Isuzu Forward enters 18-tonne market
Isuzu's new 18-tonner, which completes the company's new Forward product line-up, makes good sense on paper compared with its lighter siblings. Operators considering alternatives to the traditional 7.5-tonne chassis-cab - because of its limited speed, poor payload and restrictions on grandfather rights on the driving licence - will probably bypass Isuzu's offering at 11-tonnes, 12-tonnes and 15-tonnes and embrace the heavier option.
Unlike previous Forward cabs, the F180 has a European flavour, with the steps in front of the steering axle, while the cab is a modular design with all weight categories using the same door panels. The chassis cab has a competitive 5,348kg kerbweight, matching European manufacturers Volvo, Daf and Iveco. The test vehicle, complete with box body, offers a payload of 10,200kg - all weights are with full tanks and no driver.
There are two engine outputs to be had - 260hp and 300hp. Both are based on a Euro-4, 7.8-litre, six-cylinder unit with emissions levels achieved via EGR. The former has a six-speed Eaton overdrive box, while the latter gets a ZF nine-speed. It is the EGR option that gives this truck a major selling point, especially for the rental sector. This, along with the kerb weight, should also appeal to recovery, construction, waste and recycling businesses.
Standard equipment is above average for the class with electric windows, keyless central locking, radio/CD player, and a suspension seat thrown in - optional extras are yet to be confirmed. The warranty is three-years' unlimited mileage and is complete with a roadside assistance package on all new models up to 18-tonnes, although servicing intervals have yet to be confirmed. The retail price starts at £46,625 ex-VAT for the F180.260 chassis cab.
From the outside, it looks compact, but inside you have the vantage point and visibility to match most European-designed trucks. Our test vehicle was billed as a rest-cab because of its narrow bunk behind the seats this feature is available only on the 15- and 18-tonne trucks. Access is slightly limited, along with space around the driver's seat and there's only modest storage provided in the dash, doors and headlining, although there is more to be had in the rear with this particular cab, allowing the driver to dump his bag and paperwork on the bunk, if required.
On the road, the handling matches a traditional European 18-tonne truck, although it lacks the manoeuvrability of the lighter versions of the Forward range. The Isuzu also needs to be worked up through the gears in the 260hp version. However, we didn't find any obvious gaps in the overdrive box, with progress steady and reliable. Overdrive also brings revs down at 85km/h towards 1,500rpm, although it works hard to maintain progress. Torque is on the disappointing side because of the Japanese tendency towards power over the former.
Source : roadtransport
