Isuzu D-MAX Diesel 1.9 Arctic Trucks AT35 Double CAB 4X4 Auto

Ten Second Review

What's the ultimate kind of pick-up? Virtually every manufacturer in the segment thinks it's a vehicle specced up with lashings of leather and hi-tech luxury kit. Only Isuzu sees things differently. They reckon the ultimate pick-up is one with ultimate go-anyway ability: and this is it, the company's D-Max model in its most specialist 'Arctic Trucks AT35' trim. Here's the latest version.

Background

You might understandably struggle with the thought of paying over £57,000 for an Isuzu D-Max pick-up - more if you include the VAT. But stay with us because this AT35 version is a rather special one. It's been tailored by Icelandic extreme terrain specialists Arctic Trucks to meet the demanding needs of the worst Scandinavian terrain and was first launched back in 2016, then updated a couple of years later, before the new generation model we're trying here was launched in 2022, then updated in Autumn 2023, then again in Spring 2025 to create the model we're going to look at here. If this pick-up can't get you where you want to go, then no other one will. And it's a rather refreshing antidote to the bling that otherwise afflicts the upper end of this market segment.

Driving Experience

The key engineering change with this updated model is the addition of a new Rough Terrain Mode as standard, which intelligently enhances grip and traction across low-friction surfaces such as snow, mud and wet grass. As before, this Arctic Trucks AT35 model uses the same 1.9-litre 164PS turbo diesel engine as any other D-Max. This powerplant puts out a willing 360Nm of torque and now has to be had with automatic transmission. Quite enough for the extreme snowy terrain that this AT35's vast 35-inch tyres will allow it to cross. The tyres are so chunky that Arctic Trucks claims the D-Max can actually float over snow slush, rather than sink into it. This variant's special Bilstein suspension also helps, designed to withstand the harshest off road impacts. This includes revised springs and dampers and gives this truck 50mm of extra ground clearance - a total of 266mm at the front and 290mm at the rear. Approach and departure angles are 35 and 29-degrees respectively and there's an impressive breakover angle of up to 34-degrees. As in any D-Max, the engine's grunt makes low speed urban work easy and tough muddy inclines straightforward. It's also a major reason why this vehicle can tow a braked trailer of up to 3.5-tonnes. Trailer Sway Control is of course standard and an omission from the previous generation model, Hill Descent Control, now comes fitted, along with adaptive cruise control. For wet or icy tarmac or light off piste work, you can take the opportunity, at up to 60mph, to twist the centre console dial and select high range all-wheel drive. This 4WD system is now quicker-shifting and once it engages, the D-Max feels notably more sure-footed on the slippery stuff. Of course, once in a while, you'll need to do more, occasions on which you'll be further twisting this dial to engage the full low-range four wheel drive mode, something that can only happen when the vehicle's stopped.

Design and Build

This updated AT35 gets the restyled bonnet, revised front bumper and smarter lights recently added to lesser D-Max models. New heavy-duty rubber treads on the extended profile side steps offer safer entry to the vehicle.Otherwise, things are as before. To begin with, you'll probably notice first this specialist D-Max model's huge 35-inch All-Terrain tyres which combine with this derivative's 50mm ride height increase to make this AT35 variant 120mm taller than any standard D-Max. The specialist rubber is fitted to 17-inch x 10-inch black alloy wheels that sit within flared wheel arch extensions. There are roof rails and Arctic Trucks-branded mud flaps too. Towers are looked after with an Arctic Trucks Rear Bar incorporating a 2-inch multifunction receiver hitch. Inside, the main change to this revised model is a new 7-inch driver information display. An updated 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and there's an 8-speaker premium sound system. Otherwise, things are much as before. So there's stitched leather upholstery, special floor mats and a wireless charging pad as standard. Move to the back seat and, as in any D-Max, one nice touch is the way that 60/40 split-folding bench enables you to more flexibly use this rear passenger space for packages, should you so wish. Additional storage compartments in the floor under the rear-seat base are also useful for keeping things out of harm's way.

Market and Model

As we said at the beginning, the price of this Arctic Trucks AT35 variant may cause a sharp intake of breath; it's now £57,000 excluding VAT and you can only now have an automatic. That's a £4,500 increase on the pre-facelift AT35 automatic model - which seems like a big price hike. Still, a diesel Ranger Raptor would cost you nearly £2,000 more and wouldn't offer you anything like this Isuzu's 'off piste' ability. We've already mentioned some of the key features that attempt to justify this top variant's price - the special 35-inch tyres, the unique 17-inch x 10-inch wheels in their flared arches, the side steps, the roof rails and the raised Bilstein suspension. The AT35 is based on the top 'V-Cross' trim level in the standard range, which means you get loads of standard kit - things like Bi-LED headlights, LED front fog lights, keyless entry, full-leather branded upholstery, a powered driver's seat with lumbar support, heated front seats, a reversing camera, a wireless phone charger, dual-zone climate control and an auto-dimming rear view mirror. Infotainment's taken care of by a 9-inch Multifunction infotainment screen with an eight-speaker DAB audio system and 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-monitoring. There's also an Arctic Trucks Chrome Badge and Decal Set and you can order this exclusive pick-up in a choice of eight exterior colours this time round. Safety remains a top priority. The new AT35 benefits from the same Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) featured across the latest D-Max range. This includes Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, Rear Cross Traffic Braking, Turn Assist, Lane Keep Assist, and Attention Assist, providing peace of mind whether navigating busy city traffic or remote rural trails. Eight airbags and E-Call functionality further enhance the vehicle's commitment to driver and passenger safety.

Practicalities and Costs

The changes made to create this Arctic Trucks AT35 model thankfully haven't affected D-Max carrying practicality in any way - aside perhaps from the higher ride height making it slightly more awkward to lump heavier loads up into the cargo bay. At around 5.3m long, this is certainly a pretty large vehicle, so you won't be surprised to flip down the sturdy drop-down tailgate (which can only retract to horizontal level because of the chunky bumper) and find a pretty substantial cargo area on offer. You'll find a space 1,495mm long, 1,530mm wide and 465mm in depth easily big enough for a euro pallet which can slide in the 1,110mm-wide space between the wheel arches. As with the standard model, the payload is 1,070kgs and the vehicle can tow up to 3.5-tonnes. You get a five-year / 125,000-mile transferable warranty which reinforces the reputation for durability and ruggedness for which Isuzu pick-ups have become renowned. What else? Servicing is every 12,000 miles or 24 months. Running costs should see you averaging around 25mpg and the CO2 showing is 241g/km.

Summary

If you're someone who plans to really use your pick-up off road, rather than merely cruise around with it on tarmac, and you've a healthy budget for purchase, then why not? After all, no other rival can go where a D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 can - and if you buy one, you owe it to yourself to fully explore that ability. If you're rarely going to be able to do that, then Isuzu will offer you plenty of more affordable D-Max derivatives better suited to your needs. This one though, is something special. For a few intrepid adventurous buyers who'll recognise that, there'll be nothing else that's quite the same.