Van "Mosdesignmash 372433" on Isuzu NQR 71P chassis

A million kilometers for one and a half million rubles

Maxim Shelepenkov, photo by the author

Last summer

in a solemn ceremony in Ulyanovsk, the process of assembling Isuzu trucks in Russia was launched (“GP”, No. 8, 2006). On the one hand, this is a significant event - Isuzu trucks are very popular in the world and are present in the markets of many countries, but, looking at the Ulyanovsk-assembled vehicles, it is impossible not to notice that our Isuzus are noticeably different in configuration from Japanese, and even more so from European Isuzus.

As soon as the snow melted and the spring sun came out, we headed to the Dmitrovsky training ground, naturally, together with the Ulyanovsk Isuzu NQR 71P, to check what kind of car it was. I wanted to not just get to know it better, as many automotive publications have already done, but to approach its assessment thoroughly, armed with measuring equipment and test site experience.

Upon first inspection, the car was somewhat disappointing. The interior of the cabin is simple. The seats are covered with oilcloth, and the floor is covered with a thin sheet of linoleum. The rear wall and pillars of the Isuzu cabin generally shine with undisguised painted metal surfaces, the heating and ventilation control unit is installed with antediluvian slider sliders. You expect something more from a Japanese brand car, but here we had the feeling that we had already seen such a salon somewhere, more than once. The same contours of the dashboard, the same instrument cluster, even the tray between the seats is the same. Oh yes! The Chinese diligently copy Isuzu in their cars. So, we finally have a chance to check out the original.

Car design

...not impressive... since its cabin has been produced without changes for more than ten years, and it is difficult to call it modern. At the same time, the restyled “face” of Isuzu with new slanted headlights, introduced into production quite recently, gives the car some piquancy. By the way, Isuzu N series trucks (also known as Elf) are delivered to Europe with the same styling, however, their rear-view mirrors are installed in the European style - on the doors, while in our country they are installed in the Asian style - on the front end, on long brackets. And the bumpers of their cars are different, with built-in fog lights, and all cars are required to have underrun protection on the side. In addition, on our Isuzu the wheels are secured with wheel covers, while on European ones they have long been abandoned.

All these differences are not complex innovations that greatly increase the cost of the design, and, if desired, could well be applied in Russia. But, apparently, Isuzu marketers decided that for our “directions” a car with the cheapest and most indestructible configuration is more suitable. Perhaps they are right in some ways.

4-cylinder turbodiesel

Isuzu 4HG1T with direct fuel injection, installed on the Isuzu NQR 71P, is not equipped with an intercooler, has the highest reliability, and its service life, if properly handled, can reach 1,000,000 (million!) km. But most importantly, it is very simple in design, and anyone can handle its maintenance.

The transmission and chassis are clearly designed for harsh operating conditions, as they contain a large margin of safety. To do this, just look at the riveted frame with a side member height of up to 218 mm. But the guaranteed strength of Isuzu is in strict accordance with the passport data - the total weight of the vehicle should not exceed 8 tons. There is an opinion that Isuzu is not afraid of overload, and in Russia its total weight was somewhat underestimated. We don't think this is true. If you look at the car's springs at full load, you will notice that they are already beginning to bend, so you should not get carried away with overloading the Isuzu.

Application and operating features of NQR

The truck has found its application in urban deliveries and in industry. It is good for trips with a total length of no more than 150 km. The quality of work depends on the installed functional equipment on top of the chassis. In a technical sense, there are no serious problems with the car, there are simply no childhood diseases or common problems.

The advantages of operation are obvious:

• the machine is maneuverable, easy and convenient to operate;
• Around the city the truck is nimble, economical, and comfortable;
• the engine and gearbox do not break down, maintenance is simple;
• no need to spend a lot of money on maintenance;
• The car is prepared for road conditions in Russia.

The Japanese corporation adapted the car for Russian conditions. The front part of the cabin is protected from rust, the suspension is reinforced, and the fuel filter is heated. Such nuances indicate that the car will be able to serve in Russian conditions for a long time and without unpleasant surprises.

Get comfortable

When driving an Isuzu, the tilt and height adjustable steering column helps, but there is little hope for adjusting the driver's seat. The most you can count on is the longitudinal movement of the chair and the adjustment of the backrest angle. The gearshift lever is located between the seats, but somewhat further from the driver than we would like. The gears shift clearly, you get into the right one the first time, but the effort when shifting is too great. The shift pattern of the 5-speed gearbox is reminiscent of front-wheel drive Ladas, only the first gear here is clearly a “spare” gear - during testing we never had a need to engage it. Apparently, it is designed to accelerate a loaded car on incredible climbs or force some kind of dense off-road terrain.

Starting the engine immediately revealed a hole in the sound insulation. According to subjective sensations, at idle speed the engine in the “native” Isuzu is no quieter than in the Chinese counterparts, but unlike them, there is no vibration from the engine in the cabin of the Japanese truck. Looking ahead a little, I will say that noise is the only noticeable drawback of the car; the rest of the identified shortcomings can be easily tolerated.

