Isuzu first showed us its D-Max EV at the Commercial Vehicle Show earlier this year. It made the headlines, being the first fully electric pickup in the UK to provide over 1-tonne payload, 3.5-tonne towing capacity and permanent four-wheel drive.

The D-Max EV is powered by a 66.9 kWh lithium-ion battery and dual motors located on the front and rear axles, producing a total output of 149.3 kW (45.9 kW front, 103.4 kW rear). Torque is a heady 347 Nm, and the truck can accelerate from rest to 60mph in a shade under 10 seconds. The academic top speed is over 80mph.

Full-time four-wheel drive gives excellent traction, and there are four regenerative charging levels, whilst pressing the Eco button will extend the range a tad. Isuzu quotes a range of 163 miles. Topped up on my Rolec home charger, I saw 150 miles displayed. The press pack tells me that a charge to 80% on an AC supply will take up to six hours. Find a fast charger, and this reduces to under an hour, as it can only accept up to 50 kW from a DC supply. Not the quickest!

The D-Max EV is based on the latest generation D-Max and boasts a strengthened ladder chassis to withstand heavy payloads, a new De-Dion semi-independent suspension system to improve handling and ensure a more refined ride. The ride is certainly improved over a regular D-Max, and the extra weight of the EV truck does make it feel more planted on the road when pressing on.

The D-Max EV is available in Extended Cab and Double Cab configurations with eDL40 and eV-Cross trims. Standard features include Rough Terrain Mode, dual-zone climate control, heated seats, front and rear parking sensors, Bi-LED headlights, heated seats and a seven-inch driver information display.

My top-spec test vehicle felt instantly familiar, as I have driven the D-Max in many iterations over the years. All that was missing was the sound of the rather agricultural diesel engine when the start button was pressed. At higher speeds I was pleased to note that wind and road noise are very well suppressed, making the cabin a very peaceful place in which to travel.

Step off from rest is a little slower than I would have expected, but once underway, the D-Max gets up to speed quite briskly. Hilly terrain required a heavy right foot, and I suspect those who regularly tow the largest of trailers will still be better off with an engine under the bonnet. No doubt the range will drop quickly too if fully laden or towing at capacity.

No pickup test would be complete without some off-roading, so with my good friend Damian from The Mud Life magazine on board, we set off for a day on the tracks. Immediately apparent is the excellent traction, as unlike the diesel variant, power is sent to both axles all the time. However, there is of course no low range, so some of the steeper ascents did require a fairly hefty shove on the accelerator.

Hill Descent Control is fitted, which did a good job of easing the D-Max down some steep slopes. Alternatively, with maximum regeneration set via the steering wheel paddles, the truck also eased down the hills. The choice is there. In very muddy conditions, the lack of a low box will likely be a limiting factor, but with bone dry tracks, the D-Max EV conquered all terrain with ease. I suppose another caveat is the reduced ground clearance, the battery pack being slung underneath the chassis.

On one rather steep ascent, we came to a rather large rock step, and so as not to risk catching the underside, we reversed off the track. I doubt this would be an issue for most users.

So far so good. You might deduce from what I have said, and you would be right. The elephant in the room is the price. As driven, the D-Max EV weighs in at £62,495 on the road (£74,911 with VAT). That’s quite the premium. Isuzu does have an offer on until the end of September. With a 50% deposit, you can enjoy 3 years of 0% finance on HP. And business users can, of course, fully reclaim the VAT.

Isuzu guarantees the battery for 8 years/100,000 miles and the vehicle itself for 5 years/125,000 miles, which should offer reassurance.

As I write, the D-Max EV has just been collected and is making its way back to its maker. I liked it a lot, though with a real-world range of around 150 miles and the high pricing, it won’t suit everyone. For a builder or farmer working locally, the range won’t be an issue. Do the sums, as with ever-rising diesel prices in the UK, the low cost of charging your pickup on cheap overnight electricity might just be the way forward.