Isuzu N Forward. CM discovers a truck that is suitable for everyone. For today s news visit: 36 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 14/10/10

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1 COMMERCIAL MOTOR CM discovers a truck that is suitable for everyone Forward N Isuzu 36 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 14/10/10 CMO_141010_ /10/10 12:19:04

For all the CM road tests visit: www.roadtransport.

Colin Barnett Images: Nigel Spreadbury 14/10/10

2 For all the CM road tests visit: CM takes Isuzu s 190hp Forward for a spin, and finds an easy-to-drive truck, ideally suited for the needs of multi-drop work around town Words: Colin Barnett Images: Nigel Spreadbury 14/10/10 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 37 CMO_141010_ /10/10 12:19:24

ROAD TEST ISUZU FORWARD N75.190 SPECIFICATIONS Manufacturer: Isuzu Truck (UK) Ltd, Isuzu House, 164 Great North Road, Hatfield AL9 5JN Website: www.isuzu.co.

Compression ratio: 17.5:1 Maximum power: 188hp (140kW) at 2,600rpm In brief: Vehicle: Isuzu Forward N75.190 Price as tested: 28,850 (plus VAT) Engine: 5.

160 Tested: 31/07/08 Vehicle: Iveco Eurocargo Tested: 08/10/09 Vehicle: M-B Atego 816 Tested: 27/05/10 Isuzu is still but a minnow in the brackish water that is today s UK truck market, but on a

3 ROAD TEST ISUZU FORWARD N SPECIFICATIONS Manufacturer: Isuzu Truck (UK) Ltd, Isuzu House, 164 Great North Road, Hatfield AL9 5JN Website: Engine: Isuzu 4HK1TC, four valves per cylinder turbo-diesel with common-rail injection and Euro 5 emissions by EGR and DPF Cylinders: Four in-line Bore x stroke: 115mm x 125mm Capacity: 5,193cc Compression ratio: 17.5:1 Maximum power: 188hp (140kW) at 2,600rpm In brief: Vehicle: Isuzu Forward N Price as tested: 28,850 (plus VAT) Engine: 5.2 litre, 188hp (140kw) GVW: 7,500kg Body/payload allowance: 4,565kg Test comparison data Vehicle: DAF LF.160 Tested: 31/07/08 Vehicle: Iveco Eurocargo Tested: 08/10/09 Vehicle: M-B Atego 816 Tested: 27/05/10 Isuzu is still but a minnow in the brackish water that is today s UK truck market, but on a world scale it s an entirely different story. Across the globe, including many of the bits formerly coloured pink, Isuzu trucks are a ubiquitous sight, whether in villages in developing countries or in US city centres. In the UK, the range has traditionally been restricted to the 3,500kg to 7,500kg end of the market. However, Isuzu Trucks UK has a programme to move up the weight range, and despite beginning the expansion just as the recession arrived, the 18-tonner has already won some dedicated converts. Soon to arrive on UK roads to plug the gap will be 11- and 12-tonne models, effectively an uprated 7.5-tonner and a downrated 18-tonner respectively. But back to the test in hand, which is of an Isuzu Forward N Choosing your Isuzu N75 is a straightforward process. There s a choice of day cab, or if you have special requirements, such as recovery, a seven-seater crewcab. With the day cab, there is the choice of three wheelbases from 3,365mm to 4,475mm the crewcab only coming on the longest of these. Driveline speccing is even easier, with a single 190hp engine rating and a six-speed automated transmission as standard. There is a manual option, but fewer than 20% of buyers opt to make the 1,000 saving by choosing this. Isuzu s drivelines are fully sourced in-house. Its engine philosophy differs somewhat from most of its 7.5-tonne competitors, offering a larger than average four-cylinder engine of 5.2 litres displacement at a single rating, again higher than most at a true 188hp and 513Nm. Euro-5 emissions from the common-rail unit are assured internally by exhaust gas recirculation with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) cleaning up the outgoing gasses. While this avoids the complication of buying AdBlue for an SCR system, it s not totally attention free. In operations where the DPF doesn t reach its full operating temperature, the frequent urban stop-start delivery cycle where many 7.5-tonners spend their working days, for example, measures have to be taken to burn-off residual deposits within the filter. Often, this is achieved with no more driver involvement than watching a warning light, Maximum torque: 513Nm (378lbft) at 1,500rpm-2,600rpm Transmission: Isuzu MZZ6F six-speed automated manual driving rear wheels Gear ratios: 6.39, 3.77, 1.97, 1.34, 1.00, 0.78:1, rev, 6.37:1 Final drive ratio: 4.1:1 Clutch: Fluid coupling with mechanical lock-up clutch Brakes: Dual-circuit hydraulic system with ABS, EBS, ASR traction control Parking brake: Mechanical drum transmission brake Brake dimensions: Front, 310mm dia ventilated discs; rear, 320mm x 120mm drums Chassis: Steel C section frame Dimensions: 172mm x 70mm x 6mm Suspension: Front and rear, beam axles with steel semi-elliptical leaf springs. Telescopic shock absorbers and anti-roll bars all-round. Steering: Power-assisted recirculating ball Turns lock-to-lock: 5.5 Turning circle: 12.6m Wheels and tyres: 6J x 17.5in steel wheels with Michelin Agilis 195/75R17.5 tyres (twin rear) Fuel tank: Plastic, 100 litres Electrical system: 24V negative earth system Battery: 2 x 12V, 115Ah Alternator: 80A 38 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 14/10/10 CMO_141010_ /10/10 12:19:51

