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Isuzu’s after-sales<br />
offering is impressive,<br />
with a six year/150,000km<br />
warranty<br />
ISUZU D-MAX X-TERRAIN<br />
The Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain cabin is dominated by piano black inserts<br />
and features more plastic in general. Leather accenting adorns the<br />
steering wheel, gear lever, seats and centre console armrest.<br />
Its centre stack layout is clean and functional, while the cluster and<br />
steering wheel controls are concise and easy to read. Ultimately, though,<br />
the interior looks utilitarian and short on comfort. The seats, both front<br />
and back, feel flat.<br />
Outward visibility is average. ANCAP rated the D-Max five stars<br />
for crash safety in 2020, explaining why the X-Terrain ticks off every<br />
active safety feature under the sun, from adaptive cruise control to rear<br />
cross-traffic alert and a rearview camera.<br />
Other equipment is plentiful and includes keyless entry, remote start,<br />
auto locking, an eight-way adjustable electric driver’s seat, auto wipers,<br />
auto LED headlights with auto high beam, auto driver’s window and<br />
dual-zone climate control.<br />
In the back, there are two vents and a single USB port to complement<br />
the one up front. Rear occupants also score two large cupholders in the<br />
doors, two coat hooks and a 4kg bag hook behind the front seat.<br />
X-Terrain on test stocks a nine-inch (22.9cm) infotainment screen,<br />
which runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and features a smaller<br />
digital read-out nestled within the instrument cluster to provide key<br />
vehicle information.<br />
Front-seat passengers can connect using one USB-A port or charge<br />
up using a single 12-volt outlet, though, the omission of wireless<br />
charging while allowing for wireless smartphone mirroring is a bit of<br />
a miss.<br />
Switching between the native Bluetooth connection and Apple<br />
CarPlay is at least straightforward, and the stock eight-speaker sound<br />
system is surprisingly decent with crisp and clear audio. The centre<br />
screen is prone to some glare but it is otherwise a simple unit to use<br />
thanks to shortcuts along the bottom of the screen.<br />
NISSAN NAVARA ST-X<br />
Although the Navara cabin is starting to look old, the ST-X steps it up for<br />
luxury over lower-grade variants with part-leather seats. They are comfy<br />
but lack under-thigh support and the footwell is spacious but omits a<br />
dead pedal.<br />
The ST-X has keyless entry and keyless start, dual-zone climate<br />
control, rear parking sensors, heated door mirrors, auto wipers, leather<br />
accents on the steering and gear lever, quad-LED headlights and a tyre<br />
pressure monitoring system.<br />
ANCAP rated the Navara five stars for crash safety back in 2015. This<br />
updated version includes a full suite of active safety gear that should<br />
satisfy the test’s stringent requirements on such technology today. The<br />
Navara also packs seven airbags.<br />
The rear bench sits unusually high on firm cushioning and legroom<br />
is seriously compromised – important considerations if you are<br />
planning on ferrying around full-size adults. Meanwhile, four cup<br />
holders feature, split between the doors and centre armrest. None,<br />
however, fit a large bottle.<br />
Convenience-wise, rear occupants are treated to two air vents<br />
and a single USB port. There are floor mats complemented by an<br />
opening flap in the rear windscreen and ISOFIX child seat anchors<br />
on the outboard positions.<br />
A large eight-inch (20.3cm) touchscreen infotainment and seveninch<br />
(17.8cm) digital display between the instrument dials help lift the<br />
interior for a more contemporary feel. The Navara’s native infotainment<br />
software is fairly simple in functionality and design, though wired<br />
smartphone mirroring is available for both Apple and Android users<br />
who want more options.<br />
Charge ports are very well catered for; front-row occupants get a<br />
choice between two USB-A ports, one USB-C port and two separate<br />
12-volt outlets for charging.<br />
The Bluetooth functionality is simple to tee up initially, and the car will<br />
reconnect to your phone within seconds of re-entering the Navara. The<br />
touchscreen is also very responsive and FM, AM and digital radio bands<br />
are all available.<br />
Off-road information is available through the central display and<br />
repurposes the 360-degree surround-view cameras to show various<br />
views of the vehicle when off-roading, at up to 10km/h. It is a useful<br />
feature and a clever use of existing hardware.<br />
Top and above, L to R: The D-Max’s centre stack layout is clean and functional, and the<br />
controls are concise and easy to read; The D-Max’s seats, both front and back, feel flat; A 9”<br />
screen runs both CarPlay and Android Auto<br />
Below and bottom: A large 8” infotainment display and 7” display between instrument dials<br />
in the Nissan Navara ST-X give a contemporary feel; Part-leather seats are comfy but lack<br />
support up the front and the rear bench sits unusually high with little legroom<br />
FULLYLOADED.COM.AU July 2021 <strong>ATN</strong> 75
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