Isuzu D-Max 2026 News

Diesel fuel prices have been skyrocketing in Australia, making buyers think twice about running costs.According to NSW fuel price data, diesel is up to $1 per litre more expensive than petrol on average, sitting on average at over $3 per litre.Diesel sales were already in decline, but sustained higher fuel prices appear to have accelerated this trend.What may surprise some, though, is that petrol car sales are decreasing at a faster rate than diesel. Diesel sales have declined 10.1 per cent compared to February 2026 and 4.8 per cent overall this year. Petrol sales for the same periods have declined by more than 20 per cent and nearly 18 per cent, respectively. This equates to almost 22,000 less vehicles sold compared to this time last year. Diesel sales have only declined a little over 4000 units compared to March 2025. There were 28,364 diesel sales in March 2026 as opposed to 34,694 petrol ones, but if petrol sales continue to decline at the same rate, it will not be long before diesel is the top selling non-electrified fuel type for vehicles.Diesel also still more than doubles the sales of electric month-on-month, but EVs are rapidly catching up.One of the key reasons for these differences is many brands are ditching pure petrol models for electrified variants, as Australia's new vehicle efficiency standards start to impose big consequences for higher-emitting engines. For example, most of Toyota’s major models are now hybrid only, such as the Yaris hatch, Camry sedan and RAV4 SUV. There have also been talks of brands completely cutting petrol options from their line-ups, such as Chery.Local Chief Executive Officer Lucas Harris told CarsGuide earlier this year it is something he is eager to see happen.  “Personally I would hope that we get to that point because the super hybrid driving experience, in particular Chery’s super hybrid driving experience is so good and I think it is much better than ICE,” Harris said.“The more people that try it, the more consumers go that way. We’ll be led by demand so if all of a sudden nobody is buying an ICE Tiggo 7, and they're only buying Tiggo 7 super hybrid, it probably doesn’t make much sense to continue bringing an ICE product that consumers don’t really want.”Other brands have echoed these comments in the past as they move to predominantly hybrid and electric line-ups. In February, for example, Hyundai was number two for hybrid sales in Australia, a title it may lose to BYD's popular range of plug-in hybrids like the Shark 6 and Sealion 6. BYD, meanwhile, is already hybrid and electric only.Diesel utes still dominate the sales charts, the Ford Ranger and the Toyota HiLux leading the way, with the Isuzu D-Max also in the top 10. Both the HiLux and D-Max experienced subtle growth, while the Ranger had a near 10 per cent decline compared to last month.  Best-selling diesel cars in March 2026  

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.

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.

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. 

Utes are seemingly not going anywhere as they once again featured heavily at the top of the sales charts in 2025.This is despite many models experiencing sales drop-offs year-on-year as the ute market continues to increase in competitiveness.Here are the top five best-selling utes heading into 2026. The Ford Ranger was not just the best-selling ute, but the best-selling car in Australia in 2025. It managed 56,555 sales last year, as it topped the charts, starting from $37,130 (before on-road costs) for the base single-cab chassis.The Ranger is mainly available with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, producing 125kW and 405Nm or 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine with 184kW and 600Nm.However, the once-popular 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel will be cut from the lineup soon.The range-topping and ever-popular Raptor meanwhile has a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, producing 292kW and 583Nm, with a starting price more than $90,000.At the other end of the spectrum, the brand now offers a plug-in hybrid, with 207kW and 697Nm, starting at $71,990 - whether it will go on to be a hit with buyers like one of its rivals on the list remains to be seen.The Toyota HiLux is second on this list and came second overall in the car sales standings for last year, with 51,297 units registered.The base manual single-cab chassis HiLux starts from $33,990, before on-road costs and the range goes all the way up to $71,990 for the range-topping dual-cab variant. All HiLux models are powered by a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that produces 150kW and 420Nm or 500Nm, depending on whether has a manual or automatic transmission. Toyota will also be expanding on its range, launching an all-electric version of the HiLux in the first quarter of 2026.Isuzu’s D-Max is the next best-selling ute in Australia, with 26,839 sales in 2025.Its price ranges from $36,200 to $80,900, before on-road costs, and it comes with two engine choices which are both turbo diesels. There is a 2.2-litre four-cylinder option, producing 120kW and 400Nm, and a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, producing 140kW and 450Nm. The 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine was introduced last year to replace the less efficient and smaller 1.9-litre option.Despite being one of only two products offered by Isuzu Ute, the D-Max and its related MU-X SUV are enough to propel the brand into a top-10 position in the Australian market.Mitsubishi’s ute offering, the Triton, earned its spot in the top five with 18,900 sales. The Triton was the only ute on this list that experienced a sales bump in 2025 compared to 2024, up for 4.6 per cent year-on-year. It starts at $34,740 and goes up to $66,140, before on-road costs. All Triton utes get a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine, which produces 150kW and 470Nm. Rounding out the list is the only plug-in hybrid exclusive ute in the top five. The Shark 6 burst onto the scene in 2025, and achieved a flurry of early sales, guiding it to 18,074 units throughout the year - a decisive success story. It only comes as a dual-cab in a single trim level, which is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with electric motors, combining for a total output of 321kW and 650Nm. The plug-in ute starts at $57,900, before on-road costs, and is set to be joined by cheaper cab-chassis variants later this year. 

