Isuzu Ute Australia has announced it’ll reveal local pricing and specs of the new D-Max ute on August 13. It’ll arrive in dealerships on September 1.
The company released a shadowy teaser but we don’t need Adobe Lightroom to reveal what it looks like. That’s because the new D-Max has already been on sale in its home market of Thailand since last October.
While that means we’re receiving the Isuzu almost a year late, the third-generation D-Max will still beat its new Mazda BT-50 platform-mate to showrooms.
Mazda has confirmed its third-generation ute will arrive here in the fourth quarter of this year.
As with the BT-50, the D-Max will use a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder that produces 140kW of power and 450Nm of torque, up 10kW and 20Nm over the current D-Max’s engine.
It’s mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
Thai D-Max models are also available with a 1.9-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder with 111kW of power and 350Nm of torque, though we don’t expect this option to come here.
The D-Max is slightly larger than before though Isuzu claims it’s no heavier. When comparing the current and upcoming dual-cab 4×2 models, the wheelbase has stretched 30mm to 3125mm and width has increased 10mm to 1870mm.
Upgraded electrical architecture means the D-Max will finally be available with safety and convenience features already found on some rivals. These include autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning.
While Mazda will fit these features as standard to the BT-50, Isuzu hasn’t confirmed it’ll follow suit. Autonomous emergency braking is standard across the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux ranges but blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert aren’t available on either at any trim level.
Mitsubishi offers these on the Triton but only in up-spec models.
The D-Max has leapt into the 21st century and will be available with proximity entry with push-button start, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, automatic headlights, and rain-sensing wipers.
Joy of joys: the steering wheel finally tilts and telescopes, too.
The touchscreen infotainment system has also swelled to 9.0 inches, the largest in its class, and includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It’s joined by a 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen with a digital speedometer.
Up-spec D-Max models in Thailand are available with bi-LED projector headlights, semi-autonomous parking assist, and an eight-way power driver’s seat.
Expect these to be available in Australia to help the D-Max at the pointy end of the segment where the Ford Ranger Wildtrak does so well.
Utes still need to haul, and the new D-Max has a 3500kg braked towing capacity. Its part-time four-wheel drive system also adds a rear locking differential.
We’ll have more information next month when Isuzu officially reveals the Aussie-spec ute.
