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Isuzu D-Max vs Volkswagen Transporter

What's the difference?

VS
Isuzu D-Max
Isuzu D-Max

$32,700 - $78,900

2025 price

Volkswagen Transporter
Volkswagen Transporter

$34,999 - $65,890

2021 price

Summary

2025 Isuzu D-Max
2021 Volkswagen Transporter
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Diesel Turbo 4, 3.0L

Diesel Turbo 4, 2.0L
Fuel Type
Diesel

Diesel
Fuel Efficiency
8.0L/100km (combined)

7.5L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

3
Dislikes
  • Too many decals
  • No power and torque increase
  • Could do with more mods

  • No ANCAP rating
  • Small kerbside mirror
  • Noise levels at highway speeds
2025 Isuzu D-Max Summary

Carmakers nowadays are increasingly entering into collaborations with vehicle-engineering companies in order to develop “special” vehicles.

Why? 

Well, for one thing, car buyers now demand much more than a mere sticker pack on their 4WD if that vehicle has been marketed as a limited-edition/special-edition/whatever version of the standard vehicle on which it’s based.

And these special vehicles have proven very popular because they benefit from the substantial engineering work undertaken away from the OEM.

You only have to look at the recent collaborations between Nissan Australia and Melbourne-based vehicle engineering company, Premcar, on the Navara and Patrol Warrior to see that Premcar and companies of the same ilk can be entrusted with conversion work, engineering upgrades and the fitment of off-road accessories in order to add real value to a vehicle.

And so it is that Isuzu has joined forces with Walkinshaw Automotive Group to develop the D-Max Blade.

Based on the LS-U+, the Blade was developed locally and among its enhancements over and above the D-Max on which it’s based, it has Aussie-tuned lifted suspension, a lightbar, underbody protection, light truck construction all-terrain tyres and some Blade-specific design enhancements.

But with the same powertrain as a LS-U+ and no power and torque improvements, is the Blade worthy of your consideration?

Read on.

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2021 Volkswagen Transporter Summary

The VW Transporter has been in production for more than 70 years, as its bloodline can be traced back to the original rear-engine split-window ‘Kombi’ launched in 1950. So, during those seven decades, the German manufacturer has no doubt learned a thing or ten about building light commercial vans.

The current T-series of Transporters was launched in 1990, which was the first of six generations culminating in the current T6 range, that comprises not only work-focused vans but also people-mover, campervan and cab-chassis variants.

VW recently released a 6.1 version of vans and people-movers. That decimal point brings significant upgrades of standard safety equipment, headlined by City Emergency Brake (CEB), plus new variants. We recently put a Transporter 6.1 to work for a week and discovered a very capable mid-sized (2.5 to 3.5-tonne GVM) van with few flaws.

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Deep dive comparison

2025 Isuzu D-Max 2021 Volkswagen Transporter

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