The D-Max XTR is Isuzu’s most ‘lifestyle’ pickup – built for off-road adventures, it comes with upgraded suspension and a bodykit that includes a front-end treatment that makes it look like a serial killer in a hockey mask.
Now for 2020, there’s a new Isuzu D-Max XTR Colour Edition. It kits all the cool extra kit, but dials down the aggression with add-ons that are now painted the same colour as the main bodywork. So it looks just a little bit less of a psychopath.
What exactly is different about the XTR Colour Edition?
The main visual difference in the regular XTR and the rest of the D-Max range is a combined front bumper guard, bonnet protector and headlight frame arrangement, which stands out because it’s finished in a tough black ‘raptor’ finish.
Designed to endure the rigours of rough off-road driving (or at least lessen the stonechips from any newly resurfaced roads you may come across), this totally changes the look of the D-Max – and in a none too subtle way.
For the Colour Edition, this, the extended wheel arches, the lip spoiler fitted to the tailgate and other rear styling elements (which are all also usually finished in black) are now painted to match the surrounding bodywork. Turning down the volume of the changes considerably.
You’re unlikely to pass completely unnoticed, though, as the Colour Edition has a ‘vibrant’ green Isuzu badge on the front as standard – an option on the regular XTR.
There are other green accents around the vehicle, including for the parts of the upgraded suspension.
Ah, yes – remind me about the XTR’s suspension changes
The XTR gets a full Pedders suspension set-up, which not only improves performance on and off road, it also raises the ride height to increase suspension travel and boast ground clearance to 250mm.
We’ve driven the XTR extensively in its standard guise, and can confirm the suspension does a great job of improving on-road comfort while delivering proper off-road capability.
The addition of new, more powerful front brakes helps – also the work of Australian off-road specialists, Pedders. Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus tyres are fitted as standard, wrapped around a set of ‘heavy-duty’ 17-inch alloy wheels.
The side steps, which remain finished in textured black, are designed to protect the side of the vehicle from stone damage.
What about the inside?
Inside you get heated XTR sports seats in the front, lots of green stitching, and an amusing d-shaped steering wheel that looks ever so slighly out of place in the D-Max’s no-nonsense cab.
What about colour choices and price?
You can have your XTR Colour Edition in one of four colours: Splash White, Titanium Silver Metallic, Obsidian Grey Mica and Cosmic Black Mica, all chosen to work well with the green accents. You can be the judge of that.
As for pricing, well, you’ll have to wait for the moment, as Isuzu is holding fire on cost info until its showrooms are able to reopen once the coronavirus pandemic has calmed down. We do know that it will be a limited edition, though exactly how many of each colour will be offered is also still to be confirmed.
The standard XTR – although it’s hardly a standard D-Max – costs £34,004 plus the VAT. We’d guestimate the Colour Edition costing around £1,500 more than that. We’ll updated this as soon as we have further info.