By the way, when starting the engine after a cold stop, the car has the ability to manually adjust the idle speed. If the engine is unstable after starting, you can increase its speed directly from the cab, achieving stable operation. The main thing is to remember to return the engine speed to nominal before starting to drive.

The clutch reservoir is built into the instrument panel

The car that came to us

for testing, was equipped with an isothermal van "Auto Equipment Plant" (Obninsk), manufactured by order of "Mosdesignmash". It is made using frameless technology from monolithic multilayer sandwich panels, where extruded polystyrene foam is used as insulation. The insulation on the outer and inner sides is lined with high-strength plastic produced by Lamilux (Germany), which, in combination with anodized aluminum profiles, gives Mosdesignmash vans an almost flawless appearance.

There were no perishable goods at the NITSIAMT training ground, so we were not able to fully test the consumer qualities of the van, but we still made some assessments. We noted the good tightness of the body, as this is important not only for maintaining the selected temperature conditions, but also for preventing moisture, dust and gases from getting inside. We noticed the floor covering, which is smooth and rough at the same time. And the cart will pass, and the grip of the sole of the shoe with the floor is good enough to push this cart. The door hinges and locking mechanisms of the van, made of stainless steel, deserve good words.

Technical characteristics of the Mosdesignmash 372433 van on the Isuzu NQR 71P chassis

Engine characteristics NRQ71

The engine of the NQR71 model is a separate module for which the company’s engineers are worth praising. Four-stroke diesel engine. Volume 4570 cubic centimeters. Equipped with turbocharging. This power unit allows the driver to always have the traction and responsiveness of the car when pressing the gas pedal. With these parameters, the engine produces 123 horsepower and 322 Nm of torque! Such a high torque allows you to easily carry out any cargo transportation tasks that the future owner faces. And the buyer of this model is even more delighted by its versatility. There are a huge number of add-ons for this chassis that are capable of performing a wide variety of cargo transportation tasks.

• sides
• vans
• refrigerators
• cranes
• tow trucks
• tanks
• etc

Comfort and safety Isuzu NQR71

Now it is worth noting two important qualities: driver comfort and safety. The hydraulic braking system guarantees the safety of the driver and surrounding cars and pedestrians. It is worth noting that it is a standard option for this truck. The large area of ​​the headlights does an excellent job of illuminating the road for the driver. This saves energy and leads to less fatigue of the eyes and the body as a whole. It is very important that good illumination of the road with Isuzu NQR71 headlights greatly reduces the driver’s stress in the dark and even after a long road allows for comfortable driving. The seats for the driver and passenger are also designed by engineers for long periods of time behind the wheel of the driver and his companion. The main goal of the engineers was to reduce driver fatigue under conditions of intense work and operation of the truck. Thanks to these developments, the driver and passenger, even after a long journey, will not feel fatigue, pain in the back, lower back and cervical region. The engineers also did not forget about the personal belongings of the driver and passenger and made many special sections for storing them. The main concept of the engineers was “so that everything is at hand and at the same time does not interfere with the driver.”

You can contact our managers for advice

Why choose Isuzu NQR71 for cargo transportation?

Economical fuel consumption indicators, vehicle technical characteristics, power, maneuverability. It is also worth noting the extensive service network and availability of spare parts. All this ensures uninterrupted operation of the car, and in case of breakdown, quick repair

Below we present the technical characteristics of Isuzu NQR71P and NQR71R trucks. Their configurations and bases

Do you need spare parts for Isuzu NQR71? The TFK-MOTORS team will be happy to help you!

NQR71P body and engine specifications

Dimensions and weight of NQR71P

• Length x Width x Height (mm) - 6610 x 2115 x 2250
• Base (mm) 3815
• Front/rear wheel track (mm) 1665/1650
• Permissible gross weight (kg) 8000
• Load capacity (kg) 5500

Engine

• Model 4HG1-T (Euro-2)
• Engine capacity (cm³) 4570
• Fuel type Diesel
• Power (kW/rpm) 88/2850
• Torque 328 Nm/1850 rev. per minute

Chassis

• Rear tires Dual
• Transmission 5-speed manual gearbox:
• Brakes Hydraulic
• Fuel tank capacity (l) 100
• Number of seats (pcs) 3
• Possibility of installing PTO is available
• Permissible axle loads (kg) Front axle – 3100, Rear axle – 6600

Model NQR71R , it is worth noting that it has an extended base of 360 mm and a body length of 7320 mm. This is its only difference from the NQR71P model

You can find all the necessary spare parts for Isuzu NQR71 in our online store

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The attitude towards the car has changed,

as soon as we drove it a few kilometers. The steering turned out to be very light and predictable. During maneuvers, the steering wheel rotates with literally one finger, and at maximum speed it was necessary to correct the direction of the car only with subtle movements of the hands. The acceleration dynamics of Isuzu, especially at the initial stage, are quite satisfactory if you spin the engine up to 2800–3000 rpm. After 60–70 km/h, the car becomes less playful, even if you continue to increase the engine speed to 4000. The engine power is no longer enough, and overtaking in top gear on the Isuzu turns out to be sluggish and strained. And even before overtaking, you begin to think about whether to overtake with a loaded car or not? Moreover, in top gear, long climbs are difficult - the banal lack of power reserve in the engine affects it.