Is there a more important vehicle category in dual-cab-devoted Australia than utes? I’m not sure there is. And I’m also sure that, in a segment that has sat stagnant for years, there has never been a more exciting time to be picking the best and brightest in the country.Where do we start? Maybe with China’s full-throttle assault on the segment? Or with the rise of plug-in hybrid petrol in a diesel-dominated market? Or Kia turning its hand to a ute for the very first time? Or BYD, for that matter?See what I mean? It’s an exciting time to be picking the best ute in Australia as part of the ongoing 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year (COTY) awards, and the days of it being a two-way battle between the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger are well behind us.But to pick a winner, we first need to choose the best of the best that will be battling for the top prize. So without further adieu, this is the CarsGuide Car of The Year top-10 shortlist for sub-$85K Utes.This category's winner and two runners-up will be announced on February 6, 2026.Perhaps no other ute has been quite as surprising as the barnstorming BYD Shark 6, which has not only taken the fight to the established giants of the ute segment, it has done it without a diesel engine in sight.Instead, a plug-in hybrid powertrain does the heavy lifting here, with BYD arguably doing more to electrify the ute segment than any model to come before it. Our reviewers love the on-road refinement and the value-packed feature list, but concede its towing capacity lags its major rivals.It’s also on our shortlist because of its segment-altering drivetrain, which has forced several mainstream ute makers to follow its lead.A classic and the best-selling ute in the country for a reason. The Ford Ranger is on our shortlist for its driving dynamics (it’s among the most car-like utes on our list), which takes nothing away from its ability to get down and dirty in terms of towing or off-road capability.What really drew praise from our judges, though, is the breadth of the Ranger’s offering, with worksite-ready versions, family friendly versions, hardcore off-road versions, and a choice between several diesel engines or plug-in hybrid powertrains.That said, some pointed to the PHEV solution offering little in the way of real-world range.The unsung hero of Australia’s automotive world (it is, after all, often one of our top five best-selling vehicles), the Isuzu underwent a fairly major update that ironed out some of its more agricultural qualities with some design, cabin and technology updates.The D-Max was praised by our judges for doing exactly what it says on the tin, and delivering exactly what many ute buyers are looking for, with little fuss or fanfare. But some wonder whether it feels new and fresh enough.The entry-level cars also get a bigger smaller engine, if that makes sense. With the old 1.9-litre diesel swapped out for a 2.2-litre unit that’s both more powerful and more efficient. Tick and tick.Kia burst onto the ute scene with the boldly designed Tasman, a ute that really does look like few others on the road.Our judges were unanimous in praising the Tasman’s delightful and tech-filled cabin experience and its road manners, and reports of its off-road prowess are impressive, too.Its looks seemingly remain controversial, at least among the buying public, but there’s little doubting Kia’s first ute has plenty of substance, no matter what you think of its style.Sure, the BYD Shark 6 has been getting a ton of attention, but the LDV Terron 9 has been quietly plugs away as one of the biggest, and thus most practical in terms of tray, utes in the segment.And with 520Nm of torque at its diesel-powered disposal, it’s pretty punchy, too (as a vehicle this size probably needs to be).Our reviewers praised the space on offer in its tray, the strong value-for-money argument and its imposing street look, but were less sold on the lack of a power outlet in its tray and a sometimes lumpy power delivery.The BT-50 tends to stick out a little bit, both in the ute segment (where rough and tough is the design order of the day), and in Mazda’s own lineup, where the dual-cab ute rubs shoulders with mostly premium and polished SUVs.Early last year, Mazda addressed both those issues, deploying an Australia-led design overhaul intended to make the BT-50 “sportier and tougher”, clearly separating it from the rest of the brand’s lineup, and appealing more to traditional ute buyers.Our reviewers loved the look, the diversity of the range and the lux feel of the top-spec models, but didn’t love the too-firm suspension and the lack of a true hero model.The Chinese brand’s first-ever ute isn’t strictly its own, or at least not entirely. The MG U9 is a sibling to LDV Terron 9, which also appears on our shortlist.Our reviewers loved the U9’s interior space, especially in the impressive backseat, the ute’s sharp pricing against the established competition, and the nifty automatic step that deploys beneath the tailgate — described as “the nicest and definitely the easiest” way to climb into the tray.The active safety tech, however, impressed us less.The Mitsubishi Triton is a household name, albeit one that’s been left behind by the HiLux, Ranger and D-Max in recent years. A new generation arrived in 2024 that aimed to fix that, delivering more space, more power, more practicality and more space in the cabin.We loved the smoother drive experience, its warranty coverage (provided you service with Mitsubishi), its more modern-feeling cabin and its workhorse credentials.The less-positive notes included a clunky stop-start system and over-active safety tech.A new HiLux is big news in Australia, and while Toyota has opted to carry over a lot of key ingredients from the outgoing HiLux, they've also moved to address key complaints, like ride comfort and cabin technology, and to introduce a new look.And while our reviewers praised the updates, they also wondered whether Toyota had gone far enough in the face of new and stiff competition.The Volkswagen Amarok hasn't made quite the sales splash in Australia that its Ford Ranger relative has, but the German brand's ute has attracted plenty of praise from our reviewers, who love its style, its interior packaging and materials, and its on-road manners.Less positive is the sticker price of the high-end variants, and the sparse backseat amenities in the more affordable models. 

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