2020 has been an unusual year, thankfully this year Isuzu has given us a 4x4 version of the D-Max Boondock. It’s fair to say that the D-Max is a little bit long in the tooth- so we want to find out if the Boondock 4x4 is worth your hard earned cash.
Exterior
The boondock, similar to a tonka truck all thanks to a huge grille, the whole bottom section is bespoke, the upgraded 17-inch rims and 265/70 17'' all-terrain tires gives the Boondock the killer stance without sacrificing on-road manners. The Monotube nitrogen charged shock absorbers, upgraded springs which lifts the D-Max's height from 1795mm to 1900mm. In combination with the taller, wider tires new wheels the D-Max Boondock has a ground clearance of 247mm a whopping 12mm taller than the LS-A variant. The eye catching gives the D-max an aggressive, intimidating presence.
Interior
Inside the D-Max, you are surrounded in hard plastic. Thankfully the majority that you come in contact with is wrapped in plush black leather. The driver seat is fully electric while the passenger seat will have to make due with traditional manual adjustments. Plentiful storage compartments which to be honest is rather small. Annoyingly the only automatic window is the driver side which is fine however it is only automatic when retracting the window downward.
Engine and performance
The 3.0 Blue Power 4JT1 turbodiesel (177hp at 3,600rpm and 380Nm of torque between 1,800-2,800rpm) mated to a 6-speed Manual gearbox gives the D-Max adequate performance. both on and off road. The Engine is fairly refined though it lacks the grunt of other trucks in this segment.
The shifting in the D-max is long but reassuring. Every gear change drives you with testosterone. The gearbox is bullet proof, unsurprisingly because Isuzu is known for forging some of the most reliable machines ever. The engine block is shared with Isuzu’s light trucks. Giving the boondock 4x4 in combination with the lifted suspension and larger tires significantly enhances the boondock’s performance off-road the higher ground clearance means you’re less likely to hit objects while tackling tough tracks. The all terrain tires increases traction and durability whilst lifting the clearance of the differentials.
Verdict
Finally for 2020 Isuzu gives us the boondock in 4wd configuration and we absolutely adore it. Kudos for Isuzu for making a special edition truck with more than just decals and different paint on the rims the boondock stands out in the D-max line up. It has presence while being sensible. It’s lifted to perfection no worries about parking lots with low headroom clearance. It rides taller with out compromising on road performance.
In the hands of an experienced off-roader the Boondock 4x4 can tackle the toughest tracks here in the Philippines. Now the elephant in the room, last Oct 05, 2020 Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) has confirmed that the next generation Isuzu D-MAX will be arriving in the country and going on sale in 2021.The question is, Is the boondock still worth buying? The answer is short and simple: A BIG YES. The boondock 4x4 is a unique truck in the way it makes you feel. Every time you row threw the gear it’s like shaking hands with an old friend most pickup trucks now a days keep focusing on increase the amount of gears in their automatic transmission.
Some only offering 4wds to the automatics. Tackling tracks with a standard stick shift is probably as much fun you can have with your clothes on. Powering up hill climbs. Flicking mud and rocks in combination with a clutch and stick shift is crazy stupid fun. Testosterone surging through your body. The lifted ride height solves the problems of pickup trucks off-road their capabilities is limited due to their approach, break over and departure angle. For its last hurrah Isuzu really wanted to give the market a special truck. Pricing for the 2020 Isuzu D-Max Boondock 4x4 starts at P1,725,000 for the manual version and P1,795,000 for the automatic variant.
Comments