Isuzu FTR Reviews

The numbers for October 2026 are in, and electric vehicles have officially outsold utes, marking a change in climate for the Australian new car market. A total of 24,845 electric vehicles were sold in October, eclipsing the total ute segment, which accounted for 19,431 units across 4x2, 4x4 and those costing in excess of $100,000. Of those 19,431 utes sold, 327 of them were also fully electric, up 330 per cent from the prior year. There were 6040 electric cars and 19,478 electric SUVs sold in the same period. Electric is now the leading fuel type for cars, and the second best selling fuel type for SUVs after petrol. Electric vehicles are the second best selling fuel type in October, even eclipsing petrol and hybrids for the month, landing within 1000 units of diesel. Year-to-date the Australian market has eclipsed 1 million units, with nearly 1/3rd of them still being petrol (293,298 units) and over a quarter being diesel (258,361 units). Electric vehicles so far account for 205,436 sales, but the fuel type has grown over 175 per cent for the year, where diesel has fallen 16.3 per cent and petrol has fallen 27.6 per cent. The biggest winners in October for electric cars are the Tesla Model Y (3105 units), BYD Sealion 7 (2524 units), Geely EX5 (1789 units) and Zeekr’s 7X (1441 units). Other popular options in the market include the Geely EX2 hatchback (1350 units), Jaecoo J5 EV (1117 units) and Tesla’s Model 3 (945 units). Meanwhile the ute segment is in the midst of a downturn after years of record popularity. Winners for October include the HiLux (5954 units), Ford Ranger (4841 units), BYD Shark 6 (1843 units), Isuzu D-Max (1599 units) and Mitsubishi Triton (1056 units). In total (including 4x4 and 4x2 models) the segment is down 11.42 per cent to 176,240 units from nearly 200,000 units this time last year. The numbers make sense. Diesel has been hit particularly hard by the impact of the war in Iran, which has caused a 94 cent price rise per litre from this time last year. The average price per litre for diesel in Australia is now $2.63, a 55.6 per cent increase on the year prior. This is due to inelastic demand for the fuel type, with private and small business utes competing with the wider commercial sector for the fuel. Meanwhile petrol is currently averaging $2.35 per litre, a more modest 72 cent increase from this time last year. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, this means Australians, on average, are paying $546 more per year for fuel than they were in 2025. Combine this with the government’s current FBT exemption program and New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) forcing an influx of pure electric options to the market, and it’s a potent cocktail for automakers with competitive electric car line-ups. This has benefitted Tesla and newer Chinese brands, which largely have managed to meet the market with hybrid and fully electric vehicles that are at or near price parity with their combustion counterparts from so-called ‘legacy’ brands. A prime example is BYD’s fully electric Atto 1 city car becoming Australia’s most affordable new car earlier this year. For the ute segment specifically, BYD’s PHEV-only Shark 6 and GWM’s Cannon and Cannon Alpha which offer PHEV variants have received significant buyer attention, up 1.6 and 9.2 per cent respectively in a market which has otherwise significantly shrunk.

