlooking the tubercle, it almost stalls, then again rushes from under the saddle. The characters of both cars can be reconciled by moving on a reduced row of transfer box. Isuzu is traditionally large - a gear ratio of 2.482: 1. In places where Ford has to be thrown on the obstacle from a good kick, D-max quietly costs moderate gas.
Magic numbers
The gear ratios of the MCP of our pickups are very close. The first and Ford, and isuzu is too short, the step to the second is high, then everything is more or less smooth. It's not enough to touch at both cars immediately with the second unpleasant on both cars. But at high speeds, the advantage of a faster Ford motor at approximately equal gear ratios becomes obvious. After a set of 110 km / h, the Japanese pickup goes to acceleration so sluggishly, which disappears any desire to accelerate. The American is perfectly accelerated at least from 60, even from 100, even from 120 km / h and up to 140 twist for the cute soul. Isuzu is more suitable for a quiet ride, the settings of the chassis clearly allow you to go on a decent speed. Both vehicles are equipped with a rush steering, but on isuzu d-max it is clearer and sensitive. However, it cannot boast the presence of a returning effort - Ford Ranger has a little better with it. Well, on the off-road steering more convenient if you are on the Ford Ranger, because the ISUZU of the power of the amplifier and its damping properties is sometimes lacking. Especially if the wheels on the hub in the mud.
Levers like anchor
After all, it was like it was. In the Zvenigorod career, we found the only natural puddle and conceived picturely sit around it for photographing. And there were doubts about me, and my colleague, who was not lazy and sculpt the shoe to sprawling under the foot of the coastal sand ... I, in fact, did not get there - just wanted to put the car, and the grass was growing there. Just immediately under the turden, there was a fade place of viscosity and the depth of exactly such that Isuzu fell over half ancond to the front independent suspension levers. I, it was, back to hand over, like a little gazed and no coroping cries! Robed D-Max on the most ... And that we just did not do!
Enclosed Isuzu to all that the arm will fall, and everywhere, where they could reach. The boards were on the wheels. Four purchased on the nearest gas station of the so-called cable, folded twice, stuffed under the bumper ... Stop! And where is the hook, or the head of towing, or at least something similar? There is not! I could not even imagine this! So that the SUV, the utilitarian car, pickup, finally, and without a towing eye? Some sin! Nevertheless, it was not. Can you imagine our surprise and disappointment?
Later, Ivan Evdokimov discovered on the revenue later, Ivan Evdokimov discovered in a metal platform, speaking from the bumper, a hole under a towing hook or a hitch, but the hook itself was not in the risen. In a word, somehow, a little spoiling a trophic rope on the sharp edges of the Trophop Beam, with the third attempt we pulled out Isuzu from the swamp. Already after evacuation, we examined the place where the pickup was sitting, and found traces left by pendant levers and crossroads, which played the role of a reliable anchor. Yes, and the wheels of Isuzu were small - 225/75 R15, explicitly budget option. Ford on its 265/70 R16 and looked, and behaved much more confident.
What conclusions can be made after our test? Isuzu D-Max turned out to be a car woven from contradictions. The appearance, quite appropriate spirit, incredibly getting around with dynamic characteristics that came from the sixties. The push-button box of the full-wheel drive is complemented by manual hubs, which, between us, is far from always bad, and the energy-intensive and comfortable front suspension is unimportant to the conservation of multi-ride springs.
To each his own
Ford Ranger Against the background of a competitor, see how more, sorry for the pun, the passenger version of the pickup. It will suit those who need a universal car for every day. It is easy to move around and around the city, and on the highway, and on moderate off-road. Isuzu D-MAX with all its pizhonist is perceived as a utilitarian car, for pickles where it is bad with asphalt. The decisive argument can be the reliability of Isuzu. Although if you present it with a 3.0-liter turbodiesel with an intercooler, an automatic gearbox and foot clutches, which can be turned on at speeds up to 100 km / h, then ... however, then it will be a completely different car and compare it already with other competitors.
SPECIFICATIONS
Ford Ranger.
Length / Width / Height, mm - 5012/1810/1760
Wheel base, mm - 3000
Dor. clearance, mm - 208
Full / Snar. Mass, kg - 1710/2845
Number and rag. Cyl. - 4, row
Working volume, cube. See - 2378 2495
Max. Power, l. With [Email Protected]rpm - [Email Protected]
Max. torque, nm @ rpm - [Email Protected]
Transmission - 5mt.
Drive - Part-Time
Front suspension / rear - torsion / spring
Maximum speed, km / h - 145
Acceleration up to 100 km / h, C - 15.7
Average consumption per 100 km, L - 10.3
Volume of fuel tank, l - 70
Length / Width of the cargo compartment, mm - 1350/1536
Price from, Euro - 19 270
Isuzu D-Max
Length / Width / Height, mm - 5020/1800/1730
Wheel base, mm - 3050
Dor. clearance, mm - 210
Full / Snar. Mass, kg - 1835/2900
Number and rag. Cyl. - 4, row
Working volume, ccm - 2495
Max. Power, l. With [Email Protected]rpm - [Email Protected]
Max. torque, nm @ rpm - [Email Protected]
Transmission - 5mt.
Drive - Part-Time
Front suspension / rear - torsion / spring
Maximum speed, km / h - 150
Acceleration up to 100 km / h, C - 25.2
Middle consumption per 100 km, l - 8.5
Volume of fuel tank, l - 76
Length / Width of the cargo compartment, mm - 1225/1700
Price from, Euro - 22 000
Text: Igor Gubar
A source: 4x4 magazine [10/2004]
