The bakkie market is the most important vehicle segment within South Africa, and local manufacturer Isuzu plays a significant role, with nearly 2 000 of its bakkies joining local roads every month. While renowned for its commercial vehicles and a legacy of hard-working bakkies and trucks that often favour function over form, the Japanese marque has shifted the focus of its flagship D-Max models to offer a degree of lifestyle appeal in addition to the expected utility. Models such as the X-Rider, the LSE and the V-Cross spring to mind, but one stands out, namely the AT35! I was able to drive one recently, and it did not disappoint!
Related: How popular is the Isuzu D-Max?
Pros:
-Rock-solid mechanicals
-Form and function co-exist harmoniously here
-Off-road ability is staggering
Cons:
-Engine can feel agricultural and needs more grunt
-Could have felt more special inside
-It's not exactly cheap
What's the AT35 all about?
The AT35 comes from a collaboration between Icelandic off-road vehicle specialists Arctic Trucks and Isuzu. The package fitted to a V-Cross-spec D-Max double cab was developed by Arctic Trucks and is built here in South Africa, specifically at the brand's Struandale plant in Gqeberha. The kit includes massive 35-inch Maxxis tyres on 17-inch black alloy wheels, which only fit because the D-Max has been widened with extended wheel arches. The AT35 is also lifted with a Bilstein performance lift kit that includes uprated front springs and dampers, rear dampers, and an additional front and rear body lift, giving the vehicle a ground clearance of 266mm, some 32mm more than the standard car! This has increased the approach angle to 33 degrees, the departure angle to 23 degrees, the breakover angle to 34 degrees, and the wading depth to 865mm, making it better than the mighty Ford Ranger Raptor in all areas besides the departure angle!
Styling
The AT35's exterior is imposing, to say the least. It takes what I believe is one of the best-looking bakkies and turns the proverbial dial to eleven! Those widened arches, massive wheels, and rear sports bar combine to create a lifestyle double cab that showcases a perfect harmony between form and function!
Interior & Space
The interior is based on the flagship D-Max V-Cross, so there are all the expected bells and whistles, including various semi-autonomous driving aids such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitor, and lane departure warning, among many others. There's leather combined with some hard plastic surfaces, which is pretty standard fare for a modern lifestyle double-cab bakkie. Aside from the AT35 logos stitched on the seats' headrests and the odd badge, there isn't too much to distinguish this model from the V-Cross on which it is based, which is perhaps a missed opportunity for the brand.
As we noted in our review of the D-Max 45th, the infotainment system is a big letdown, and it appeared to be worse in this model. You see, the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality works just fine; it's the period in which you turn the ignition on to the time it takes for the system to initialise these technologies that are irksome. I found myself waiting for up to two minutes for the system to fire up so that I could get my navigation and media set up for a drive.
Practicality and capability are impressive in the AT35, with the aforementioned off-road credentials combined with a braked towing capacity of 3 500kg and a payload of 660kg!
Drivetrain
Powering the AT35 is a 3.0-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 140kW and 450Nm of torque. Power is sent to a selectable four-wheel drive system via a six-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The engine code is 4JJ3-TCX, a new development of the brand's venerable 3.0-litre common rail direct injection engine. A variable-geometry turbocharger boosts the engine, utilises the so-called "BluePower" technology and now has a lower compression ratio of 16.3:1.
Related: Isuzu D-Max 1.9TD D/C X-Rider 4x4 Auto (2024) - Review
Driving impression
The rock-solid diesel motor powering the AT35 may also be an Achilles Heel. Its agricultural soundtrack and modest output don't match the vehicle's aesthetics. Perhaps a bump in power may have remedied things. At the same time, including steering-mounted shifter paddles and discernable Driving Modes may have amplified the experience of the brand's flagship product.
Tackling the daily grind in the AT35 is a bit of a mixed bag. The upgraded suspension and massive tyres provide a smooth ride quality on the freeway. However, the ride quality is less impressive at low-to-medium speeds, feeling bouncy and unsettled over imperfect surfaces. The product comes into its own heading off-road, where it demolished our local off-road trail and felt planted on the gravel roads around the area. If you're looking for a supremely capable bakkie out of the box, this is among the best on the market.
Fuel economy
Isuzu claims a fuel consumption figure of 8.5 L/100km, but our real-world figure was 10.4 L/100km.
Safety
The D-Max was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2022, achieving a 5-star rating, including 86% for adult occupant safety, 86% for child safety, 69% for pedestrian safety and 83% for its safety assistance systems.
Pricing
At R1 170 339, the AT35 is priced similarly to the Ford Ranger 3.0TD V6 double cab Wildtrak 4WD and the Volkswagen Amarok 3.0TDI V6 double cab PanAmericana 4Motion. The model comes standard with a 5-year/90 000 km service plan and a 5-year/120 000km warranty.
Verdict
The AT35 will appeal to a specific person who wants incredible off-road ability with a degree of lifestyle appeal. With the slightly cheaper Ford Ranger Wildtrak X being a solid four-cylinder option, we feel the V6 Wildrak and V6 Amarok PanAmericana may have closer appeal, with the potent Ranger Raptor being entirely different. It would appear then that this is a niche within a niche, but it's an impressive piece of kit for those who take the plunge.