Many Aussie have bought their first ever EV in 2026 and it’s changed the new car market forever. The Iran war's impact on fuel prices is often put forward as a key reason why more people than ever are making the electric car switch, but that's not the full story. Ed Harvey, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Australasian home EV charger manufacturer Evnex, told CarsGuide it was fuel security that started to sway buyers. “It flipped the argument,” Harvey said. “The fuel prices have not just really strengthened the cost-saving argument, but also I think it's the first time that people really started talking about energy security or transport security.” Range anxiety has put many buyers off EVs.  It combines a fear of running out of charge with having nowhere to charge it. Harvey said the fuel crisis brought about by the Iran war and the closing of the integral Strait of Hormuz in March 2026 started to change buyer perception. Buyers can now save as much as $3600 a year in just fuel costs by making the EV switch, according to Evnex's research, but Harvey said fuel security also started to cause anxiety with panic fuel buying leading to localised shortages. The federal government relaxed fuel standards and released reserves, while launching a $20 million “Every little bit helps” fuel conservation advertising campaign. Harvey said it was fuel availability not fuel prices that "flipped the script" for many buyers. Drivers worried about where they could fill up as opposed to where they could charge up, for the first time. “I think that really changed how people thought about energy security and our reliance on imported fossil fuels,” Harvey said. “I knew some people with petrol or diesel vehicles that were asking friends to borrow electric vehicles for the holiday period because they were nervous they might not be able to get where they needed to go.” BYD Australia’s Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins told CarsGuide higher fuel prices and fuel shortages contributed to exponential EV uptake earlier in 2026. Collins described the early stages of the fuel crisis period as a “pivotal point” and an “unprecedented time”. “That March, early April period - I think it was genuinely only a four-week period where we saw a big spike in orders,” Collins said. “I think there were a lot of people that were on the cusp of buying an EV and that tipped a lot of people into ‘I’ll just make the decision now’. “It was a pretty tumultuous time, so I think there’s some truth to that.” The Electric Vehicle Council’s (EVC) 2026 ‘State of EVs’ report found buyers purchased one EV every 100 seconds in the first half of 2026. Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales contributed to more than a quarter of all new car sales in the first half of the year, compared to roughly one in every 10 in the first half of 2025. Where there are competitive EV choices, buyers are making the switch, such as the mid-size SUV segment. The BYD Sealion 7, Geely EX5 and Tesla Model Y have consistently featured among the best-selling cars in Australia in 2026, and have experienced unprecedented growth. There hasn’t been the same growth in some other large segments of the market, and this is because competitive EV choices are still emerging, according to Electric Vehicle Council Chair and Origin Energy E-mobility GM Chau Le. “In each of these segments, EVs are becoming competitive, but we're not quite there yet in some of the segments,” Le told CarsGuide. “We're still a bit out, but with more EV models coming in and improvement in battery technology, it's only a matter of time until we're competitive across all segments.” There are no electrified utes that reach the balance of affordability, capability and driveability that their diesel counterparts have yet. Diesel-powered utes like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux continue to be a significant component of the new car market. Once competitive electric ute choices emerge, the ute segment will likely follow a similar transformation to the rest of the new car market. New car buyers' priorities have shifted permanently, and there's nothing fuel prices or supplies can do to change it.

Isuzu has revealed a new bi-turbo-diesel engine in Thailand that features in both the D-Max ute and MU-X SUV. This 2.2-litre four-cylinder bi-turbo-diesel engine produces 150kW and 500Nm which is 10kW and 50Nm more than the current 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel that’s available in Australia. It also produces 30kW and 100Nm more than the standard single-turbo 2.2-litre diesel engine that’s also offered in Australia and replaced the 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel in 2025. Isuzu claims this 2.2-litre bi-turbo-diesel engine is five per cent faster in the 0-100km/h sprint and eight per cent more fuel efficient than the 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel under highway conditions. At this stage Isuzu Ute Australia has said this new 2.2-litre bi-turbo-diesel engine isn’t for Australia, but this may change in the future. “The newly announced 2.2L Bi-Turbo engine is currently specific to the Thai market,” said an Isuzu Ute Australia spokesperson. “Isuzu Ute Australia continually considers future product opportunities based on local customer needs, market conditions and regulatory requirements; however, we have no announcements to make regarding this powertrain for Australia at this time.” Isuzu only introduced the single-turbo version of the 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel in 2025, but this new bi-turbo version may replace the ageing 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel and it’s not only more powerful, but claimed to be more fuel efficient. Last year, Isuzu Ute Australia received credits with the Australian Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), however it’s unclear whether it’ll do the same in 2026. Isuzu currently only sells diesel-powered vehicles in Australia with no electrification whatsoever. The company recently shelved plans to introduce the D-Max EV and has not announced any intentions to bring the mild-hybrid engine options available in other markets. In 2026 the CO2 emissions target for Type 2 vehicles, which includes both the D-Max and MU-X, under the NVES is 180g/km. This is set to reduce to 150g/km in 2027. The D-Max 3.0-litre is claimed to emit 204g/km, whereas the 2.2-litre single-turbo is claimed to emit 188g/km, both according to combined cycle testing. These are both above the 2026 threshold and will attract fines of $1200 and $192, respectively, for each vehicle imported. The brand has previously said it's looking to trade NVES credits with other manufacturers and attempt to share the extra cost between dealers, without increasing the asking price of its diesel-powered D-Max and MU-X.

