Isuzu NPR Tradepack 2021 Tow Test

Mention the words 'tough truck' to caravan owners, and many will think of a big V8-powered American pick-up or the latest beefed-up dual-cab ute like Ford's Ranger Wildtrak.

However, there’s another less obvious ‘tough truck’ option that's ready-made for jobs like hauling heavy caravans and trailerboats: a commercially-focused light workhorse truck like Isuzu's popular NPR model.

While you're more likely to see one delivering furniture or carting materials to building sites, Isuzu’s light-duty trucks are starting to find favour with RV travelers, especially those who want to carry a lot of gear in their tow vehicle for longer trips or even full-time travel, while still being able to comfortably haul a big trailer.

But is a tough-as-nails work truck the smart option for a leisurely lap of Australia? To find out, we grabbed a towbar-equipped, single cab, medium wheelbase Isuzu NPR truck, hooked up a big caravan and hit the highway…

Built for long-haul travel

Our test vehicle is an Isuzu NPR 45-155 AMT Tradepack with 4500kg GVM, making it drivable on a standard car licence. Other key figures for the Tradepack truck include a kerb weight of 3015kg, and GCM of 8000kg.

Even with the maximum weight 3500kg caravan and 350kg on the towball, that means the Isuzu truck can still carry up to 1135kg of people and gear -- a lot more than a dual-cab Ford Ranger ute, for example, which can only carry a fraction of that with the same weight caravan (thanks to a kerb weight of around 2250kg, 3200kg GVM and 6000kg GCM).

For those who need even more payload when towing, there's a 5500kg GVM/9000kg GCM version of the Isuzu NPR truck available but you’ll need the appropriate licence to drive it.

Still comparing to the Ranger, the 6665mm long, medium-wheel base Isuzu NPR is more than a metre longer than the Ford ute, making it a bit harder to park and slot through traffic.

However, the Isuzu's 4.5m long by 2.05m wide aluminium tray will fit a lot more stuff, including bigger items like motorcycles than the smaller tray on a similar-spec Ranger.

Few-frills package

Priced at $59,690 plus on-road costs, the Isuzu NPR 45-155 MWB AMT Tradepack offers a few-frills package but covers the basics for cross-country touring with a factory bullbar, 3500kg rated tow bar, aluminium drop-side tray with ladder racks, four wheel disc brakes, 16in steel wheels with Michelin tyres, heavy-duty leaf spring suspension, halogen headlights, heated and powered side mirrors, and central locking among its factory-fitted features.

Mounted under the forward-tilting single cab body is Isuzu's bulletproof 114kW/419Nm, 5.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, with the optional automated manual transmission fitted in lieu of the standard six-speed manual ‘box.

Other ‘Premium Pack’ extras fitted include a driver’s footrest, cruise control, trip computer, underbody mounted lockable storage box and a 23 litre water tank with soap dispenser, along with a foldaway rear access step. 

The Isuzu tough-truck also comes with basic safety features including twin front airbags, ABS and stability control.

Perched behind the wheel

It’s a big step up into the Isuzu NPR driver's seat, made easier by a couple of meaty grab handles, a grippy metal footplate and doors that open to 90 degrees.

Once seated on the hard-wearing cloth driver's seat, there's a few adjustments available for the urethane-covered steering wheel and seat to help get comfortable, although at around 190cm tall I would have liked a bit more legroom with the seat pushed right back.

I also found the upright, bus driver-style seating position combined with a shock-absorbing but flat cushion seat base less comfortable than the more laidback seating position of a dual-cab ute, which resulted in a few more rest stops and leg stretches during the four hour driving stretch between Melbourne and the NSW border town of Albury.

There’s no glovebox as such, but enough storage spots around the cabin for incidentals including two overhead shelves, a fold down middle seatback tray and cubby holes in the dash.

The side door cup holders are on the small side but there's enough space behind the seats for the lunchbox and thermos, all at arm's reach.

Old-school technology

While light-filled and airy with its generous side windows and windscreen, the Isuzu's cabin fit-out is best described as utilitarian, with plenty of hard shiny plastics and a hotch-potch of dash-mounted switches and dials for various functions.

Modern conveniences include cruise control (which I couldn't get to work for some reason), climate control (which worked a treat in the hot midday sun), and a fiddly trip computer located within the instrument panel.

