THE BEAST and us

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The beast on the road just oustide Belaga town.

AFTER achieving a whopping 1,710km in four days, the latest model of ISUZU 4WD magnificently completed its task of ferrying three adventurous journalists in their two-way journey from Kuching to Belaga and back.

Unleashing the Isuzu D-MAX V-CROSS 3.0, dubbed the beast, was definitely a thrilling experience for the three of us from thesundaypost.

Power best describes this sturdy pickup truck – 100km per hour feels absolutely like nothing. If you do not constantly remind yourself to check the speedometer, a speeding ticket is almost guaranteed.

Comparatively, the beast is a much improved version of its predecessor which one of the three journalists test-drove from Bangkok to Pattaya last year.

The beast’s raw power, concealed from its bulky and macho exterior, far surpassed our expectations, easily accelerating to 120 to 140 km/hr with a tap of the pedal.

Overtaking those behemoths carrying timber and oil on the narrow road throughout our journey was a stroll in the park.

On a straight road, the beast easily reached 160km/hr, overtaking other motorists without much fuss. It was something like a race between a wild stallion and a pony.

The beast has that confidence in handling high speeds. With 177PS of power available at 3,600rpm, its loud and powerful roar leaves the “pony” behind … in the dust.

The beast cruises most comfortably around 120 km/hr. It might not seem anything extraordinary but be reminded of the conditions of the state’s inter-district roads.

In fact, if the beast were pushed harder, 200km per hour should be no problem.

This meandering road connects Belaga and Bintulu.

Potholes, what potholes?

The term pothole does not exist for the beast. It gave us a delightful experience during our about 30 hours on the road, showing its elegant side in the face of the numerous stretches of roads, badly damaged by the road behemoths.

Be it the driver or the passengers at back, the beast is unexpectedly less bumpy than other 4WDs. It would seem the Isuzu D-MAX V-CROSS 3.0 was ignoring the cratered terrain and insisting on cruising smoothly, its suspension confidently handling the potholes and pits as if they weren’t even there.

The beast, despite its taller appearance, is actually quite stable. On the so called winding highway of Sarawak, it still handles those sharp turns quite well. We sped through those corners at around 100km per hour but still felt comfortable and in control.

Driving at night was a crazy experience and we could not have made it without the toughness of the beast.

On the lightless road from Sibu to Bintulu, we were grateful for the visibility during the pitch black journey provided by its Projector Ellipsoid system headlamps and built-in front fog lamps.

Chris Lau standing tall on the door sill of the Isuzu D-MAX V CROSS 3.0 in Sarikei.

In a class of its own

On the arrival at Belaga town, the beast was greeted by hundreds of its distant relatives with similar features such as the familiar cargo backside and chunky wheels. Despite the similarities, the beast stood out from the rest.

Love your curves and all your edges; love all your perfect imperfections as what the lyrics of the song we crazed about throughout the trip said, we found the curves and edges of the beast quite sexy.

The Garnet Red Mica skin made it the focal point of the town. There is also a chrome radiator grille to accentuate the strong lines of the D-MAX’s facade.

At the rear, a stylish aero spoiler adorns the flanks of the large cargo area, and the sporty silver coloured roof rails further help set the beast apart.

Another reason for our respect for this vehicle is its stylish and voluminous interior which looks sharp and simple with its black toned design and the single command centre found on the dashboard.

We have to agree to what ISUZU says on its website: “It’s an interior that makes others look inferior.”

The interior not only looks good but is comfortable as well. Sure, we had our tails burnt for sitting too long otherwise it was quite comfy.

The beast’s front cabin is wide enough – even for those with claustrophobia. It was also capacious at the back with sufficient room to stretch our legs.

It exudes an SUV feeling more than a 4WD truck feeling, not to mention the automatic climate control built into the system that kept us feeling just right – not too cold or warm – throughout the journey.

Maidens dressed in traditional Kenyah costume in front of the beast.

Legendary fuel efficiency

The beast does not have a big appetite. The 3.0L variable geometry turbo system (VGS) Intercool Diesel engine has legendary fuel efficiency, packing a perfect balance and economy with its advanced re-engineered turbo plant and cutting edge aerodynamics that inherit the legendary and proven SUZU fuel efficiency global standards.

The journey from Kuching to Belaga and back with a few stops here and there, took around two full tanks – about 12km per litre on average which is considered economical for a pickup truck.

What the beast lacks is a reverse camera. With its wide stallion body, we found it difficult reversing when we could not really see if there were any obstacles in the way.

It would not hurt to also have a louder honk to warn others of the beast’s presence, making it safer to overtake.

Despite a couple of shortfalls, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. You can count on this tough pickup truck on all types of terrain.

It’s no wonder the second generation Isuzu D-MAX has quickly risen to be an icon in the world of pickup truck motoring.

Its exemplary robustness, fuel efficiency, safety and a significant number of classy leading features have made it one of the most accomplished new products to emerge from this Japanese motor manufacturing giant.

“The Isuzu D-MAX has received rave reviews since its launch about a year ago and even garnered two Car of the Year titles and a Best Value for Money awards.

“Its magnetic appeal is without doubt due to its wonderfully-balanced package that ticks all the right boxes,” said COO of Isuzu Malaysia Daisuke Ishida.

We also want to take the chance to thank Isuzu for the offer to test-drive the beast. It was great timing as the Pesta Belaga Rainforest Challenge just got underway.

It was a wonderful experience and opportunity taming the beast which no doubt had added much spice and colour to the trip.

The attractive front cabin and the stylish interior.