Driving experience
The extra Basecamp features add quite a lot of weight to this D-Max, which you'll feel in day-to-day driving but not so much in the kind of slow-speed exploring trails this extreme edition model is designed for. Like any D-Max, this one uses a 1.9-litre four cylinder 164PS turbo diesel engine, which puts out a willing 360Nm of torque via manual or automatic transmission. Quite enough for the extreme snowy terrain that this AT35's vast 35-inch tyres will allow it to cross. The tyres are so chunky that Arctic Trucks claims the D-Max can actually float over snow slush, rather than sink into it.
This variant's special Bilstein suspension also helps, designed to withstand the harshest off road impacts. This includes revised springs and dampers and gives this truck 50mm of extra ground clearance - a total of 266mm at the front and 290mm at the rear. Approach and departure angles are improved to 35 and 29-degrees respectively and there's an impressive breakover angle of up to 34-degrees.
As in any D-Max, the engine's grunt makes low speed urban work easy and tough muddy inclines straightforward. It's also a major reason why this vehicle can tow a braked trailer of up to 3.5-tonnes. Trailer Sway Control is of course standard, as is Hill Descent Control, along with adaptive cruise control on the auto. For wet or icy tarmac or light off piste work, you can take the opportunity, at up to 60mph, to twist the centre console dial and select high range all-wheel drive. This 4WD system is quick-shifting and once it engages, the D-Max feels notably more sure-footed on the slippery stuff. Of course, once in a while, you'll need to do more, occasions on which you'll be further twisting this dial to engage the full low-range four wheel drive mode, something that can only happen when the vehicle's stopped.
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Design and build
With this Basecamp model, the key change over a standard AT35 is the addition of a Gearmate hardtop canopy that allows the fitting of an iKamper SkyCamp Mini tent on the roof. This pop-up tent easily unfolds, while a lightweight step ladder flips out for access. You don't need to concern yourself with tent pegs or ground sheets, because wherever you stop the truck is where you set up camp.
The hard top canopy has lockable metal sides that open to reveal further additions in the bed. Australian off-road gear specialist ARB has added its Outback Solutions modular roller drawers, which fills the load bed almost entirely, but features two long sliding drawers for stowage of kit. The left-hand drawer provides a slide-out kitchen unit, featuring a three-burner gas stove and collapsible sink. There's also a large fridge freezer strapped on top of the carpeted drawer system.
ARB further supplies the sturdy Base Rack roof storage, which incorporates a super-bright Laser light bar, enabling storage of essential off road items. And there are wind deflectors over the nose and side window visors.
Otherwise, it's just as any other D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35. Which means you get huge 35-inch All-Terrain tyres which combine with this derivative's 50mm ride height increase to make this AT35 variant 120mm taller than any standard D-Max. The specialist rubber is fitted to 17-inch x 10-inch black alloy wheels that sit within flared wheel arch extensions separated by extended profile side steps. Towers are looked after with an Arctic Trucks Rear Bar incorporating a 2-inch multifunction receiver hitch.
Inside, it's as luxurious as you'd expect such a pricey truck to be, with full-leather upholstery with embroidered branding and special floor mats. Plus a 9-inch Multifunction colour touchscreen centre-dash infotainment display, complete with 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring.
Move to the back seat and, as in any D-Max, one nice touch is the way that 60/40 split-folding bench enables you to more flexibly use this rear passenger space for packages, should you so wish. Additional storage compartments in the floor under the rear-seat base are also useful for keeping things out of harm's way.
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Market and model
This Basecamp model is based on the top D-Max, the Arctic Trucks AT35, which at the time of our test in early 2025 was retailing at around £52,500, excluding VAT.
On top of that, to create this Basecamp model, you'll need to fit a whole range of individual accessories. We'll give you the ex-VAT prices for these extra items at the time of our early 2025 test. So you'll need an ARB Ascent Canopy (£3,097), a Bed Rug (£482), an ARB Esperance Tent (£2,384), an ARB Slide Drawers Set with a Built-in Kitchen (£2,615), an ARB Ensuite Room (£283), an ONTAP Portable 12V Camping Shower (£199), an ARB Base Rack (£1,035), a Lazer Linear-36 Elite Lightbar (£960), a Lazer Linear-6 Elite pack (£560), a Custom Grille (£376), a bonnet protector (£161.25) and 5-inch Side Bars (£438). To save you adding that lot up, the total comes to £12,592 ex-VAT, which, added to the £52,495 ex-VAT AT35 model asking price at the time of this test means an ex-VAT total to create this Basecamp model of £65,087 ex-VAT. No one ever said wilderness exploring came cheap.
In case you're not familiar with the extra features that make the donor Arctic Trucks AT35 model the unique proposition it is, we'll cover those off for you; the special 35-inch tyres, the unique 17-inch x 10-inch wheels in their flared arches, the side steps, the roof rails and the raised Bilstein suspension. The AT35 is based on the top 'V-Cross' trim level in the standard range, which means you get loads of standard kit - things like Bi-LED headlights, LED front fog lights, keyless entry, full-leather branded upholstery, a powered driver's seat with lumbar support, heated front seats, a reversing camera, a wireless phone charger, dual-zone climate control and an auto-dimming rear view mirror. Infotainment's taken care of by a 9-inch Multifunction infotainment screen with an eight-speaker DAB audio system, a CD player and 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-monitoring.
As in any D-Max, the usual safety features are all present and correct, with a Multi-Collision Brake system, a Blind Spot Monitor, Emergency Lane Keeping, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Traffic Sign Recognition, an Intelligent Speed Limiter and Trailer Sway Control. The auto gets Lane Keep Assist and Accelerator Pedal Misapplication Mitigation too. Plus, as you'd expect, both variants get stability and traction control, a four-channel anti-lock braking system and seven airbags (including a driver's knee 'bag) mated to an e-call system that'll alert the emergency services if they inflate.
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Summary
In a world of pick-ups becoming more lifestyle accessories than expedition tools, Isuzu's D-Max is a refreshingly capable exception - and you can see why Isuzu wants to showcase that with this Basecamp version.
Get one of these and there really is no excuse for not taking that wilderness trek of a lifetime, for almost everything you might need for outback survival is here. Behr Grylls, lifetime thrills and mastery of the hills - all rolled into one.
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