4 For all the CM road tests visit: ROAD TEST CAB DETAIL There is a choice of day cab, and recovery or seven-seater crewcab if you have any special requirements. Switching the gearbox to economy mode aids fuel consumption at the expense of response. 14/10/10 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 39 CMO_141010_ /10/10 12:21:04

ROAD TEST ISUZU FORWARD N75.190 but worse cases require manual intervention.

Isuzu s transmission department also goes its own way. The standard issue is the EasyShift unit, much of which is a regular six-speed manual with automated changing.

engine output and the other to the gearbox input.

5 ROAD TEST ISUZU FORWARD N but worse cases require manual intervention. Another warning light tells the driver to press a dash-mounted button to activate the 15-minute regeneration process at a convenient point at the next rest break or end of shift. Isuzu s transmission department also goes its own way. The standard issue is the EasyShift unit, much of which is a regular six-speed manual with automated changing. The input end, though, uses technology previously common in the days before the torque converter became commonplace, the simple fluid coupling, albeit backed up in this case by a mechanical lock-up clutch. For anyone too young to remember, a simple description of a fluid coupling, first patented in 1906, is a unit consisting of two bowl-shaped turbines, open sides facing each other, one attached to the engine output and the other to the gearbox input. It is filled with oil and each bowl has a series of vanes such that when the engine half is turned, centrifugal force sends the oil into the gearbox half, causing that to turn, eventually at almost the same speed. On its own, a fluid coupling will never achieve more than about 95% efficiency (input speed vs output speed), so once drive is engaged, Isuzu s modern application locks the units together mechanically to improve the efficiency. Briefly, the torque converter adds an extra set of turbines in the oil flow, which increases the torque transmitted and the overall efficiency, but that s another lesson. On the road Operators looking at the 190 badge on the cab and fearing that they will be unleashing their drivers onto the roads with a fire-breathing monster can be reassured. The engine may be bigger than par, but it delivers its output in an easygoing, unstressed manner. Performance is brisk without being intimidating, and the smooth changes of the aptly named EasyShift gearbox help the overall effect. Unusually, you can dial in the nature of the gear changes by a dash switch, ranging from fast but sharp, to slower and smoother. We left it about halfway. Another feature of the transmission is the economy mode button. When engaged, it shifts up earlier and holds the higher gears for longer, aiding economy at the expense of response. We had it engaged most of the time, but turned it off in town and on the hills. The EasyShift was best left to its own devices, with manual control left for rare occasions when the driver s view dictates a bit of manual override. It s a regular source of comment in CM s road tests that many chassis engineers struggle, or maybe they don t try, to match their settings to UK roads. After all, who d expect us to have B-roads with billiard table smoothness, but motorways capable of lifting motorcyclists from the saddle? When we briefly drove an unladen example recently, we commented on the soft front suspension. It s certainly better when laden, but still demonstrates too much front roll in some situations. Around town and in a straight line, though, it s generally very comfortable, but on one section of the B4213 near Apperley, the frequency of the bumps 40 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 14/10/10 With the box body and tail-lift fitted, the test truck weighed in at 4,715kg, fully fuelled with driver disagreed with the Isuzu and set up a bit of porpoising. The steering is light enough to make no hardship of urban duties, while retaining enough feel for the open road, and the handling is quite drama free. Brakes are a mix of ventilated discs at the front and drums, albeit generously dimensioned ones, at the rear, but proved perfectly well up to the task. The single-stage exhaust brake is quiet, but surprisingly effective, especially if you bother to help it by changing down a gear or two. The parking brake is a car-type lever acting on a transmission drum brake, bringing back memories of the Bedford TK. Productivity It must be said that we expected rather better fuel economy from the Isuzu. While its overall figure of 16.8mpg Its mechanical simplicity and durability, proven in far tougher markets than this, should make for a long and trouble-free life CMO_141010_ /10/10 12:21:32

