A new homegrown hero for the popular Isuzu D-Max ute range has been unveiled, bringing a host of off-road extras developed by Australian engineering powerhouse, the Walkinshaw Automotive Group.
On sale from today, November 1, the 2025 Isuzu D-Max Blade will be Isuzu Ute Australia’s first direct rival for the Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior and Toyota HiLux Rogue.
UPDATE, 1/11/2024 – Our review of the Isuzu D-Max Blade is now live.
At $76,990 drive-away, it commands a circa-$6000 price premium over the high-spec LS-U+ on which it’s based, and a $9000 surcharge over the former D-Max flagship, the X-Terrain.
The D-Max Blade is an Australian-born dual-cab 4×4 ute created just for this market, with no involvement from the brand’s Japanese head office beyond its approval to develop, build the sell the new model.
100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
Like the Navara Warrior, the intention with the Blade was to locally produce a new variant of the D-Max (Australia’s third most popular ute last year year behind only the HiLux and Ford Ranger) that was much more capable off-road, via a series of chassis and cosmetic upgrades – without compromising on any of the dual-cab 4×4 ute’s core attributes and while maintaining its factory warranty.
As such, it continues to offer a 3.5-tonne towing capacity and a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 3100kg, and while payload increases by 94kg to 896kg, wading depth remains 800mm.
Under the bonnet is also the same 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine as seen in most D-Max variants including the LS-U+, meaning the same outputs of 140kW of power and 450Nm of torque.
Instead, the changes focus on suspension and wheels/tyres, including Walkinshaw-developed bespoke twin-tube dampers all round and new coil springs up front, intended to provide a ride height lift while also improving the D-Max’s on-road dynamics.
Combined with new 17-inch alloy wheels fitted with Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac RT all-terrain tyres, which also increase the ute’s track width, IUA says there’s a 22.5mm front-end lift and a 25mm rear-end lift, despite the apparent lack of any rear leaf spring modifications.
However, while that’s about the same height increase as the HiLux Rogue, it’s less than the all-coil Warrior’s 40mm lift, and according to IUA specifications ground clearance is up by just 4mm to 244mm.
Protection in the form of a red bash plate and black tubular side steps has also been added, while a new one-piece black rear sports bar is fitted in the tray.
Walkinshaw has also made some cosmetic tweaks, namely in the form of a more aggressive new black-themed front bumper and grille, plus black Blade-specific decals, and large Blade lettering on the tailgate. At the side, black fender flares have been added and the wing mirrors and door handles have been blacked out too.
The off-road extras continue with a light bar integrated into the grille, while the Blade carries over standard LS-U+ features like Rough Terrain Mode and a locking rear differential.
Inside, the head restraints now feature embroidered Blade logos, which also appears on the floor mats and door scuff plates.
Blade vehicles are also fitted with plaques designating their specific build number, located behind the gear shifter and in the engine bay.
Pricing
The Isuzu D-Max Blade arrives at the top of the recently facelifted D-Max range, positioned above the previously top-spec X-Terrain variant, but is based on the D-Max LS-U+, which sits one rung below the X-Terrain.
The LS-U+ is priced at $65,500 before on-road costs, while the X-Terrain is priced at $70,500 plus on-road costs, or $67,990 drive-away nationally.
At $76,990 drive-way, the Blade is priced about $6000 higher than its LS-U+ donor ute (which costs $65,500 plus on-roads, or 70,990 drive-away in Sydney; there is no national drive-away pricing for the LS-U+), and $9000 more than X-Terrain.
The Blade is also at least $3500 pricier than the Premcar-developed Warrior, which opens at $68,765 plus on-roads for the manual (or $71,490 drive-away in Sydney), and costs $71,265 plus on-roads in automatic form ($73,490 drive-away in Sydney).
However, the Blade’s circa-$77k drive-away price does make it about $500 cheaper than the similarly auto-only Rogue ($71,530 plus on-roads; $77,499 drive-away in Sydney), and a whole lot more affordable than the next-level Ford Ranger Raptor ($90,440 plus on-roads).
| Model | Drive-away price |
|---|---|
| Isuzu D-Max Blade 3.0L auto | $76,990 D/A |
Drivetrains and Efficiency
The 2025 Isuzu D-Max Blade is powered by the same engine as the LS-U+, a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder unit matched as standard to a six-speed automatic transmission.
| Specifications | Isuzu D-Max Blade |
|---|---|
| Engine type | 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder |
| Transmission | Six-speed automatic |
| Drive type | Part-time 4WD with low range |
| Power | 140kW |
| Torque | 450Nm |
| Kerb mass | 2204kg (+94kg) |
| Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) | 3100kg |
| Payload | 896kg (-94kg) |
| Fuel tank capacity | 76L |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | N/A |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
| Towing capacity | 750kg (unbraked) 3500kg (braked) |
Drive is sent to either the rear wheels only or through a part-time four-wheel drive system with a two-speed transfer case. The latter offers switchable 2H, 4H and 4L options, plus a standard locking rear differential.