A fix for a huge electric car problem is in the works. The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) has announced a $1.43 million investment into a national EV charging roadmap.  The EVC said in its 2026 State of EVs report that Australia still needs "substantial public charging investment”.  It called for better data on demand use, reliability and coverage, with Australia’s charging infrastructure conundrum more complex than merely installing more fast chargers.  The roadmap is expected to be finalised in mid-2027.  The $1.43 million is made up of funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) ($1.06 million) as well as contributions from the EVC and other project partners.  The roadmap will look at charging demand, pressure points and where greater coordination could inform investment decisions through to 2035. It aims to introduce a coordinated charging network for passenger cars and heavy vehicles in metropolitan and regional Australia.  “Other major EV markets have recognised the value of coordinated national planning,” EVC Chief Executive officer Julie Delvecchio said.  “This Roadmap will bring that to Australia, shaped around our distances, our electricity system and the needs of everything from passenger cars to heavy trucks.” Owning a petrol or diesel car is becoming more expensive in Australia, and buyers are making the switch to EV power.  The Tesla Model Y has consistently featured in the top five best-selling cars, and in June 2026, it achieved a recording-breaking 8072 sales.  The BYD Sealion 7 has also recorded a serious increase in sales as it provides tough competition for the Model Y, while Geely’s EX5 has had a bumper 2026.  The federal government is targeting 5 million electric cars on Aussie roads by 2035, which would require the total number of EVs on the road to increase tenfold. Electric cars are now among the cheapest on offer in Australia.  The BYD Atto 1 starts from $19,990, drive-away (until December 15, 2026), while the Geely EX2 is available from $26,490, before on-road costs.  The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) is helping to increase EV choices for buyers, with high-emission cars incurring hefty fines under the scheme. 

Isuzu says it will look to trade emissions credits with other manufacturers and attempt to share the extra cost between dealers, its local head office and its international HQ to keep selling the diesel D-Max and MU-X in Australia without jacking up prices. The brand is in a tough spot when it comes to the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) in Australia, with two models sharing diesel engines, and no form of electrification either here or coming in the immediate future. But it also says the segments it competes in – namely the ute and off-road SUV spaces – aren’t embracing electrification, even if it had powertrains to offer. That leaves it with little option but to buy credits from other lower-emitting manufacturers. Part of the government’s NVES policy is that manufacturers who exceed their fleet emission target end in credit, while those who miss theirs end with a deficit, but brands can trade to balance their ledgers. “The strategy is that we’ll do everything we can to make the impact as low as possible on the end user,”  says  Rod Caldwell, Executive General Manager - MD Office and Internal Audit Office. “If that means we need to buy credits, we're not saying that we won't do that. "If that means that it protects the consumer from any excessive price increases or whatever, but it gives them the lowest impact, then that's what we'll do. Some brands say they won't, we're saying that's an option we will seriously consider.” Caldwell says the brand would attempt to share any cost increases across the vehicle suppliers, rather than pass them onto the customer, though he concedes that might not be entirely possible. “We're trying to trim expenses at the same time, and we've got a number of parties involved in our process,” he says. “We've got the manufacturer, we've got our owner, we've got us. So we’ve all got a job to do to make sure that the customer doesn't have to wear the brunt of it.  “We want to minimise the impact. We will have to absorb some, the factory will have to absorb some. At the end of the day, the factory is the one responsible for the penalty, not us, but we've got to come to an arrangement on how we share this burden. “It's not going to be long term. We are going to have new technology in the future, for sure.”

Isuzu’s 3.0-litre D-Max has a strong following but versions with the newer 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine are marketed as better on fuel. However, there’s a substantial trade-off in terms of power and torque against the 3.0-litre (120kW and 400Nm versus 140kW and 450Nm). So, how does the mid-spec 2.2-litre X-Rider perform as a daily driver and, more importantly, off-roader?

