In spite of only having a two model line-up, the local arm of the Japanese commercial giant has consistently featured within the top-ten best-selling automakers come the monthly NAAMSA sales figures, with the now terminally aged KB remaining at the forefront by some margin over the disappointingly slow-selling MU-X.
eXpressive now with more traXion
Likely to have played a key part was the announcement in March last year that the smash-hit, limited edition X-Rider would become a permanent model fixture as a more upmarket version of the standard 250 Hi-Rider, helped even further by the surprise addition of a four-wheel drive (4WD) derivative seven month later.
Now effectively the most luxurious version of the entry-level KB to have 4WD, the X-Rider soon proved its worth when it’s very basic, plastic key-fob landed in my hands recently for the traditional seven-day stay.
X-factor looks
Aside from the almost retro red “4x4” decals on the side of the load-bin, the 4WD X-Rider is otherwise identical to its two-wheel drive sibling, with the various cosmetic additions over the H-Rider consisting of the still very imposing black front bumper and grille with its red Isuzu logo, diamond-cut 18-inch alloy wheels with red centre caps and wrapped in General Grabber AT all-terrain tyres, black side-steps, door handles, mirrors, B-pillar and sports-bar, as well as special X-Rider badging and inclusion of front fog lights.
Combined with the tester’s normally dour, yet aggressively titled Switchbade Silver paint finish, the X-Rider additions has once again managed to put a striking spin on a shape which has aged remarkably well despite being outclassed by those of its biggest rivals from Ford and Toyota.
Dark and cheap inside
While the X-Rider add-ons have once again succeeded in sprucing up the KB’s overall appearance to an extent, it has not had the same effect inside where the Port Elizabeth built pick-up’s entry-level roots are not only prominent, but also its dire archaic design as well as wheelie-bin like plastics and lack of some features.
Bespoke to the X-Rider are leather seats with X-Rider embroidered headrests, contrasting red stitching on the seats and gear lever boot with X motifs on the doors, piano key black inserts and a leather covered steering wheel with audio controls and red stitching.
As with the two-wheel drive, the X-Rider’s market placing means it lacks the touchscreen infotainment system of the top-spec LX, and although the basic audio setup comes with Bluetooth, a USB port and Aux input, the actual smartphone pairing process proved frustrating with the sound quality again being poor and playable media from the USB limited to 255 files.
Space and equipment to match range placing
With its assortment of cheap looking, feeling and sounding materials, which admittedly are also robust and felt well put together, the X-Rider is still all about value and aside from the still impressive levels of head-and-legroom front and rear, standard equipment includes auto lock/unlock doors, electric mirrors, height adjustable steering wheel, projector-type headlights with daytime running LEDs, electric windows all around, a rear diff-lock, ABS with EBD, dual front airbags, traction control and Hill Start Assist.
The noise machine in the room
Up front, the KB’s hailing from a long since departed generation of pick-ups shows when you fire-up the 2.5-litre D-TEQ turbodiesel engine with its distinctive agricultural sounding soundtrack that leaves little doubt as to which make of vehicle it powers.
Producing a relatively unstressed 100kW/320Nm, the ancient oil burner, with its reputation for lasting forever, continues to be hobbled by large amounts of turbo-lag, not helped by the added weight of the low range gearbox, and the long-through five-speed manual ‘box that exhibits a grating sensation and which requires a firm shove when changing gear.
Although the X-Rider proved to be relatively frugal with a best of 8.8-litres/100km after close to 800km and a weekend trip to Witbank during its tenure, the escapade to Mpumalanga again highlighted the lack of a sixth ratio combined with the raucous engine note, as well as a rather coarse ride arising from the fitment of those wheels.
Conclusion
While there is a lot to dislike about the Isuzu KB especially at the rate at which pick-ups are becoming more advanced, the X-Rider version unashamedly gives modernity the one-finger salute as it is all about being a workhorse with a smattering of luxurious and maximum aesthetic appeal.
Now with the benefit of four-wheel drive and attractively priced at R472 500, the X-Rider still makes for a package that is hard to beat if looking tough while being rough rates at the top priority.
NOTE: At the time of writing, Isuzu Motors South Africa had not yet rebadged the KB as the D-Max.
