Every year I make the 1200km round trip trek to the Simola Hillclimb and back. For this, I lug plenty of camera and production gear and am joined by Kelly, with the work trip ultimately evolving into a holiday of sorts. So, fun. But my other partner in crime, well that varies. This year, I was fortunate enough to have a bakkie along for the ride. Enter the D-Max.
D-Max? Well it’s the old KB with a newish badge, isn’t it? And if you’re wondering, the D-Max moniker has been in existence since 2002 and only recently made its way here. It offers an excellent alternative to the likes of the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and VW Amarok to name but a few, and has a rugged appeal thanks to its pedigree as a truck manufacturer. Add to that the fact that the KB had a great following in Mzansi and is a culmination of a 40 year pickup legacy. So you see why we are happy to commandeer one for our trip to the garden route.
It’s not even a double cab
The blue bakkie on my driveway only had two doors and two seats, being the Extended Cab model. And that was perfect for the pair of us and the aforementioned gear. I’ll admit that being part of a family of five meant my brain was at odds with this ‘limitation’ at first, but once we were loaded up and on our way, the need for more doors quickly faded away and I could focus on the journey ahead. That being, a windy coastal N2 stint some 600km long. Ours was the 3.0 DDI unit and was renowned for being as frugal as it was torquey. Spoiler alert, by the end of our journey we’d return an economy result of 8.7l/100km which in my opinion was a great success. The ride was soft on the tarmac, similar on the short stints of gravel but firmed up in the corners. By no means car-like, the little truck felt precisely the way you might imagine (large) but without any unpleasant lumbering, and with a favourably point helm. Its quiet in here too save for our traditional Knysna Roadtrip Playlist.
After many snack and bathroom stops, a couple of impromptu photoshoots later we’d arrived at our destination. We were well rested, and keen to see some hillclimb action before the return trip. We weren’t disappointed, and our efforts were rewarded with a full weekend of some of the most desirable race cars and exotics being driven up the iconic hill. The end. Monday morning was bitterly cold, but we were armed with takeway coffee and a pre-heated cabin, so felt well equipped for the journey home.
Top tip, never go back the way you came
Instead of the N2, we opted for the R62 back to Cape Town. It adds about 15 minutes to your trip, but is full of fun stops along the way. Its also one of the most iconic roads in the land, evoking the sort of romantic road trips you’ve seen in cinema, and at the heart of my wanderlust. For this, the Isuzu D-Max Supercab was a worthy companion. Remaining comfortable and fairly urgent with 140kW and 450Nm to draw upon.
The memories you make on adventures like these are the ones that last forever. For that reason, the D-Max has earned a spot in our hearts. It helps that it performed without any fuss, and that it rose to any gravelly challenge we threw at it when an alternate route presented itself. The D-Max then, a good wingman.
