ROAD TESTS BY MOTORING JOURNALIST TIM SAUNDERS
Advanced motorist Tim Saunders regularly test drives vehicles from the leading manufacturers. Videos on his youtube channel have been watched over 450,000 times.
With over 30 years experience as a motoring journalist, aged 16 he had work experience at Which Car? magazine in London shadowing editor Andy Puddifoot. His first test report on a BMW 520i was published in the Dorset Echo when he was 17 (just after passing his driving test) in 1995. Tim went on to become business and motoring editor at the Bournemouth Echo. Now, his engaging and informative reviews are published in magazines across the UK. "Your pieces are a great addition to our magazines," says Chanel Hosfield, Editor of Life Publications.
New Isuzu D-Max
By Tim Saunders
Life is one long problem, it seems. Things break and need replacing. Whether it’s a sofa that needs throwing out, doors that need collecting or simply loads of rubbish that needs clearing. All of a sudden the to-do list is depressingly endless. Especially with three children aged 10 to 15 and a house that feels like an ongoing work in progress.
This is the challenging backdrop against which I evaluate the brand new Isuzu D-Max complete with Truckman canopy on the rear. It’s a vehicle that really does solve problems and I am so thankful for it. As it arrives it’s as if a huge weight is lifted. Open the split tailgate at the rear and slide in whatever it is that needs transporting. Large awkward items can be strapped in securely. It’s a Godsend, I tell you.
This updated version is sleek and fitted with the latest technology. With its double cab it allows all the family to travel in comfort while carrying whatever luggage is needed such as Henry’s scooter and footballs.
As I get behind the wheel I am met by endless tailbacks on whatever road I choose to go on, terrible embarrassing amounts of litter by the roadside and the deepest potholes known to man. While the D-Max sadly cannot do anything about the first two, it takes to travelling across tarmac lacking, pitted roads like a duck to water. It does the same with speed bumps. I take my son to football training and these anti-motorist humps are unhelpfully positioned in the middle of the road. Usually they catch my wife’s car but the 5ft wide Isuzu escapes unscathed. Oh, it’s a real joy. Now I can appreciate why such a capable off-roader is a necessity on Britain’s broken third-world-like surfaces. I’ve said it before that the roads in Bulgaria were like this a decade ago and my wife and I were appalled at how we used to have to swerve to avoid deep potholes. Now the roles have reversed and we’re doing the same here. What on earth is going on Sir Keir?
On the school run we spy an RAC emblazoned D-MAX by the roadside answering a breakdown.
I drive to Devon on a Friday night fully expecting yet more roadworks. There aren’t actually but instead temporary traffic lights dealing with flooding on some of the main roads. There have been many weather warnings but driving the Isuzu gives the motorist confidence that they can tackle whatever the world throws at them. With its switchable four wheel drive function it’s possible to change between two- and four- wheel drive at speeds of up to 60mph.
Night driving is a delight on empty roads because it is fitted with a row of really powerful headlights that seem to light up the whole world.
“I love being so high up,” smiles Henry (10) as he savours being in the front seat.
The automatic 1.9-litre diesel is capable of carrying over a tonne in the rear, meaning that heavy builder’s materials or even livestock can be transported without trouble. Adding Adblue into the system reduces the nitrogen oxide and its 76 litre tank will travel over 600 miles, returning more than 33mpg over the course of the test.
The leather seats are hardwearing and when driving for more than four hours at a time I feel that the driver’s seat, which is electrically adjustable, could do with more padding for my achy derriere. It comes with all round electric windows and wing mirrors, air conditioning and a decent stereo.
Facts at a glance
Nissan Ariya Nismo
VIDEOS
By Tim Saunders
If a large, spacious car is your main requirement then you can’t go wrong with the Nissan Ariya Nismo luxury SUV. Five occupants can sit in comfort, stretch their legs and watch the world go by. Fold the rear seat down and there’s a cavernous space that will swallow a 6ft door. Tech addicts will be sure to love everything about it from the touchscreen to the power heated front seats and wing mirrors. And don’t forget about all the lights inside and out.
I take my son, Henry, to football training one evening and there’s a torrential downpour for the entire hour. So when we return to the car, cold and damp, I’ve also got really cold hands. The heated front seats and heated steering wheel soon get me feeling better, although try as I might I cannot find a way of directing warm air to my feet. This is a common problem in my experience of electric cars.
When it’s delivered it is 74 per cent charged giving a range of 161 miles. Fully charged it’s expected to travel 247 miles. It’s parked on the road directly outside my house so I move it on to our driveway, metres away. I leave it until the following morning and when I push the start button to go on the school run the range reading has instantly plummeted to 154 miles. Ouch. These readings can relate to previous journeys and change accordingly but that doesn’t help me. Fortunately, I am only using it for local driving. “That’s what they’re best for,” says fellow football dad, Dan.
The Nismo has a clever e-pedal, which when engaged uses energy efficiently, with some motorists claiming that it even increases range. Basically, there’s little need to use the brake when this is engaged because the car automatically brakes when the driver’s foot is taken off the accelerator. Apparently this device is best used in crawling town traffic.
“It looks just like a VW,” announces my nine year old son, Henry, when he returns from school to find it. He has to dash out and give it the once over. “It’s nice,” he concludes. To me it looks like a cross between a Qashqai and a VW.
It’s easy to drive, with a simple push button start and an automatic gearbox. Whenever you walk past it with the key the car unlocks and the wing mirrors unfold. This is all very well but has me worrying about the battery charge. This is the major problem I have with these vehicles and it’s not getting any better; they are loaded with energy guzzling features from power heated seats to electric windows and so many lights it’s like the Blackpool illuminations. To me it doesn’t make sense. But this is a luxury electric car so I suppose such owners embrace these fancy frivolous features.
We like the sectional flooring in the boot that is easy to remove and clean if necessary. The textured plastic and luxury fabric on the dash is appealing and the seats are supportive and comfy.
Overall, the Nismo has grown on me over time with me looking more favourably at it as I say au revoir.
Facts at a glance
