Isuzu UTE Australia Celebrates 400,000th Vehicle Delivery

According to Isuzu UTE Australia, no fewer than 280,000 pickups and just around 120,000 sport utility vehicles were delivered in the Land Down Under since 2008.

Of the aforementioned total, more than 50,000 trucks and truck-based SUVs found their way into Aussie driveways in the past 14 months. Part of the reason why the D-MAX and MU-X are increasingly popular in the Great Southern Land is the Japanese company's reputation for reliability.

Isuzu's diesel engines are known to be very dependable as well, partly because Isuzu leveraged its commercial truck division's know-how to develop its current passenger vehicle diesel engines. The dependability of the D-MAX and MU-X is joined by proper towing and payload capacities, even when equipped with the lesser 2.2-liter engine rather than the flagship 3.0-liter unit.

This brand also made a name for itself by undercutting the prices of its direct rivals while also offering more standard equipment, including safety kit. Specialized Australian market-specific engineering has to be accounted for as well, along with strong resale value.

As of December 2025, Isuzu UTE Australia remains the largest exporter of the D-MAX and MU-X. Speaking of exports, Thailand's Isuzu Motors International Operations celebrated a global milestone in August 2025 by shipping its third millionth light commercial vehicle.

The commercial division sells a great deal of trucks in Australia, beginning with the light-duty N series and the medium-duty F series. Ready-to-work commercial vehicles are available for immediate delivery as well, with prime examples including the Tipper, Freightpack, Vanpack, and the Traypack. 

Over at Isuzu UTE Australia, the D-MAX and MU-X will have to suffice for 2026. To be joined by a full-electric version of the D-MAX next year, the internal combustion truck is available with three cabs, a factory bed, or in cab-chassis flavor. The cab chassis can be fitted with various trays and service bodies.

Rear-wheel drive is understandably standard, whereas the optional 4WD system is a part-time affair with shift-on-the-fly capability. One of the D-MAX's most significant updates for 2026 is the introduction of a rough terrain mode for both the 2.2- and 3.0-liter engines. Oh, and all 4WD models come fitted from the factory with an electromagnetic rear diff lock.

Upgrading to the Blade specification further sweetens the deal with a suspension lift, Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac rough-terrain rubber, and beefier extraction points. The cheapest configuration of the D-MAX for Australia is AUD 36,990 as opposed to AUD 48,990 for the MU-X LS-M 4x2 with the 2.2-liter mill.

Similar to the D-MAX, the MU-X with the 2.2 features an eight-speed automatic instead of the sixer that customers get with the larger engine. The MU-X is a dedicated seven-seat SUV across the board, with the third row being a split-bench seat that can be folded completely flat into the floor.