Farmers keen to bag a pickup with a fancier drivetrain no longer have to part with £30k-plus for a mid-range model, after Isuzu made its automatic transmission available further down the D-Max pecking order.

Utility-spec extended- and double-cab models, plus the middle-of-the-road DL20 extended cab, now get the option of a six-speed auto and a rear differential lock, having previously been restricted to a manual shifter. 

See also: Pickup buyer’s guide 2021-22

The rest of the Utility spec is suitably utilitarian, with wipe-clean vinyl floor coverings, steel wheels and solid plastic finishings on the bumpers, mirrors and doorhandles.

However, buyers do get a suite of driver assist functions, including autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition and lane departure warning.

This has no doubt contributed to the pickup’s five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

Prices for the D-Max range start from £21,999.