Driving the long and winding roads on an Isuzu D-Max

MANILA, Philippines - There’s a certain charm to taking the road less traveled, but obviously it is less traveled for a reason. More often than not, factors including distance, road conditions, or just plain bad weather keep a place relatively hidden from the regular tourist stampede, and it usually plays out as an advantage in keeping a place as pristine as possible. Such is the case with the charismatic town of Sagada in Mountain Province — its 400-500 km distance (per way, depending on which route you take) keeps it elusive of the usual touristy hustle, and its series of patches of still-unpaved roads and sinking mud make it quite unreachable via your regular city sedan. Hence, it was a perfect destination to demonstrate the impressively versatile characteristics of the popular Isuzu D-Max... and IPC (Isuzu Philippines Corporation) owned it – by taking the motoring media on an amazing journey from Manila to Sagada, and back, aboard their comfortable albeit hardy pick-up.

“This Sagada trip also shows D-Max owners and potential customers the possibilities of where and how they can use their pickups for recreational purposes, especially during weekends.” explained IPC Senior vice president Arthur Balmadrid during his opening remarks. “At present, more than 40 percent  of D-Max buyers come from the National Capital Region, which means the pickup is mostly driven in urban settings during the week,” he added.

The drive from Manila to Sagada took us through the twisty mountain roads of Nueva Vizcaya, and the D-MAX’s tried-and-tested 4JJ1-TC iTEQ Common Rail Direct Injection with Turbo Intercooler EURO 2 engine was more than enough to handle the challenging terrain. What one might consider a greater concern, in fact, in a trip of this length, is the actual ride comfort – because sitting in a vehicle for over 10 hours straight is no joke, and a travel concern that should never be taken lightly. The D-Max’s independent double wishbone with torsion bar springs and stabilizer bar in front, and its Flex Ride MOVE suspension semi-elliptical leaf springs with telescopic shock absorbers in the rear, however, did its magic in keeping the trip satisfyingly comfortable (yes-- despite whatever reservations you may have had, with it being a pickup), without having to compromise the vehicle’s drive control and stability. Inside the cabin was definitely a pleasure with its black leather-vinyl combination seats, and AVT entertainment system that sported a 6.2-inch WVGA digital TFT LCD screen with DVD/WMA/MP3 functions. And additionally, for the true travelers, it included an intuitive, easy-to-use dealer-option navigation system.

Furthermore, like a drama that was planned-out with mother nature, our trip to Sagada was sprinkled with a variety of weather conditions – we went through all that Philippine weather had to offer: from harsh sunshine, to a nasty downpour that induced packs of mudslides and floodwater running over town bridges, to thick fog. Nevertheless, there was not one moment when we felt any lack of confidence in our vehicles... the D-Max was always in full control of handling the elements – an important attribute, I feel, when seeking transportation that would take you to far flung places of the country, where a lot of things are unpredictable.

When we finally got to Sagada – a mystical place that had hanging coffins and breathtaking bike trails and a network of mysterious caves, and more – our team celebrated nature and sportsmanship through a bike and trivia challenge, with the bike clinic facilitated by two members of the Isuzu D-Max Multisport Team: Frederick Farr and his son Jerich Farr. Of course, taking all our mountain bikes and equipment there was no sweat, courtesy of the D-Max’s formidable cargo-hauling capacity. Unilever Philippines meanwhile, supported our activity by providing us with an assortment of toiletry and personal sanitation goods. Caltex Diesel with Techron D fueled our vehicles through the entire trip.

There indeed is nothing like conquering the country’s mighty mountains, exploring well-kept Philippine culture, and embracing nature in its most unadulterated form. As many have said, the only thing truly essential for travel, is the desire to have it... Well, that and maybe, a tough, reliable and comfortable vehicle such as the Isuzu D-Max!

The D-MAX is available in LS 4x4, LS 4x2, Boondock 4x4, LX and LT variants. It comes in Ebony Black, Glacial White, Titanium Silver, Rich Red and Satin Silver for the LS variants; Ebony Black, Rich Red and Satin Silver with a two-tone combination of Light Silver, for the 4x4 Boondock; Glacial White and Ebony Black for the LX; and in White and Silver for the LT.