Roy Lewis road tests the Isuzu 3.0 diesel Denver Max Plus pick-up (From Hereford Times)

Roy Lewis road tests the Isuzu 3.0 diesel Denver Max Plus pick-up

8:00am Saturday 2nd July 2011 in Road Tests

AT-A-GLANCE Isuzu 3.0 diesel Denver Max Plus pick-up.

Price: £19,299 (on the road).

Top speed: 108mph.

0-62mph: 10.7 seconds.

Fuel: 33.6mpg (combined figure).

C02 emissions (g/km): 222.

Verdict: Great all-rounder, drives well, cab comfort, generous load space, excellent towing ability, well-equipped and constructed, competitively priced.

FASHIONS in transport keep on changing and what is all the rage one year can be very different the next.

Take the pick-up, once bought as an honest workhorse that did all the chores without breaking into a sweat.

Now, rising luxury levels and some much-improved designs have meant the pick-up is enjoying strong sales to a wide audience and there are more new models being launched.

One of the best allrounders is the well-proven Isuzu Rodeo, a double cab pick-up, with four doors and five-seat functionality and as practical as any passenger- carrying 4x4.

And it’s not just the lifestyle brigade that continues to buy the stylish Isuzu but farmers and forestry workers who can obtain the usual tax concessions for a commercial vehicle.

There are different Isuzu specifications but an excellent choice is the intercooled 3.0-litre turbo-diesel Denver Max Plus, priced at £19,299 on the road.

Unlike pick-ups of yesteryear, the strongly-built Denver is a refined SUVlike driving experience vital for convincing drivers that a move to a pick-up is a sensible proposition.

The Denver, like other rugged double-cabs, is not necessarily cheap to run with an official combined fuel return of 33.6mpg – and less while towing – but such a versatile vehicle has become an essential item for many owners.

Isuzu’s 16-valve four-cylinder diesel with a variable geometry turbo has plenty of power for most people’s needs, pushing out 163bhp at 3,600rpm, and is a reliable motor.

Its torque or pulling power figure is 360Nm at 1,800- 2,800rpm.

While mated to a robustlybuilt five-speed gearbox, the Denver has a simple, no-nonsense pushbutton transmission control for the two and 4WD and a low-range selection.

Its towing capacity is class leading at 3,000kg and its braking with a heavy load on tow is also impressive.

The pick-up area is fairly large compared to rivals and is strongly constructed with tie-down points to prevent any cargo sliding about.

Off road, the Denver is very capable, especially with the help of its electronic aids.

On the tarmac the Denver is easy to drive with a commanding driving position, accurate steering and composed handling.

It is as comfortable as most family saloons with a roomy, well-appointed cabin and generous space for the rear seat passengers.

The rear seats fold to give extra carrying space and the Denver also has door steps for easy entry.

Despite it rugged appearance, the accent is on comfort with all-leather upholstery, and plenty of chrome and aluminium-coloured detailing to help give the interior a classy look.

The plastics used look sufficiently hard wearing for a long lifespan.

The dash is well set out with large and clear instruments and there is an audio and sat-nav system.

Useful storage compartments and cup holders are plentiful while there are also several other creature comforts such as electric windows front and back, cruise control and some of the latest electronic wizardry.