Heavy Metal II

South Africans love their bakkies, that’s for sure! Quite naturally, I suppose, there’s a fair range available these days from the recognized players — but also from the East … China, that is.

I’ve yet to evaluate those, but am happy to wait because they’ve yet to prove themselves, I reckon. There’s just no substitute for experience in the field — and the current Izuzu KB 300 D-Teq LX (extended cab version seen above), a case in point. There’s lots to like with this particular KB — even the ticket price seems rather reasonable at R347 000.

One thing certainly worth mentioning within the context of this website is how quiet the motor is — something that Isuzu took rather a long time to rectify.  I looked for vast quantities of dampening layers under the bonnet and on the bulkhead but it seems the new ‘quietness’ comes from within the three-litre 120 kW/360 Nm motor — and for me, that’s great news!

Other technical highlights discovered included twin overhead camshafts, common rail with electronically controlled fuel-injection pump and an intercooled, variable vane turbocharger thus fitted. This fifth-generation Isuzu pickup is sold in vast volumes in more than 80 countries worldwide wearing, for example, the Holden badge in Australia.

Not only does it have a 37% market share in Thailand where it is built and selling a staggering 167 000 units in 2006, but Isuzu has been the No. 1 bestseller in the one-ton bakkie market over there since 1983. Elsewhere in Africa the KB has a 79% market share in Egypt, and enjoys 43% in Israel and more than 32% in Australia and New Zealand.

Interestingly, Isuzu is the biggest diesel engine producer in the world and back in 2006 signed a business agreement with Toyota of Japan giving Isuzu authority to take the lead in small diesel engine research and development. Toyota’s share in Isuzu is 5,9%, incidentally.

Getting to back to the South African LX model as recently evaluated it is completely understandable why so many of them are seen on our roads — they are tough, good looking and rather desirable. With the amount of road deterioration found on the main roads here in the Western Cape — imagine what they are like on ‘lesser roads.’

Here the Isuzu, in my opinion, can stand proud because the suspension and driving dynamics are perfectly balanced for blacktop stuff or the harshest dirt track.  Factor in low- and high-range switchability on the fly via buttons on the dash, the Isuzu KB range has it all.

• Prices at the time of going to press for the Isuzu range start at R266 200, rising to R390 300 for the top-of-the-range model.