The India-bound new Isuzu D Max pick-up truck has scored 5-stars in the Euro NCAP crash test. The 2021 Isuzu D-Max was rated by Australasian NCAP (ANCAP) earlier this year. Some tests have been repeated by Euro NCAP to ensure a valid rating for the European market. Competing in a segment that is not famous for highlighting safety, the D-MAX crew cab is impressively equipped, with standard restraints, AEB and a new centre airbag. However, the mobile progressive deformable barrier test showed that its weight and front structure make the pick-up aggressive to other vehicles in a collision.
The passenger compartment of the new Isuzu D-Max remained stable in the offset frontal test. Protection of the driver’s chest was rated as marginal, based on dummy measurements of compression. Dummy measurements showed weak protection of the driver’s right knee. Although other readings were good, protection was rated as marginal because of structures in the dashboard which could cause a risk to occupants of different sizes or those sitting in different positions. Analysis of the barrier into which the D-MAX crashed showed some localised areas of high deformation and the score for the test was penalised for the risk this represented to the opposing vehicle.
In the full-width, rigid wall test, protection was good for all critical body regions for both the driver and for all but the chest for the rear seat passenger. Protection of the chest was rated as marginal on the basis of measurements of chest compression. In the side barrier test, representing a collision by another vehicle, protection of all critical body areas was good for all critical body areas. Similarly, in the more severe side pole impact, protection was good and the Isuzu D-Max scored maximum points in this part of the assessment.
In an assessment of protection in far-side impact, dummy excursion (its movement towards the other side of the vehicle) was rated as adequate. The Isuzu D-Max is equipped with a centre airbag to protect against occupant-to-occupant interaction in side impacts. This system worked well in Euro NCAP’s test, with good protection of the head for both front seat occupants. Tests on the front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash injury in the event of a rear-end collision. A geometric assessment of the rear seats also indicated good whiplash protection.
The 2021 Isuzu D-Max is equipped as standard with a multi-collision braking system, which applies the brakes immediately after an impact to prevent the vehicle from being involved in secondary impacts. The car also has an advanced e-Call system which, in the event of an accident, automatically sends a message to the emergency services, giving the car’s location.
The new Isuzu D Max comes with Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as standard. The system performed well in tests of its detection and reaction to other vehicles, with impacts being avoided or mitigated in most cases. As well as a seatbelt reminder for front and rear seats, the Isuzu D-Max has a driver monitoring system which uses steering and camera inputs to identify whether the driver is alert and focussed on the driving task or is impaired through fatigue or other factors. The system warns the driver if impaired driving is detected. The lane support system gently corrects the steering of the car if it is drifting out of lane and also intervenes much more aggressively in some critical situations. The Isuzu D-Max has, as standard, a camera-based traffic sign recognition system which identifies the local speed limit, allowing the limiter to be set appropriately.