Isuzu FYH Reviews

What is the future of the Mazda BT-50? Could it become a Toyota-based one-tonne ute?With the existing, Isuzu D-Max-derived model now six years old and well into its mid-cycle facelift, speculation is rising as to what will come next once the reported 10-year supply contract with Isuzu ends.This means that the existing BT-50 that launched in 2020 following Mazda’s break-up with Ford (the previous BT-50 was based on the 2011-2022 Ford Ranger) still has about four years to go, so planning should be well-underway by now. 2030 isn’t that far away.One scenario could see a variation of the Toyota Tacoma, which has only been built in left-hand-drive in Mexico for North America since late 2023, despite sharing its right-hand-drive (RHD)-ready Toyota New Global Architecture-Frame (TNGA-F) platform with the Toyota LandCruiser 300 and Toyota Prado 250, among others.We say variation because, back in December last year, ex-Toyota Australia boss Sean Hanley revealed exclusively to CarsGuide at the HiLux launch that the Tacoma could become RHD for Australia when the right powertrain configuration is offered, to sit above the smaller, ageing HiLux in the range.“It's evolving and developing all the time, and I would never rule out the possibility of that car being part of our line-up at some stage,” he said at the time. “It all gets down to powertrain and configuration.”If that comes to pass, and Hanley did add that he was actively pursuing that outcome, it may give Mazda an in to the “evolving and developing” Tacoma thanks to the two Japanese brands’ growing association sharing passenger vehicles.This is especially prescient since the existing BT-50’s only major market in the RHD world is Australia, with Japan and the UK passing on this current generation, while South Africa ceased importing the ute after sluggish sales in 2024.Mazda Australia Managing Director Vinesh Bhindi refused to comment on any possible Tacoma/BT-50 tie-up in the future, saying instead that a decision has not yet been made as which direction the company will move next.“Isuzu is still a partner in the current generation, but the next-gen is yet to be locked in,” he told CarsGuide last month.“Mazda has worked with Isuzu for many, many years, so (we have a) very solid partnership and we hope to continue it in the future.”This is an important question for Mazda to figure out, since the BT-50 contributes vital volume for the brand in Australia, coming in at fourth place in the first three months of 2026, with 3113 units sold, behind the CX-30 small SUV (3246), ageing CX-3 light SUV (3489) and CX-5 mid-sized SUV (6247).The one-tonne ute has slipped from fifth to seventh spot so far this year in its increasingly-crowded segment, having been overtaken (though only just) by the GWM Cannon/Cannon Alpha duo (3131) and BYD Shark 6 PHEV (3480) out of China, while still trailing the Mitsubishi Triton (5604), D-Max (6057), Toyota HiLux (10,592) and Ford Ranger (12,180).The 4x4 version of the BT-50 is the harder hit of the series, seeing a 23.6 per cent decline in 2026, though the largely-diesel-driven dual-cab ute market’s exposure to soaring fuel prices due to the Iran War seems to have affected all 4x4 players in some way. The exceptions are a surging GWM Cannon (which introduced a PHEV option last year) and, unexpectedly, the resolutely diesel-powered Triton.A Mazda ute has been part of the brand’s heritage since its first vehicle rolled out of a factory in Hiroshima in 1931. Plus, there were five generations of the BT-50’s B-Series/Bravo/Proceed predecessor from 1961 to 2006 (pre-dating HiLux), with a Ford Courier also forming part of that equation for 34 years from 1972, before switching to the American Ranger badge thereafter.So, there’s been a half-century precedent with Mazda sharing its ute, be it with Ford or Isuzu.Will Toyota be next? Watch this space!

Utes have been affected substantially by increasing fuel prices, thanks to their large fuel tanks and often thirsty turbo-diesel engines.Diesel fuel prices have jumped to more than $3 per litre, making filling up a diesel ute more expensive than ever.CarsGuide has compiled a list of all the diesel dual-cab pick-up utes on sale, calculating the yearly cost of each at $3.07 per litre (the average price in NSW on 31/3/26) over 15,000km.Isuzu Ute’s D-Max and Mazda BT-50 2.2-litre turbo-diesel variants are the efficiency leaders. The mechanically identical pair of utes cost $3038.02 in fuel in a year, averaging 6.6L/100km.The Ford Ranger’s single turbo-diesel 2.0-litre is next on the list, averaging 6.9L/100km, which equates to $3177.45 over 15,000km. The new mild hybrid Toyota HiLux also has a competitive efficiency figure of 7.1L/100km, which is a little cheaper in fuel than the standard turbo-diesel variants. Three-litre variants of the BT-50 and D-Max vary in cost, given fuel consumption fluctuates between 7.1L/100km and 7.8L/100km depending on the variant.The KGM Musso is one of the thirstiest of the utes, with its up to 9.0L/100km, costing more than $4000 over the course of a year.  The GWM Cannon Alpha diesel was the other ute to exceed the $4000 mark. Concluding the list are the gas guzzling full-size American pick-ups, in Ram’s 2500 and the Chevrolet Silverado HD. Both have V8 diesel engines with a capacity of more than 6.0-litres, meaning they cost more than $7000 over the course of a year.2026 ute fuel figures Australia  *Dependent on variant**Ram does not provide official figures for fuel consumption. This figure is sourced from CarsGuide's real world testing.***Chevrolet does not provide official figures for fuel consumption. This figure is sourced from CarsGuide's real world testing.

