Review: 2025 Isuzu D-Max V-Cross
If the UK pickup market were in a village pub, the 2025 Isuzu D-Max V-Cross would be the big, quiet lad leaning on the bar, minding his own business, wearing work boots and a hoodie with paint down the sleeve. No nonsense. No fuss. And if things kicked off, he’d be the one lifting two people out of the way with one hand whilst finishing his pint with the other.
That’s the D-Max. Honest, rugged, capable, and as flashy as a box of nails. And for 2025, the V-Cross at the top of the pile has been sprinkled with some extra niceties: sharper styling, upgraded tech, and a bit more polish. Not enough to make it a showroom poser, mind - this is still very much a truck, not an SUV pretending to be one.
Looks: Tough without trying hard
The 2025 facelift gives the V-Cross a bit more presence. The new grille is squarer and more assertive. The headlights are sharper. The rear lights have had a redesign too. It’s all very “I lift heavy things before breakfast”, but still without the faux-aggressive, plastic-tacked-on muscles that some pickups seem to favour.
Is it sexy? Not in the traditional sense. But it’s handsome in a rugged, practical way, like someone who can fix your roof, tow your horsebox, and still make it home for tea without complaining. There’s charm in that.
The V-Cross also comes with all the outdoorsy trimmings: darkened accents, roof rails, chunky tyres, and an overall aura of “I’ll go anywhere, pal.”
Interior: Posh flask vibes with flexible rear storage
Climb inside and you’ll notice something very un-Isuzu-like: it’s… nice. Not premium, not luxurious, but definitely nice. This is an interior built for muddy boots, dogs that won’t sit still, camping gear, and actual work. But Isuzu’s polished it up, buffed the rough edges, and sprinkled in a few creature comforts.
The first thing you’ll spot is the new 9”infotainment screen. It’s crisp, colourful, and thankfully doesn’t try to do everything. Heating controls remain physical, which deserves a medal, a parade, and a Victoria sponge. The last thing you want when your fingers are frozen on a frosty morning is to go poking at a touchscreen just to demist the windscreen.
The seats are comfortable, supportive, and heated. Perfect for thawing out after a day on the moors or laning in a press car you’re trying not to scrape. You sit high, with good visibility, and the cabin feels sturdily built, as if designed by people who know exactly how owners treat their trucks.
Rear-seat practicality is a real highlight for the D-Max. The backrests fold flat on a 60:40 split, creating a continuous load floor perfect for camping gear, muddy boots, or crates of stuff you don’t want rolling around. The rear seat bases also lift up, offering clever under-seat storage for tools, dog leads, wet coats, or anything else you’d like tucked out of sight. For families or tradespeople, this combination of folding and under-seat storage makes the V-Cross an extremely adaptable cab.
On-Road Comfort: A civilised brute
Let’s get this out of the way: the D-Max is still a pickup, and no amount of 2025 refinement turns a ladder-frame, leaf-sprung workhorse into a creamy-smooth luxury SUV. But credit where it’s due — the V-Cross rides better than previous versions, and dare I say it, better than some rivals in day-to-day use.
On the motorway it’s calm, stable, and surprisingly quiet for a smaller that usual diesel lump shaped like a brick. Road noise has been tamed, the engine hums along nicely in sixth, and you’ll happily munch through miles without feeling your spine has been rearranged.
In town, you still feel the bumps, especially around parts of Lancashire and Manchester where the councils seem to think potholes are a form of traffic calming, but nothing feels harsh or uncivilised.
The steering is lighter than you’d expect, making parking and tight manoeuvres easy. It’s not razor sharp, but you’re steering a truck, not a sports car, so expectations should remain sensible.
The 1.9-litre diesel engine continues to be a willing plodder rather than a sprinter. It won’t fling you down the road or whisk you to 62 mph in record time, but it’s strong, torquey, predictable, and utterly dependable. A bit like your favourite work boots: not the prettiest, but never lets you down.