7 Contract maintenance: per year 2810 Basket of spares: (excluding clutch) 614 Residual value: Three years 6,325 Five years 3,625 Dealers: UK/W.

6 For all the CM road tests visit: ROAD TEST OWNERSHIP COMPARISONS Payload: as tested, kg 2,630 Body/payload allowance: kg 4,565 Service intervals: months/km 12/25,000 Servicing downtime: annual hours 9.7 Contract maintenance: per year 2810 Basket of spares: (excluding clutch) 614 Residual value: Three years 6,325 Five years 3,625 Dealers: UK/W.Europe 50/500+ Warranty: months/km 36/unlimited List price: basic price 28,850 Fact file: Security Engine immobiliser Alarm Central locking Deadlocking Secure bonnet Locking fuel cap Service data n/a Fact file: Plated weights GVW GCW Front axle Rear axle 7,500kg 11,000kg 3,100kg 6,000kg Fact file: Test weights Kerb weight 2,935kg Net payload 2,630kg Body/payload allowance 4,565kg Servicing downtime: Recommended standard servicing, 80,000km/year. Contract hire: Figures for three years at 80,000km/ year, full maintenance, supplied by Lombard. Contact: Parts prices: Retail total of brake linings (full set), headlamp unit, door mirror, wiper blades, oil/air filters and clutch. Residual values: Trade value, assuming 80,000km/year, in CAP Average Condition. Figures supplied by CAP Monitor. Contact: would have been fine when 7.5-tonners could reach 70mph, the N75 doesn t seem to get much benefit from being limited to 56mph. Unusually, and possibly the result of the digitach and speed limiter package being more of an aftermarket affair than on more European-derived rivals, the speed limiter was set rather low according to our trusted GPS, with only 54mph being available, something further masked by a rather optimistic speedometer. Cruise control is apparently not even available as an option. These issues apart, though, journey times are unlikely to be an issue, as the only time the road speed varied from the limited speed on the M4 s hills between Newbury and Newport was a bit of over-run on the drop after crossing the M5. Despite the windsock on the new Severn Bridge hanging as limply as a transport minister s promise, there was less help overall from gravity than expected and the Isuzu didn t feel as slippery as the aerodynamically efficient look of the cab and body might suggest. The test started with just 11,500 miles on the clock, so it may be that it needs a few more to fully loosen up. Apart from the inherent inefficiency of the fluid coupling, which should be overcome by the lock-up clutch, and the large yet lightly stressed engine, we re unable to identify any specific cause from the economy figures. Fortunately, other areas of the Isuzu ownership experience should compensate. Its mechanical simplicity and durability, proven in far tougher markets than this, should make for a long and trouble-free life, while the UK importer s customer care reputation is enviable, not least because buyers have the mobile phone number of Isuzu Truck UK boss Nikki King in case things don t go right. Of course, one of the key attractions of oriental-inspired light trucks is their payload, and here the Isuzu N75 doesn t disappoint. With a kerbweight that gives a body/payload allowance in excess of 4,500kg, it helps counter any arguments that the 7.5-tonner is inefficient. And with a combined plated weight on front and rear axles of 9,100kg, even the less experienced driver whose primary role is something else will be relatively immune from getting caught out by diminishing loads. With the 20ft Derek Jones Commercial box body and tail-lift fitted, the test truck weighed in at 4,715kg, fully fuelled with driver. 14/10/10 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 41 CMO_141010_ /10/10 12:21:50