It's a big deal when a new-generation Isuzu N Series truck launches and after 16 years, it's finally here. We test the new model to determine if it's better than its truck rivals, but also to see if it's a better buy than a ute.

Details for the Isuzu Ute D-Max electric ute in Thailand have just been revealed, and it could be a timely inclusion in Australia for the brand.The car starts from the equivalent of roughly $70,000 in Thailand, which is a massive reduction on the more than $115,000 equivalent price in the UK. This bodes well for Australia, which has a free trade agreement and close proximity to Thailand where the D-Max EV is built.It is powered by front- and rear-mounted electric motors, producing 140kW, with front motor torque at 108Nm and rear motor torque at 217Nm for a maximum 325Nm.The ute comes with a full-time four-wheel drive system.Its 67kWh battery offers a driving range of 263km (WLTP), which is comparable to the HiLux EVs 240km. Fast charging on the D-Max EV from 20-80 per cent takes around an hour, due to a maximum of 50kW charging on the Thai version. It will also have a 3500kg towing capacity, offering the same lugging capacity as many of its diesel competitors. The D-Max EV also has a payload exceeding 1000kg. The D-Max EV is nearing sale in many countries, including the United Kingdom, but its Thailand launch could be the final step before it lands Down Under.Sky high diesel fuel prices could speed up any potential EV ute launches in Australia, as they offer a cheaper-to-run and cleaner alternative in a segment potentially phasing out diesel in the coming years. The D-Max EV is likely to launch in Australia some time this year, but local timing has yet to be confirmed by the brand. A spokesperson for Isuzu Australia said there was no news confirmed.It will join a growing EV ute segment, with the electric variant of the KGM Musso already on sale, while MG’s U9 EV and the Toyota HiLux BEV will launch in the coming months. 

Diesel utes have been the dominant forces in Australia for the past decade, but that could be about to change.The Ford Ranger and the Toyota HiLux have been the top two sellers in the past 10 years, and they combined for more than 100,000 sales in 2025.The pair have carried on this popularity into 2026, sitting at the top for January and February this year. Other diesel ute rivals such as the Isuzu Ute D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton are selling well. That could be all be about to change sooner than we thought. It could be the case that a perfect storm of external factors will wipe out the diesel in ute in Australia.There is a new factor is emerging that could accelerate the diesel ute’s seemingly inevitable decline. The price of diesel fuel has increased substantially more than petrol, approaching the $3 mark per litre.I went to fill up my diesel car the other day.As I pulled into the service station, a man had just finished filling up his V8 diesel LandCruiser 200 Series. $287 for 99L - he had not even brimmed the tank. You’d get a better rate when topping up your light aircraft with aviation fuel. He asked if I wanted to swap. I politely declined.No doubt big fleet buyers will be watching closely as the costs of purchasing and running these diesel utes shoots up, along with the potential increase in costs as NVES pressures creep in. Fleet sales are crucial to the success of the Ford Ranger and the Toyota HiLux, with them also contributing heavily to other ute brands.Fuel prices will also be an increasingly big head turner for private buyers. Alternatives such as the petrol plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6 offer superior fuel efficiency when charged as well as being cheaper to fill up.Toyota announced its all-electric HiLux ute recently, which has been met with a mixed reception due to concerns over driving range and towing capacity, but it at least shows brands are already looking away from diesel. Chery’s incoming KP31 ute will debut in Australia this year with a diesel plug-in hybrid set-up, which is expected to have the 3500kg towing capacity. Something the Shark 6 currently lacks.The popularity of diesel hybrid set-ups will be an indication of the survival chances for the diesel ute in Australia. It could be argued the longer diesel prices continue to rise, the shorter the diesel ute's lifespan will be.Compounding this is new emissions laws.The Federal Government's National Vehicle Emissions Standard (NVES) delivered a rude awakening for some. The NVES sets emissions targets based on CO2 gram-per-kilometre limits. Vehicles sold that fall over the limit subsequently incur liabilities, which will attract hefty fines in the future for brands. Brands incur fines on vehicles sold, which have an interim emissions value of more than zero. Mazda, which sells its BT-50 ute in Australia among an internal combustion heavy lineup, accumulated a whopping more than 500,000 liabilities. Subsequently many brands, including Honda and Mazda have introduced priced increases across key internal combustion models this year.There appears to be two routes for brands. Either pass on the extra costs, or ditch diesel. Diesel utes could be about to skyrocket in price and brands scramble to account for fines on sales.In a more extreme example, Ford CEO Jim Farley recently threatened to axe the brand’s local engineering program responsible for the best-selling Ford Ranger.“Something your government, or any government, has to be very sensitive to around the CO2 glide path. We want to reduce our CO2 footprint, but there’s a level that the customer can’t afford, and not all duty cycles can be electrified,” Farley told CarsGuide.“It’s a completely open market and also pushing CO2 , arguably way beyond the customer requirements.“ needs to decide if they want to help us equalise the cost differential … because this is among the most expensive places to have engineers on the planet.”We have already seen somewhat of a winding back of Ford’s Ranger line-up Down Under, with the brand discontinuing sale of its bi-turbo diesel engine, in favour of a cleaner single turbo variant.

