Introducing the Isuzu N-Series
This 6.2-ton GVM Isuzu NPS 4x4 forms part of Isuzu’s N-Series, which hails from Japan although – like most other Isuzu trucks on our roads – our test vehicle was built at Isuzu’s plant in Port Elizabeth.
In the fiscal year 2019, Isuzu sold 647 716 vehicles and it produced 846 829 engines worldwide. The N-Series range has been the best-selling medium commercial vehicle in South Africa for the past seven years – and it’s also a massively significant range for Isuzu globally.
Typically, the N-Series is purchased by companies such as couriers and bakeries. The latter absolutely adore the truck; it is used to deliver 15 million loaves of bread a day in southern Africa – even into places like Lesotho and Swaziland. “We feed the nation with the N-Series,” the Isuzu Off-Road Academy’s Grant McCleery told me.
The NPS we tested is unique. Highly modified for fire-fighting applications and overland expeditions, this hero model for the Isuzu range – which comes in a year when Isuzu isn’t really launching many new models (if any) – is One Incredibly Special Truck!
Working On Fire or Mondi – or any company that needs to get crew and equipment into the mountains – would be typical customers for this very special Isuzu. Overlanders would also be typical customers; they would equip the Isuzu with campers on the back, kitchens and fridges. Well-heeled deep-sea fishing enthusiasts will also like this Isuzu – a lot.
“But, for now, it’s a show vehicle,” explained McCleery. “There are so many different things you can do with these vehicles – you can even equip this truck with a shower if you want to. There’s huge interest in this truck wherever we go; people are always stopping and taking pics of it.”
Exterior
While the N-Series does obviously come with a single cab, our test vehicle had what Isuzu calls a crew cab and other manufacturers call a double cab. There are lots of differences between a standard N-Series and this show truck which, no matter from which angle you admire it, looks drop-dead gorgeous. The most obvious exterior feature is the camouflage wrap, which makes the vehicle look decidedly butch and bush friendly.
The show vehicle also boasts bigger wheels (17-inch versus the standard 16-inch), a rollbar and Jerry cans (two for fuel and two for water). There are two spare wheels behind the cab, complete with braai grids covering them (I just adore this cool and rather practical feature). An additional accessory is a high-lift jack. There are rails so that fridges and cooler boxes can be fixed to the truck. Special front and rear bumpers including towbars were fitted to the vehicle as were spotlights.
It has a 100-litre fuel tank. You can get an extra tank put on (which would obviously be advisable when going on overland expeditions). The guys from Isuzu Off-Road Academy get about 400 km out of the 100-litre tank (so, about 25 litres per 100 km or so).
Interior
There is one step into the vehicle and it’s quite high (but manageable). There is a small grab handle on the right-hand side that you can use to hoist yourself up with.There is seating for three people upfront and another four at the back of the cab.
The truck has electric windows and, rather strangely, there is no cubbyhole. Air-conditioning is optional (the show truck has it), and there are two cupholders in the middle of the dashboard. A fancy Kenwood sound system is planned for the future (a radio is optional on the standard truck).
There are two handy storage areas in the middle of the dashboard as well as a slot where the driver can store his or her credit card or any other card. The steering wheel is adjustable, and I found it very easy to find the perfect driving position; the seats are also very comfortable.
Drivetrain
This 4x4 is powered by Isuzu’s 5,1-litre 4HK1-TCN diesel engine. A turbocharged and intercooled common rail Euro 2 motor, it generates 110 kW of power at 2600 r/min and 404 Nm of torque at 1500 - 2600 r/min. I tested the vehicle over the terrain for which it is designed – severe off-road conditions – and I found the powerplant very willing and able.
It’s a part-time 4x4. You have to physically put it into four-wheel drive (much like the D-Max and mu-X). For on-road driving, there is two-wheel drive. Then, for off-road, there is 4 high and 4 low. It has limited slip diffs of course. Then, all that was required was for me to hop out of the truck and lock the front hubs manually (much like an old-style Land Cruiser) … and I was able to go absolutely anywhere.
I was joined on the test drive by Craig Ferreira, who also works for Isuzu Off-Road Academy (the truck is his baby), and he confided that he’d never even come close to getting stuck while driving the truck. Although – it must be said – he was a bit apprehensive when it came to letting me behind the wheel. “I don’t let anyone else drive it. Not even the people who work for Isuzu,” he told me. “You’re the very first person who I have allowed behind the wheel,” he said with a somewhat nervous laugh.
“No one else drives this truck – except me. I am sitting passenger for the first time in my own truck. I am not happy about this,” he insisted. There was a moment of angst at one stage (we bogged down in a massive deep mud pool and had to rock the truck backwards and forwards before emerging). That incident aside, the Isuzu and I managed to emerge from a super demanding off-road route at Gerotek unscathed … I swear I could see Craig visibly relax. This had absolutely nothing to do with my driving capabilities whatsoever; this Isuzu really is a go-anywhere truck.
Transmission
The NPS 4x4 comes with the MYY5T transmission produced by Isuzu. It is a five-speed synchromesh manual gearbox and it comes with a transfer case and an optional power take-off (PTO). I found the transmission to be extremely user-friendly; I was comfortable with it within minutes. Gear changes required absolutely no effort whatsoever (unlike some other trucks with manual transmissions that I’ve experienced over the years).
Safety
This Isuzu has drum brakes front and rear and an exhaust brake is also standard. I didn’t really require any of these during the test; it was off-road, so I wasn’t ever travelling at high speeds.
Verdict
While the show truck is unique, the NPS 4x4 does have some rivals – the Iveco Daily 4x4 and the Unimog, for instance. The latter is in a completely different price league; it’s the Rolls-Royce of overland trucks.
A direct comparison between the Iveco and Isuzu trucks isn’t possible because the manufacturers don’t quite offer exactly the same models. However, the standard Iveco (5.5-ton GVM Iveco Crew Cab) costs R1 325 950 while the 7-ton GVM Single Cab Iveco costs R1 267 950. The standard NPS 4x4 costs R754 860. All the mods to the show truck add about R450 000 to the price.
Both the Isuzu and the Iveco trucks come with a two-year/unlimited mileage warranty.
There’s nothing much in the engines: the Isuzu delivers 110 kW versus the Iveco’s 107 kW. The Iveco has the edge when it comes to transmission (it comes with an auto, while the Isuzu has a manual). Of course, some people (not me) prefer a manual.
The Isuzu’s price tag is, however, far more appealing. And then, when it comes to the show truck, there are all those extra utterly fabulous features. All for around R1.2 million. In this case, I think it’s a case of Japan trumping Italy.