ROAD TEST ISUZU FORWARD N75.190 engine Isuzu s engine philosophy differs from its 7.5-tonne rivals, offering a larger than average four-cylinder engine of 5.

42 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 14/10/10 Cab comfort The Isuzu s cab may not be the largest on the market, but it s still more than adequate for daily operation.

The interior is either restrained or bland, according to your personal taste, but the plain grey cloth trim will never look unfashionably dated.

This is probably the best configuration, as any central occupant has only a lapbelt for restraint, while his two mates get the usual three-point belts and an airbag apiece as standard.

7 ROAD TEST ISUZU FORWARD N engine Isuzu s engine philosophy differs from its 7.5-tonne rivals, offering a larger than average four-cylinder engine of 5.2 litres displacement at a single rating higher than most at 188hp and 513Nm. 42 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 14/10/10 Cab comfort The Isuzu s cab may not be the largest on the market, but it s still more than adequate for daily operation. Access is easy, and if you want to slide across to exit from the passenger side on busy city streets, this is no hardship either. The interior is either restrained or bland, according to your personal taste, but the plain grey cloth trim will never look unfashionably dated. The driver has a mechanically suspended seat, with a decent array of adjustments, adjacent to a dual bench seat, the central seat s backrest folding down to create a work surface. This is probably the best configuration, as any central occupant has only a lapbelt for restraint, while his two mates get the usual three-point belts and an airbag apiece as standard. Most manufacturers offering automated manual transmissions provide some form of limp-home mode for the event of transmission failure. Some are obvious, some are hidden, but the Isuzu s takes the form of a James Bond missile launcher-style button under a liftup safety cover. Other less familiar buttons include the gear-change response selector, quick warm-up, ASR traction control override and the EGR regeneration control. The stalks on the multi-way adjustable column are in the conventional position for European tastes, indicators and lights, with an extra position for the rear fogs, on the left and wipers and singlestage exhaust brake on the right. Instruments are clear white on a black speedometer and rev counter, with smaller fuel and water temperature gauges, and in the centre of these is the digital gear display. The interior is either restrained or bland, according to your personal taste, but the grey cloth trim will never look unfashionably dated OPERATIONAL RESULTS Fuel consumption: Overall Motorways A-roads AdBlue rate, % of diesel Fuel cost, /100km AdBlue cost, /100km Total cost, /100km Average speed: Overall Motorways A-roads Hill performance: Monmouth Wantage 16.8mpg (16.8lit/100km) 18.1mpg (15.6lit/100km) 16.3mpg (17.4lit/100km) N/a N/a km/h 84.1km/h 61.6km/h 2min 28sec 2min 08sec To the left of the driving seat is the gear quadrant, simply marked RND, with the M+ and manual override, the handbrake and a small oddment bin. Other storage consists of two over-screen shelves and a pair of small door pockets, with a bin on the centre of the rear wall, coat hangers and tool storage behind the driving seats. There s still just enough room for a modest rucksack behind the seats on each side. Comfort items include electric windows, two pop-out cupholders and an aftermarket radio/cd/mp3 unit from Clarion, near to the Groeneveld digitach and a couple of unused DIN housings used for storage. A 12V lighter socket provides auxiliary power. Air-con is available as an option. Mirrors are heated with manual adjustment, but are really a basic set-up to the legal minimum for a 7.5-tonner, with no kerb or frontal view lenses that would aid city manoeuvring. CMO_141010_ /10/10 12:22:16

For all the CM road tests visit: www.roadtransport.com ROAD TEST Colin Barnett behind the wheel Xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxx Acceleration: 0-80km/h (seconds) 30.

