Isuzu‘s D-max has been well-received, and this is the first chance we’ve had to try the top-spec Utah model, which comes with luxury kit including heated leather front seats, climate control, roof bars and rear parking sensors, as well as a standard automatic gearbox. It’s priced at more than £1k below a top-spec VW Amarok or Ford Ranger, both of which have a manual transmission, and powered by a 2.5-litre 163hp diesel.
But the D-max doesn’t quite have the interior quality to match its more prestigious rivals at the top end of the range. Little details like the lack of a reach adjustment on the steering wheel, the fiddly stereo and the quantity of cheap-looking plastic on the dashboard just hint that this isn’t the most compelling model in the D-max range. The drive is certainly also not up with the Ranger. It’s a decent pick-up, but when you start entering the top end of this territory, the competition has a little too much quality.
Score: 6/10
Verdict: Tempting, but cheaper workhorse D-max models are more logical
