RAM 1500 vs Isuzu D-Max
What's the difference?

RAM 1500

$109,950 - $249,950

2026 price

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Isuzu D-Max

$36,200 - $80,900

2026 price

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Summary

2026 RAM 1500

2026 Isuzu D-Max

By Byron Mathioudakis

By Chris Thompson

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Fuel Type

Fuel Efficiency

Seating

Likes

Massive space and refinement
Engineering sophistication
A strong heart

New 2.2-litre is smooth and quieter
Hasn’t ballooned pricing much
D-Max retains balance of comfort and simplicity

Dislikes

Expensive
Not as economical as hoped
Poor warranty coverage

Not many variants with 2.2L
Lane-keep is a bit keen
Interior feels spartan

2026 RAM 1500 Summary

Fancy a Ford Ranger Wildtrak, Toyota HiLux Rogue or Isuzu D-Max Blade, but need something that’s a bit bigger, bolder and brawnier?

Behold the Ram 1500 Rebel. No, not a Rambler Rebel from the Mad Men era, but a full-sized pick-up truck that’s aimed at younger and/or more-adventure-minded buyers.

Rivalling the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2, it brings a sporty off-road vibe to Australia’s best-selling big US-made ute. Let’s check it out.

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2026 Isuzu D-Max Summary

There’s a fairly big change hiding under the metal of one of Australia’s favourite utes. The Isuzu D-Max has a new 2.2-litre engine, replacing the 1.9-litre unit, and it brings a couple of other things with it.

A bigger engine designed to be more powerful and more efficient can only be a good thing, surely, especially with Isuzu looking down the barrel of stringent emissions laws with only two models in the line-up, both diesel powered.

But is this new 2.2-litre engine any good? Isuzu’s gone to the trouble of a new gearbox and some new tech to go with it, so we check it out to see if it stacks up against the increasingly strong competition.

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Deep dive comparison

2026 RAM 1500 2026 Isuzu D-Max

Verdict

As with all current-generation Ram 1500s, the Rebel remains one of our favourite full-sized American utes on the Australian market.

Yes, it is not cheap, and a few items standard on the Laramie Sport have been deleted for better or worse, but the Rebel offers better off-road capability without losing any of the regular 1500’s driver enjoyment, comfort, refinement and overall class.

An upsized Ranger Wildtrak with more civility than its redneck reputation suggests.

Verdict

The new engine makes the D-Max a much more likeable ute than it already was, which is high praise.

It’s smoother and quieter and makes for a more pleasant drive. The added efficiency is a bonus both for your wallet and Isuzu’s emissions credits.

The 3.0-litre engine will probably remain the favourite, but anyone who test drives a 2.2L might even be tempted to opt for the smaller unit. Isuzu sure hopes so.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

RAM 1500 vs Isuzu D-Max What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

RAM 1500 vs Isuzu D-Max
What's the difference?