8 64km/h 80km/h 71.5 This is certainly a test of mixed messages.

spec of their dedicated press fleets. This truck is a regular customer demonstrator, washed and loaded for the test. Whatever the reason, the numbers stand.

In and around town, making countless deliveries, possibly in the hands of a relatively unskilled driver, it s a safe, easy-to-drive delivery tool that will perform efficiently.

For certain operations, a reassuring ownership experience could compensate for the lack of ultimate economy. NEXT WEEK CM s testers put the Nissan Navara through its paces TESTS ON THE WEB.

Loadspace width (max) Loadspace width (between arches) Loadspace height Loadspace length Loading height 2,900mm 1,800mm 1,030mm 1,900mm 4,560mm 930mm Complete CM road tests all free to access You can

8 For all the CM road tests visit: ROAD TEST Colin Barnett behind the wheel Xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxx Acceleration: 0-80km/h (seconds) 30.2 Braking distance: 32km/h (stopping distance, m) In-cab noise 48km/h db(a) 60.2 dimensions In-cab noise 90km/h db(a) km/h km/h Not tested 64km/h 68.4 Tickover km/h km/h 80km/h 71.5 This is certainly a test of mixed messages. Looked at purely from the headline fuel figures, we expected a bit better, although, in fairness, Isuzu doesn t have the resources of some of its rivals when it comes to running-in and optimising the spec of their dedicated press fleets. This truck is a regular customer demonstrator, washed and loaded for the test. Whatever the reason, the numbers stand. But the bigger picture reveals a product that is eminently suitable for its purpose. While it s more than capable of inter-urban motorway cruising, that s not really its forte. In and around town, making countless deliveries, possibly in the hands of a relatively unskilled driver, it s a safe, easy-to-drive delivery tool that will perform efficiently. There are areas where it could be improved: we d start with a stiffer anti-roll bar on the front and more comprehensive mirrors, but its sometimes quirky engineering approach works. For certain operations, a reassuring ownership experience could compensate for the lack of ultimate economy. NEXT WEEK CM s testers put the Nissan Navara through its paces TESTS ON THE WEB... dimensions Overall width Overall length Overall height Cab floor height Internal cab height (max) Wheelbase Front overhang 1,996mm 7,012mm 2,745mm 680mm 1,500mm 4,475mm 1,110mm Rear overhang Loadspace width (max) Loadspace width (between arches) Loadspace height Loadspace length Loading height 2,900mm 1,800mm 1,030mm 1,900mm 4,560mm 930mm Complete CM road tests all free to access You can now find CM s road tests on the web. We have uploaded hundreds of CM s in-depth truck and van road tests to just click on the link at the left, which says Road tests. There you can search for tests by vehicle type, make and model, or you can go to the manufacturers pages listed there. The tests are complete with every fact and figure from the print version and they re free to access. You ll also find a list of the road tests on the web at 14/10/10 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 43 CMO_141010_ /10/10 12:22:37

DAF FAT CF COMMERCIAL MOTOR. Is it business as usual for DAF s dependable tipper? For today s news visit:

DAF FAT CF COMMERCIAL MOTOR. Is it business as usual for DAF s dependable tipper? For today s news visit: COMMERCIAL MOTOR Is it business as usual for DAF s dependable tipper? DAF FAT CF75.360 32 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 28/01/10 CMO_280110_032-039.indd 32 25/1/10 12:31:18 For all the CM road tests visit: www.roadtransport.com