ESCAPING the scorching summer heat, many urban dwellers seek refuge in the cooler provinces, particularly during long weekends when holidays are declared. I recently embarked on such a trip when Labor Day coincided with a Monday, accepting a friend’s annual invitation to his M1 Freedom Party in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Venturing up North on a Saturday could have been a nightmare, as my wife and I found ourselves stuck in a frustrating bumper-to-bumper traffic at the entrance of the NLEx in Balintawak. The congestion persisted for the next 76 kilometers (km) until we reached the entrance of the SCTEx in Clark, Pampanga.

Fortunately, we made the wise decision to depart around 8 a.m. when traffic was still relatively light. Moreover, we were fortunate to be traveling in the newly launched third-generation Isuzu D-MAX, specifically the top-of-the-line 3.0-liter LS-E 4x4 AT (automatic) variant, which offered a plethora of comforts.

Before boarding the vehicle, my attention was immediately drawn to the new matte dark gray 18-inch alloy wheels and the stylish two-tone front grille. Upon entering, the refreshing black interior design with dark brown leather seats greeted us, providing a sense of spaciousness compared to the earlier generation D-MAX we had driven during numerous Isuzu out-of-town adventures in previous years.

The new Isuzu D-MAX is very responsive during the stop-and-go traffic as everybody tries to look for small openings to move ahead of the pack. The 4-cylinder in-line 4JJ3-TCX Blue Power diesel engine delivers 150 PS of maximum power and 450 Nm of maximum torque very easily.

As we merged onto the SCTEx for another 70-km stretch, traffic suddenly eased, allowing us to fully experience the D-MAX’s comfortable ride. Credit goes to its double wishbone coil spring with high-mounted upper control arm and stabilizer front suspension, as well as the long span semi-elliptical soft ride leaf spring rear suspension. The auto-climate control with dual-zone air conditioning kept us cool during the scorching journey, and my wife even managed to take a nap from time to time.

Even when I accelerated to 140 kph on a straight stretch, the Isuzu D-MAX felt like driving a car, with steady power-assisted steering. My wife wholeheartedly agreed that the new D-MAX provided a significantly more comfortable and enjoyable ride compared to the previous generation she had experienced.

It was sizzling hot when we arrived at Subic, Zambales, and we headed out to look for a place to eat as we were both very hungry for not eating our breakfast earlier. After that brunch, checking in to our designated hotel was a breeze although the sizzling hot summer weather continued to hound us out there.

Considering the circumstances, we considered ourselves lucky, despite the ordinary two-hour journey from Manila to Subic turning into a grueling threehour ordeal. Some friends who had left Manila after 9 a.m. were not as fortunate, encountering even heavier traffic on NLEx and arriving at the congested Subic gate entrance more than six hours later.

Thanks to the third-generation Isuzu DMAX, our drive to Subic, our two-day stay, and our explorations around the area went smoothly. Reflecting on my newfound experience with this exceptional Isuzu “muscle for the family,” I find myself contemplating whether it’s time to replace my current pickup truck from another brand, which is already three years old.