As per the LS-U+, it also features Rough Terrain Mode, which can be operated in tandem with the rear diff lock.
Though there is no official fuel economy figure for the Blade, other dual-cab 4×4 D-Max variants with the 3.0-litre engine are claimed to use between 7.7 and 8.0L/100km.
Dimensions
The D-Max Blade is considerably larger than the LS-U+, thanks in part to the wider track width and new fender flares, and also offers slightly better approach, departure and rampover angles.
| Dimensions | Isuzu D-Max Blade |
|---|---|
| Length | 5308mm (+28mm) |
| Width (excluding mirrors) | 1910mm (+40mm) |
| Height | 1810mm |
| Wheelbase | 3125mm |
| Track width | 1602mm (+32mm) |
| Ground clearance | 244mm (+4mm) |
| Approach angle | 29.2° (+1.3°) |
| Breakover angle | 25.2° (+1.4°) |
| Departure angle | 19.2° (+0.2°) |
| Wading depth | 800mm |
Servicing and Warranty
The 2025 Isuzu D-Max Blade is covered by IUA’s standard six-year, 150,000km warranty. When you service on schedule at an Isuzu dealer, up to seven years of roadside assistance is included.
Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first, apart from a complimentary three-month service.
Isuzu D-Max service pricing:
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| 3 months/3000km | Free |
| 12 months/15,000km | $449 |
| 24 months/30,000km | $449 |
| 36 months/45,000km | $449 |
| 48 months/60,000km | $449 |
| 60 months/75,000km | $449 |
Safety
While the Blade specifically has not been tested by ANCAP, the latest Isuzu D-Max was tested when it was launched in 2020 and earned a maximum five-star rating.
That rating was based on an adult occupant protection score of 86 per cent, a child occupant protection score of 89 per cent, a vulnerable road user protection score of 69 per cent and a safety assist score of 81 per cent.
The D-Max Blade comes standard with the following safety features:
- Eight airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Driver attention monitoring
- Forward collision warning
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Rear cross-traffic assist
- Turn assist
- Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
- Traffic sign recognition
- Driver attention assist
- Reversing camera
- Rear parking sensors
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Wrong-pedal acceleration warning
Standard Equipment
The Isuzu D-Max Blade features a range of chassis and cosmetic tweaks over the LS-U+ on which it’s based, but lacks some equipment found in the previously range-topping X-Terrain.
Blade 
Standard features on the D-Max Blade include:
- 17-inch black alloy wheels with Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac RT all-terrain tyres
- 29mm suspension lift with Walkinshaw-developed twin-tube dampers
- 3mm thick red bash plate
- 8-tonne load rated recovery points with cross-bracing
- Fender flares with integrated air curtains
- Black front grille with integrated tinted lens light bar
- Black front bumper cladding
- Black tailgate badging, decals, and tubular sidesteps
- Black one-piece extended sports bar with integrated brake light
- Black tailgate handle, door handles, and side mirrors
- ‘Blade’ logos on headrests, floor mats, and scuff plates
- Individually numbered Blade identification plates
That’s on top of the standard equipment offered from the LS-U up, which is as follows:
D-Max LS-U features:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Bridgestone 684II HT tyres
- Silky Silver and Dark Grey metallic grille
- Tow bar receiver
- Tub liner (Ute models)
- Silver side steps
- Chrome door handles, tailgate handle
- Electric folding and heated side mirrors
- LED rear combination tail lights
- 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Six-speaker sound system (Space Cab models)
- Satellite navigation
- Eight-speaker sound system
- Three USB-C ports (Two in Space Cab)
- Proximity entry and push-button start
- Walk-away door lock
- Welcome light
- Dual-zone climate control
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Leather-trimmed steering wheel
- Satin chrome steering wheel spoke trims
- Leather-trimmed gear selector
- Piano black, silver and chrome interior trim accents
- Soft-touch door trims and centre console armrest
- Carpet flooring
- Driver’s seat power lumbar support
- Tyre pressure monitoring
LS-U+ 
D-Max LS-U+ adds:
- Heated front seats
- Leather-accented upholstery
- Leather-accented door trims
- Eight-way power driver’s seat
- Four-way power front passenger’s seat
In contrast to the Blade, the D-Max X-Terrain adds:
- 18-inch matte grey alloy wheels
- Dark Grey and Black Chrome grille
- ‘X’ badging on tailgate
- Matte black roller tonneau cover
- Dark grey metallic aero sports bar
- Dark grey metallic sidesteps, mirrors, door handles, tailgate handle, roof rails, front and rear underbody spoilers and fender flares
- Material black grille surround
- Leather-accented upholstery with red stitching
- Red stitching accents
- Remote engine start
- Front parking sensors
Colours
The Isuzu D-Max Blade is available in four exterior paint colours at no extra cost.
Standard colours include:
- Moonstone White Pearl
- Basalt Black Mica
- Granite Grey Mica
- Sunstone Orange Mica
Interested in buying an Isuzu D-Max? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.
MORE: Everything Isuzu D-Max