The 6.2in colour infotainment display wasn't particularly user-friendly either, with a clunky touchscreen menu for the radio, in-built sat-nav, reverse camera and limited smart phone connectivity (latest tech like Apple Carplay should be coming with the next NPR update, possibly later this year).

A solitary USB socket, located not far from the cigarette lighter, came in handy for charging the mobile phone.

Zipping around town

The Isuzu NPR 45-155 Tradepack is surprisingly nimble in traffic and easy to drive around town, despite its 6665m long by 2270mm high by 2218mm wide dimensions (it's about a metre longer than a 200 Series LandCruiser).

Automatically starting off in second gear, acceleration from standstill is reasonably brisk and refined, at least up to 80km/h, and the super-tight turning circle puts many dual-cab utes' to shame.

If you're worried about squeezing into shopping centre carparks and tight camping spots, there's a cheaper, shorter wheelbase version of the Tradepack truck, although the rear tray is correspondingly smaller.

In tandem with the slow-shifting automated manual 'box, performance is best described as gutsy and relaxed from the 5.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, which delivers peak power of 114kW at 2600rpm and 419Nm between 1600-2600rpm.

The Isuzu truck is geared more for darting around town and on country B-roads in top gear, rather than cruising on the highway where it revs between 2200rpm and 2400rpm at 100-110km/h, although never feeling harsh or strained.

While it's nice not to have to change gears, the sluggish nature of the automated manual transmission encourages the driver to often change gears manually, using the stubby shifter, like when slowing down into roundabouts or to try and maintain momentum up hills.

Patience is the key, as there's often little in reserve for accelerating and overtaking or passing another vehicle on a dual lane highway.

Rock-solid highway towing

Unlike most dual-cab utes, engine performance barely drops off with a close to three tonne van behind. However, with only 150-200kg on the towball and no weight in the tray, the ride was quite jiggly and bouncy at times on well-worn bitumen even with the suspension seat cushioning some of the blows.

It should be less of an issue for owners who are likely to carry a few hundred kilograms of toolboxes, gear and supplies in the tray to help smooth out the ride and reduce the excessive pitching at times.

On a more positive note, the rig remained composed and stable even at 110km/h on the highway, with no hint of sway. Engine braking was impressive too, with extra assistance from the vacuum controlled exhaust braking helping maintain a steady speed down steep descents.

While engine noise was minimal on the highway, there was quite a bit of road and wind noise including buffeting from the side mirrors, which made it hard to hear the radio at times.

And while the super-light power-assisted recirculating ball steering is a boon around town, the steering becomes quite vague and indirect at higher speeds, causing the vehicle to wander within the lane if the driver isn't paying attention.

Thirsty work

With the revs rising noticeably at 100-plus clicks, and up any sort of incline, average fuel economy along the Hume Highway when towing was 20.8L/100km, which is on the high side compared with smaller-capacity, turbo-diesel utes like Isuzu's D-MAX. That translates to a range of around 450km from the 100 litre tank.

Sitting up quite high, the NPR truck offers excellent forward visibility, as well as a great view of the countryside when cruising along, but you might need to top up the sunscreen with so many UV rays making their way into the cabin.

The tall, two-part side mirrors are also great for towing, as is the reverse camera as a hitching aid, although with the camera tucked up under the tray you lose sight of the caravan coupling in the final centimetres.

The aluminium tray's excessive overhang can also interfere with items on the caravan drawbar when turning sharply or trying to 'jack knife' the van into a tight camping spot.

Verdict

While not as comfortable or convenient as a 3500kg tow-rated dual-cab ute, the Isuzu NPR MWB Tradepack delivers superior towing stability at highway speeds and better all-round carrying capacity for similar money.

The main downsides are a less relaxing in-cabin experience, and frustratingly sluggish performance at times when towing.

How much does the Isuzu NPR 45-155 AMT MWB Tradepack cost?

Price: $59,690 plus on-road costs
Engine: 114kW/419Nm 5.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Length: 6665mm
Kerb weight: 3015kg
GVM: 4500kg
GCM: 8000kg
Tow rating: 3500kg (350kg ball mass)
More info: Isuzu Australia