Isuzu says that for many of its customers, swapping to a newcomer Chinese brand would be a "pretty big leap of faith", as it cites its dealer network, part supply and workhorse reputation as reasons its customers will stay loyal. That's the word from the brand's local Executive General Manager - MD Office and Internal Audit Office Rod Caldwell who says that, in the face of ever-growing competition, Isuzu needs to focus on the things customers "can rely on". "We look at our after-sales. We look at our parts supply. Our accessories supply. We look at all those things that people can rely on," he says. "(Customers) need to understand that these cars are not going to just break down in the middle of the beach. They're not going to stall halfway up a hill. That is more important. "I think it's a pretty big leap of faith to go to a newcomer. They have to be established." Isuzu says it is currently laser-focused on strengthening the relationship with its retail and fleet customers, given the increasing competition in the ute space, and the fact it's a two-model diesel company that doesn't offer electrification. The battle, it says, is staying relevant. "It's our job to drive some noise to our brand. We do need that. We do need to drive them forward to our dealers. They need some more retail. So we're looking at everything we can to keep relevant," he says.  Step one will be the launch of a new and more family-focused MU-X targeting "weekend warriors". "We will bring out, when we refresh the new model year, we'll actually have a new variant for the MU-X, which is retail-focused," he says. "It's certainly not a fleet vehicle. So more designed for someone who's looking for a car for the family. Maybe more of a weekend warrior-type person who wants something that looks a bit, you know, a bit different to the ones that we see today, which are more sporty-looking or whatever."

If you’re an EV buyer in 2026, you need to know about this.  The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) has revealed the state of play for electric and plug-in hybrid cars in Australia in 2026.  This is the 10th year of the ‘State of EVs’ report as more buyers bought EVs than ever before Down Under.  The report analysed the 2025-26 financial year, and how buyer trends and infrastructure, among other things, have changed in that time.  It called for several policy reforms, including targeted equity-based policy to assist economically-disadvantaged Aussies reap the benefits of EV driving. Australia’s charging landscape is diverse, it is also complex and fragmented and needs major investment, according to the report.  In June 2026, there were 4268 public charging locations, which is 235 per cent more than June 2025 There were 11,602 public charge points in June 2026, up 175 per cent compared to June 2025 The EVC said there needs to be more research into how owners charge EVs and where they need them most.  “Australia still needs substantial public charging investment, but the task is not as simple as just installing more fast chargers,” the report reads.   “Most charging happens where vehicles already park—at homes, apartment buildings, workplaces, destinations, kerbsides and depots.” The report calls for a nationally-coordinated charging roadmap and scaled infrastructure deployment. This news comes after NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury told CarsGuide in December 2025 Australia’s charging infrastructure was lagging behind.  “We’re nowhere near. We’ve got nowhere near enough public charging,” NRMA spokesperson Khoury said.  “There are lots of areas that don’t have energy that comes from outside the energy grid so you’ve got to create energy sources at those locations.” The EVC is calling for the government to implement a range of new rules in Australia.  It wants a targeted equity-based policy to help all Australians use EVs and take advantage of the cost savings with EV adoption. The report states that EVs have lower running costs than petrol- and diesel-powered cars, with less maintenance, seeing a typical driver saving roughly $3000 per year.  The EVC said this figure did not include the substantial increases to fuel prices in 2026, with savings calculated today even higher.  It said the federal government needs to implement an updated New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) for cars sold beyond 2029 to align with 2035 emissions reduction targets.  NVES is a set of emissions rules that imposes fines on cars sold that emit high levels of CO2 into the atmosphere.  Developing a car takes a brand several years to complete, meaning carmakers need to know the rules these models will need to follow. It also said there should be a national road-user charge that does not deter EV uptake. This would differ from the current system proposed by the New South Wales government from 2027 that the EVC said would slow EV sales. The New South Wales government wants a road user charge to make up for lost fuel excise revenue and ensure all road users contribute to maintenance.  The EVC found a fully-electric or PHEV car was bought every 100 seconds on average in the first half of 2026, with one in four new car sales using an electric powertrain. The report reads cost-of-living pressures, soaring fuel prices and greater EV choice has contributed to a sharp increase in electric car uptake in 2026.  Fully-electric and PHEV sales accounted for 25.8 per cent of new car sales up to June 2026, increasing from 12.1 per cent up to June 2025 There are 196 combined full EV and PHEV models on sale, compared to 153 models in 2025 There were 157,957 electric and PHEV sales in H1 2026, up 177 per cent from H1 2025 Australia’s EV uptake is now in line with the global average, according to the International Energy Agency “So, at a time when fuel prices are fluctuating and cost-of-living continues to bite, it’s no surprise that EVs have become a popular choice,” the report states.  “As of June 2026, drivers have never had a greater choice of EVs in Australia.” Australia recently got its new cheapest electric car in the BYD Atto 1 that is being offered from $19,990 (drive-away) until December, 15 2026.

