Isuzu News

Following on from its updated D-Max which recently landed in Australia, Japan’s Isuzu is preparing to set loose an updated version of its closely related SUV, the Isuzu MU-X.

Two of Australia’s 10 most popular cars in April 2024 were ute-based off roaders, with both the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X continuing to soar in popularity. As orders catch up to demand, Ford and Isuzu are delivering plenty of their ute-based SUVs, with the Ranger-related Everest finding a record 2400 homes (up 254.5 per cent) and the D-Max-underpinned MU-X 1876 buyers (up 71.3 per cent). These two were not outliers, either, with the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (up 130.7 per cent) and Toyota Fortuner (up 43.8 per cent) also selling significantly more than the same month last year. The new GWM Tank 500 hybrid found 179 homes. A Ford Australia spokesperson attributed the Everest's current success to a combination of increased marketing activity, improved supply and continued customer demand.This style of vehicle is proving popular with Australians because they use sturdy ladder frames, offer seating for up to seven, stellar off-road capability and sturdy towing ability. Like a LandCruiser, a ute-based SUV is a perfect vehicle to get away from the beaten track.It helps they are closely aligned in price with family trucks like the Hyundai Palisade and Toyota Kluger. The Ford Everest Sport V6, for example, is $72,490 where a Toyota Kluger Grande Auto is $75,650, both before on-road costs.They both get leather upholstery, the same seating capacity yet the Ford has 1500kg more braked towing capacity, more ground clearance and a proven track record off road. The downside is that the ute-based SUVs are typically less advanced to drive with poorer passive safety. Their ladder frame construction increases the centre of gravity and dirt-biased tyres often fitted drastically increase braking distances.There may be an element of ‘get in while you can’ as New Vehicle Emissions Standards (NVES) threaten to make this style of vehicle less attainable, too. These regulations are expected to come in force by mid-2025. The government has made the decision to reclassify ute-based SUVs (and standalone 4x4s such as the LandCruiser 300 Series and Nissan Patrol) as commercial vehicles for emissions standards which will buy them more time. Little low emissions tech is available in this segment yet. Utes, still being the bigger sellers, are leading the way for hybrids and EVs, following the launch of GWM’s Cannon Alpha hybrid – and related Tank 500 – as well as the forthcoming Ford Ranger PHEV. Expect this tech to trickle into related SUVs eventually. The new-gen Toyota Prado hybrid might be accelerated to meet the new rules, too. Incidentally, it was the only mainstream large frame-based SUV to suffer, down 77 per cent compared to April 2023, but that’s due to the highly anticipated new model arriving very soon. Large off-road wagon sales in April 2024 

Reports of Isuzu's departure from Australia appear to have been wide of the mark, with the brand not just vowing to stay in market on NVES is introduced, but forecasting a long future for its diesel engines here, too.

The Isuzu D-Max has undergone a major model year update, with one to the country's most popular utes getting design, safety, technology and capability updates as it prepares for another battle with the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.

Some owners of the current generation Isuzu D-Max ute and MU-X SUV, as well as the closely-related Mazda BT-50, are reporting on-going issues with accelerated front tyre wear they say is caused by a fundamental steering geometry flaw.

Isuzu has added a smaller engine to its MU-X range but would you be willing to pay less for less braked towing capability?

The fully-electric Isuzu D-Max BEV has been confirmed for Australia with a 3.5-tonne towing capacity.

Isuzu says some manufacturers with 4x4 heavy ranges are put in a hard place by the federal government's imminent new emissions standards.

Nissan has climbed back up the new-vehicle sales charts in a big way, outselling the likes of Hyundai and Kia to return to the top 10.

More people bought the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max than any other vehicle last year - of did they? CarsGuide asked the car companies to provide the data on who bought their big sellers.