Off-Road Capability: This is where the magic happens
If the D-Max is good on-road, it’s excellent off it. This is the pickup equivalent of a sheepdog: happy on tarmac, but positively joyous when its wheels hit mud.
Engage four-wheel drive, select low range, and the V-Cross becomes a surprisingly nimble mountain goat. The new Rough Terrain Mode for 2025 tightens up traction control and lets the truck crawl, claw, and clamber over obstacles without theatrics. It simply gets on with the job.
Steep climbs? Easy. Muddy lanes? Child’s play. Rocky descents? It digs in and walks them like it’s heading to the corner shop.
The ground clearance is generous, the underbody protection looks designed for actual use rather than decoration, and the wading depth is reassuringly deep. If your idea of fun involves green lanes, forestry tracks, beach access, or rescuing your mate’s bogged-in campervan, the V-Cross will happily oblige.
And unlike some lifestyle pickups, you won’t be scared of scratching it. In fact, a bit of mud and patina tends to improve the look.
Practicality: Built for muddy dogs, camping gear, and everyday chaos
Tie-down points are solid, the bedliner is tough, and the tailgate is satisfyingly weighty. Fit a canopy and you’ve instantly got a fortress of storage - though retrieving things from the front of the bed will require mild yoga skills.
Inside, storage is plentiful: cupholders (no less than six up front!), cubbies, glovebox, centre bin big enough for snacks, tools, and emergency pies. Add in the clever rear seat fold-flat function and the under-seat storage, and the V-Cross becomes a genuinely versatile space. It’s a proper “people plus kit” cab for muddy dogs, work gear, or weekend adventures.
Fuel Efficiency: Frugal for its size
Despite being built like a brick with muscles, the 1.9 diesel is a surprisingly economical unit. Mid-30s mpg in real-world driving is perfectly achievable, and even with towing or heavy loads, you’re unlikely to see figures that make you wince.
It’s not fast, and it’s not flashy, but it is efficient. And in today’s world of rising fuel prices and eco-penalties, that matters more than ever.
Tech & Safety: Sensible improvements, minimal faff
The 2025 update includes a more polished ADAS suite. Lane-keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert - it’s all there, all improved, and all just a touch bossy until you switch off the bits you don’t want, which is really easy to do, thankfully.
The V-Cross retains a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, which was a first for a UK pickup. However, it is no longer the only pickup in the UK to hold five stars, with other vehicles like the Volkswagen Amarok having achieved the same. That said, the rating remains a strong testament to Isuzu’s ongoing focus on occupant safety.
Thankfully, most intrusive safety systems can be switched off, giving you peace of mind without constant electronic nagging. Heater controls remain proper buttons - a win in anyone’s book, and the infotainment screen is solid, responsive, and connected enough to satisfy modern needs.
Place in the UK Pickup Market: The working-class hero
The UK’s pickup scene is a strange beast. Some buyers want all-singing, all-dancing lifestyle trucks. Others want a proper workhorse. Some need heavy towing. Others want comfort. And tax rules keep shifting like quicksand. The V-Cross sits smack bang in the middle.
It’s got enough creature comforts to satisfy private buyers, families, and lifestyle users. But it’s still built like a tank, still tows 3.5 tonnes, still shrugs off punishment, and still has a reputation for reliability that rivals envy.
It’s not the flashiest. It’s not the most powerful. But in terms of honesty, longevity, utility, economy, real-world toughness, and day-to-day usability, the D-Max is one of the best pickups on sale in the UK today.
Final Thoughts: A dependable mate who turns up with a tow rope
The 2025 Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is not a flashy truck. It doesn’t shout, doesn’t show off, and doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not. What it does offer is:
genuine off-road ability
rugged build quality
flexible rear-seat storage
decent tech
decent economy
and a level of dependability that rivals dream of
If you want a pickup for posing around town, there are shinier options.
If you want a pickup that will actually get stuck in, through mud, rain, snow, potholes, green lanes, and British weather, the V-Cross should absolutely be on your shortlist.
Website: Isuzu D-Max V-Cross
Price: £38,225 cvotr + VAT