In a press conference the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association has declared the country’s once-dominant national car industry is “on the brink of survival”.The body said collaboration between Japan’s automakers was becoming more important than competition amongst each other, as it faces never-before-seen external challenges.It admitted that the “international competitiveness” of its members had to be brought into question.Speaking as part of a panel, JAMA Vice President and CEO of Honda Toshihiro Mibe said: “The global competition environment is becoming more fierce every day. Against this backdrop, the automotive industry in Japan is now posed with the question of whether we will be able to survive or not.”“Looking back, the structure of the automotive industry has worked well. There was the structure of Keiretsu which indeed worked for the last few decades against that environment. But we believe the existing areas of collaboration are not enough.”The Japanese term “Keiretsu” refers to the unique connection between Japanese companies, with cross shareholdings and shared business goals, which promotes stability and financial resilience, as well as faster and more efficient supply chains. It allows companies in these networks to engage in long-term planning and keeps money in Japan.A result of this interdependence means a brand like Toyota (widely recognised as the head of one of the largest Keiretsu networks) has vast shareholdings in brands which would normally be its competitors, as well as deep ties with Japanese parts suppliers.But it seems this system is struggling to be competitive in an environment of aggressive and often state-backed Chinese automakers making technological leaps and bounds and sales progress across the world.“So, the area of collaboration is required with a sense of speed. I think it is going to be key.” Mibe said. “We need to dismantle the old structure or else we will not be able to create new areas of collaboration.” Some areas earmarked by the organisation for focus were hiring more “software-related personnel” with Japanese automakers focusing too much on the “hardware part in our history.” according to Mibe.The group also earmarked the future use of artificial intelligence and more robotics in order to address what is expected to be a 20 per cent shortfall in the number of available workers to staff manufacturing plants in Japan.However, the JAMA members also re-committed to a “multi-pathway” strategy as the “winning pathway” in order to stay on the right side of both tightening emissions regulations, and a tough tariff environment in Europe and the US in the face of a surge of electrified Chinese models.“This is not just about how we compete with China, but how Japan can make a contribution to each country in a way which is suited to the local community,” said JAMA Chairman and CEO of Toyota Motor, Koji Sato.As to the recent Middle East crisis, Sato said 800,000 vehicles were currently exported to the region, and that would be the bare minimum economic impact, but also some shipping costs would double as routes remained closed around the Middle East.A larger concern is the sourcing of aluminium and raw materials required for plastics.“About 70 per cent of it comes from the Middle East, so if the issue is prolonged, needless to say we’re going to have a procurement problem.” Sato said.Locally, a Toyota spokesperson said it is not anticipating any impact from the war in Iran on supply or costs for Australian-delivered vehicles at this time.Meanwhile a seismic shift has taken place in the Australian sales charts, with Japan being unseated as the top country-of-origin by China.This is against a backdrop of BYD, GWM, MG and Chery all occupying spots in the top-10 best-selling automakers in Australia, unseating old favourites from Japan such as Nissan, Subaru and Isuzu.Mitsubishi, which is clinging to eighth position, is expecting to drop out of the top-10 this year as it faces a reduced range of vehicles, and more expensive new-generation offerings soured from Europe.

China is dominating Australian new-car sales, but it’s also not alone, with a handful of legacy brands bucking the trend to somehow grow their sales in the face of BYD, Chery and GWM’s continued ascent.

With the hammer predicted to drop on EV subsides in the coming weeks, there are growing calls to instead shine the spotlight on Australia's ute segment, where similar tax breaks exist for "commercial vehicles."

Internal combustion power is still by far the most popular type of car in Australia, the latest sales data has revealed. 

China is now the biggest country of origin for new-car sales in Australia, leapfrogging Japan in what is a seismic shift in the Australian automotive industry.