If you don’t squeeze all the juice out of the car, but move along the highway in a calm mode, at an average speed of 70–80 km/h, then you begin to experience some pleasure from driving this truck. And in the city, this car is generally unrivaled - excellent visibility, minimal turning radii and ease of controls.

True, he had one peculiarity - he refused to coast. As soon as you take your foot off the gas pedal, the “Japanese” immediately begins to lose speed (see the “coasting path” column in the test table). This effect is also observed when driving downhill - the car practically does not pick up speed when freely rolling down. And this is not a malfunction of the brake system. We checked. This is a feature of the car itself, and, it seems to us, is largely due to the installed Bridgestone tires with high rolling resistance. The piquancy was also in the fact that Isuzu is standardly equipped with an engine brake, which is supposed to slow down the car downhill, but there is simply no need for this system; the car copes well with its own deceleration without it.

But the Isuzu service brake system with standard ABS works very well, even despite the drum brakes on all wheels. What was especially pleasing was that the car’s braking efficiency increased in strict accordance with the force of pressing the brake pedal. It seems that this is how it should be, but for some reason this dependence is not observed on Chinese copies of Isuzu.

Upon closer acquaintance

The Isuzu NQR 71P does not impress with its modern design or outstanding dynamic qualities. This is an ordinary Asian truck, more reliable and more convenient than domestic counterparts, not very difficult and capricious to maintain, like some Europeans. Overall it is no better or worse than other trucks. And it may well be in demand in Russia, since its high initial price is quite comparable to the promised resource. Moreover, Isuzu can be used not only as a truck, but also as a bus chassis. You don’t have to look far for an example: in Ukraine, where they have long been accustomed to this brand, in addition to trucks, popular Bogdan buses are built on this chassis. We should expect approximately the same development of events in our country, but at the same time we would like the standard equipment of the Russian Isuzu NQR 71P not to be as poor as it is now.

Test vehicle provided

Test results of van model 372433 on Isuzu NQR 71P chassis for fuel efficiency and speed properties

*IGD – test cycle for simulating urban traffic.
**Up to 80 km/h. Atmospheric conditions during testing

Main characteristics and features of the NQR line

The truck can be equipped with different types of manufactured goods vans, thermal booths, refrigerators, equipment for car evacuation, and a manipulator. Most often there are traditional trucks on this type of chassis. Despite the fact that official dealers have stopped selling cars, there is still a full catalog of spare parts on the market, since the durability of this vehicle is unprecedented.

The important characteristics of the machine are as follows:

• series number 71 has an HG engine with a volume of 4.6 liters, an unpretentious diesel engine with Euro-2 standard;
• option 75 offers a 5.2-liter HK diesel unit with an increased Euro-3 environmental standard;
• a total payload capacity of 5,500 kg makes the vehicle stand out among its main rivals;
• the wheel formula is simple - 4×2, so the cross-country ability of the car is suitable for urban and suburban transportation;
• the model has a simple 5-speed manual transmission without breakdowns or problems;
• The 100-liter fuel tank ensures an optimal range, consumption depends on the type of superstructure on the chassis.

Isuzu produced hundreds of thousands of pure chassis, almost all of them produced in Japan. Additional equipment was often manufactured in Russia. The car is equipped with a cabin with three seats, compact dimensions and an excellent turning circle for its size. The maximum speed is limited to 100 km/h, which is a reasonable limit given the weight and carrying capacity of the car.

Modifications

Since the Isuzu NQR 71P is produced in Ulyanovsk only in the form of a “bare chassis,” the manufacture and installation of various bodies on them was outsourced to third-party companies.
Already today, Isuzu is equipped with bodies of various purposes, from tow trucks to eutectics - a thermally insulated van with cold storage batteries. In addition, Chaika&Service, for example, offers roof-mounted “sleeping bags” or side platforms with a crane. Installing a power steering gearbox requires a working hydraulic system on the machine, and the factory produces Isuzu chassis with power steering gearboxes specifically for this purpose. Platforms for evacuation of passenger cars or high-altitude hydraulic lifts are also installed on it. In addition to the Isuzu NQR 71P, the Ulyanovsk plant has already put into production the lighter Isuzu NKR 55E chassis with a load capacity of 2 tons, and by the end of the year they promise to produce vehicles with a chassis load capacity of up to 7 tons.

Dimensions of isuzu NQR71

• Body length - 6610 mm
• Body height - 2115 mm
• Body width - 2250 mm

Such compact dimensions give the Isuzu NQR71 model increased maneuverability, and this is one of the main factors when purchasing a truck, since the most important factor is taken into account - use in heavy city traffic and in areas with problem parking. Also, compact dimensions allow you to quickly carry out unloading and loading operations in warehouses and bases, and other industrial areas where sometimes there are many obstacles in the form of various structures or other vehicles performing unloading and loading.

Spare parts for Isuzu NQR71 in our online store