By Pinky Concha Colmenares

HOKKAIDO, JAPAN – The engine was too silent—I forgot I was driving a pickup truck. When the man guiding me through the high-speed course at the Isuzu Hokkaido Proving Ground (IHPG) said, “Drive,” I glanced at the dashboard to check if the new Isuzu D-Max EV was even on.

It’s not my first time behind the wheel of an electric vehicle, so I knew what to expect from an EV’s whisper-quiet motor. But silence is not something I’ve ever associated with a pickup truck. Even the modern diesel engines that have mellowed from a roar to a purr still have that familiar grunt. This stillness took a moment to process.

But there was no time for reflection. “Accelerate to 100, take the middle lane in the banking section,” my guide instructed.

I instantly liked this stranger. He didn’t seem to mind letting a woman he’d never met take the wheel of a vehicle yet to be introduced in the Asian market—and through a banked lane built to test speed, stability, and safety.

On my next lap, he told me to go faster, especially in the straight lanes. I liked him even more. Later, I learned that the D-Max EV can accelerate from 0–100 kph in just 10.1 seconds, with a top speed exceeding 80 mph. I’m sure my instructor didn’t want me testing those limits—but I could feel the power waiting to be unleashed.

When he finally told me my turn was over, I wasn’t quite as fond of him anymore.

It was a short—but sweet—“dance” with the D-Max EV, even if my ears missed the familiar rumble of a pickup.

Powering this next-generation truck is a 66.9 kWh lithium-ion battery that offers an estimated 263 km of range under the WLTC standard. Charging options include AC (up to 11 kW for a full charge in around 10 hours) or DC fast charging (up to 50 kW), which can bring the battery from 20 to 80 percent in just an hour.

The D-Max EV retains the legendary toughness of its lineage. With a maximum payload of over 1,000 kilograms, towing capacity of up to 3.5 tons, and 4x4 geometry boasting 30.5 degree approach and 24.2 degree departure angles, it’s ready for the same demanding conditions that built Isuzu’s reputation. Add 210 mm of ground clearance and a 600 mm wading depth, and you can bet this truck won’t flinch when Metro Manila’s monsoon floods arrive.

Even in that short test drive, several qualities stood out—instant power delivery, stable cornering, refined suspension, and balanced handling. It was powerful yet composed, firm but graceful – even while banked at an unnatural tilt of many degrees off.

Where I grew up, the pickup truck was the family car. Its diesel engine roared like a beast, its ride rough but dependable. It carried half our household in the cargo bed—coolers, cookware, gas tanks, bags, food, and mattresses—on trips to the farm or mountain resort. The pickup was noisy, sturdy, and unbreakable.

Decades later, technology has tamed that beast. Today’s pickups purr, glide, and even pamper. They’re no longer just workhorses—they’re “lifestyle vehicles,” chosen as much for comfort and style as for strength. But I never imagined I’d be driving an electric pickup—one that could outpower, out-handle, and outlast many traditional trucks, while emitting zero emissions.

The D-Max EV I drove in Japan is not yet available in the Philippine market, but Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) says its introduction will mark a new chapter for the brand—one that balances sustainability with performance. “The D-Max EV represents Isuzu’s commitment to delivering vehicles that are not only powerful and durable, but also environmentally responsible,” said IPC President Mikio Tsukui during the media test drive in Hokkaido.

If the D-Max EV I tested is any indication, the future of the pickup truck will be quiet—but far from dull. It’s a new kind of strength: silent, confident, and capable.

And yes, I’m already looking forward to the next “dance.”

(I was with a group of motoring journalists from the Philippines, all younger, and who drove faster, than me.)

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