THE GETAWAY CAR (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

In extreme Basecamp form, Isuzu's D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 really can go almost anywhere. Jonathan Crouch tries it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 34

Perhaps we've all got a Polar expedition in us. Isuzu's D-Max certainly has - or at least it does in this Basecamp version of the top Arctic Trucks AT35 model. Let's take a look.

Backgroundword count: 45

If the Arctic Trucks AT35 is the ultimate Isuzu D-Max, then this Basecamp version of that model is the ultimate AT35. With the help of Australian off-road gear specialist ARB, Isuzu has here created perhaps the ultimate pick-up for wilderness explorers. Let's take a look.

Driving Experienceword count: 311

The extra Basecamp features add quite a lot of weight to this D-Max, which you'll feel in day-to-day driving but not so much in the kind of slow-speed exploring trails this extreme edition model is designed for. Like any D-Max, this one uses a 1.9-litre four cylinder 164PS turbo diesel engine, which puts out a willing 360Nm of torque via manual or 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 improved to 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, as is Hill Descent Control, along with adaptive cruise control on the auto. 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 quick-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.

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