If you’re still using one of Isuzu’s early model NPRs, and given their reputation for longevity you very well may be, the Japanese medium-duty workhorse has a few surprises for you in its current-generation work truck.
The 2016 NPR XD follows the first-generation model introduced this year. Mike Kennedy, Isuzu’s national sales training manager, says the company is excited about the product because its 16,000 GVWR fills a “phantom gap” between the 14,500 GVWR NPR HD and the nearly 18,000 GVWR Isuzu NQR.
The truck features a body/payload allowance of about 9,500 pounds. Our test unit was upfit with a 16-foot Morgan body with a Thermo King reefer unit, but the model can accommodate bodies up to 20-feet in length.
The 150-inch wheelbase truck featured a turning radius of 46.5 degrees, which came in handy navigating crowded streets dissecting some of California’s surfside towns. The truck is also available in 109-, 132- and 170-inch wheelbase lengths in standard cab configurations, and 150- and 176-inch for crew cab.
Our Class 4 test unit was equipped with a 5.2 liter diesel engine and Aisin 6 speed, fully automatic, double-overdrive transmission.
The 215 hp powerplant provided more than enough power to push the truck at highway speeds and up some aggressive grades. The 452 foot-pounds of torque were impressive. Kennedy says the Aisin transmission used in Isuzu’s commercial lineup is actually capable of handling far more torque than the truck can provide, extending the life of the vehicle’s driveline.
Steering gets a major boost from early-generation Isuzus. It’s easy, comfortable and tight. Ambient cabin noise across the entire lineup has been reduced immensely. Doors and windows are sealed tight and there’s hardly more engine and road noise inside the three-person cab than you would find in a passenger vehicle.