Isuzu will buck the electrification trend in Australia, abandoning any plan to launch the all-electric Isuzu D-Max EV in Australia, saying its customers and dealers don't want it. Despite the potential positive impact an electric ute would have on the brand's fleet emissions in the NVES era, the brand says it couldn't sell anywhere near enough examples of the EV to make an impact. "Isuzu has decided not to export that vehicle to Australia. We are very interested in the future of electrification, but we don't believe that our customers want a full BEV right now," says Rod Caldwell, Isuzu Australia's Executive General Manager -MD Office and Internal Audit Office. "Our customers are not screaming for it. Our dealers are not screaming for it. So we don't want to shove it down their throat just for NVES. "The market is not saying that they want a battery electric vehicle ute. If we sell 10 a month, it's not going to make much of a difference." Isuzu is quick to point out it remains interested in electrification, including the potential for a full BEV, but the D-Max EV is not the model to pin its electric hopes on in Australia. At least, not yet. One of the few true workhorse EVs to be released to date, the D-Max EV rides on a ladder frame chassis, delivers a one-tonne payload and 3.5-tonne towing, and offers 4WD through its dual electric motors. Those motors produce 130kW and 325Nm, while its 66.9kWh battery promises a driving range of 262km – though presumably much less when towing or carrying a load. The real sticking point, though, would be the price. The D-Max EVs pricing overseas suggests a sticker price in the region of $100k would be required in Australia. "We just don't want to feel like we're doing something for the sake of doing something," Caldwell says. "Our customers and our dealers, side by side, they're our number one. That's what we focus on. And when we look at the light commercial vehicle segment, it's still 84 per cent diesel. It's not being impacted by electrification like the mid-size SUV segment." Instead, the brand is hoping to leapfrog the D-Max EV with newer technology, though it doesn't yet have a clear idea of what that is or when it might become available. The brand has an electrification research and development centre, Earth Lab, where the technology that will feature in the next D-Max is being developed. It investigates everything from plug-in hybrid technology to BEVs and fuel cell electric vehicles. "Earth Lab was built in Japan by Isuzu, in-house, completely designed around developing the best next technology. We don't know if that's a diesel hybrid or a petrol hybrid," Caldwell says. "Earth Lab is exploring everything."

Aussie car buyers can’t get enough of the Tesla Model Y right now. Tesla’s mid-size SUV topped the sales charts for August 2026, fending off three Toyota models in the latest set of data.  Total car sales held relatively steady in August, with plenty of the usual players occupying the top spots.  Electric cars are also making an impact Down Under. Four electric-only models made featured in the top 10 last month. The Tesla Model Y surged to the top of the monthly standings once again, with 6414 sales as its new three-row Model Y L experienced sustained popularity. Combining sales of its Model 3 sedan, Tesla was the third best-selling brand in the country.  Toyota’s near 20,000 sales was the best out of any brand, and saw it occupy second, third and fourth on the standings.  Its new RAV4 continues to impress (5470), followed by the Hilux ute (4833) that now holds a healthy lead over its arch rival the Ford Ranger (2440).  Sales numbers start to drop off after the HiLux, with the Prado’s 2475 rounding out the top four.  The Ford Ranger ute experienced another decline in August 2026, falling to fifth position on the standings (2440). The Ranger has been the best-selling car in Australia for the last three consecutive years, but sales decreased in August 2026 by more than 50 per cent compared to August 2025.   The next five cars were from Chinese brands as they increased their grasp over the Australian market.  The BYD Sealion 7 mid-size SUV finished in sixth place (2213), followed by the Chery Tiggo 4 small SUV (2012), with the Geely EX5 registering 1947 examples last month.  BYD may only have had one car in the top 10, but it was the second best-selling brand in Australia in August 2026. Key Tiggo 4 rival, the GWM Haval Jolion, sold 1891 units, while the Zeekr’s 7X sold 1748 units last month.  The Isuzu D-Max took out ninth spot for the month (1708), with the Hyundai Kona finishing off the top 10 with 1688 sales.