Just 12 months after the latest refreshments to the Isuzu D-Max and MU-X the brand has had the spanners out and tweaked them again as it pushes for 30,000 sales.

THE ISUZU D-MAX AND MU-X have been updated just 12 months after their last overhaul. The aim, according to Isuzu, is to boost interest in the two vehicles as the brand tries to hit 30,000 sales in a year.

The key changes include upgrades to certain variants, safety improvements and some engineering tweaks. One of the major changes is the introduction of a new top-spec D-Max variant, the LS-T crew cab it borrows many of its new bits and bobs from the equivalent model in the MU-X range, and that includes 18-inch wheels with Highway-Terrain (HT) tyres, native sat-nav, roof rails and a Passive Entry and Start System (PESS) on 4×4 LS-T only. The flagship LS-T is available in two drivetrains; two-wheel drive or through Isuzu’s “Terrain Command” 4WD Select System.

Read our Isuzu D-Max review.

According to Isuzu, the D-Max LS-T also takes styling cues from the MU-X with a new leather accented interior, plus additional accents of polyurethane leatherette on the hard wearing bolsters and rests. The dash, glovebox and armrest are trimmed in soft-touch leatherette, door handles finished in chrome and the air vents and window switches finished in gloss black— these soft-touch refinements can also be found inside the D-MAX LS-M and LS-U variants.

Another interior update for the D-MAX 18MY LS-M, LS-U and LS-T variants is the addition of two USB charge points; one in the dash, and one in the rear console; it can also be found across the entire MU-X range.

Apparently in response to customer feedback, Isuzu engineers headed to Australia to develop a new three leaf (comfort) suspension package for the SX, LS-U and LS-T Crew Cab ute variants as opposed to the five-leaf suspension set-up previously…apparently, running the comfort suspension doesn’t affect the carrying capacity.

More than this, the engineers also took another look at the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) capacity of the entire 18MY D-Max range — increasing the GVM on 4×2 models to 2950kg and the GVM on 4×4 models to 3050kg. This improvement increases the payload capacity of all models by 100kg in comparison to 17MY models. This upgrade gives the D-MAX 4×2 low-ride SX Single Cab Chassis class-leading payload capacity of 1349kg. 

In terms of safety, Trailer Sway Control (TSC) is now standard across all 18MY models (excluding the D-MAX 4×2 low-ride SX Single Cab Chassis manual). Also, previously reserved for LS variants, all 18MY D-Max ute models now feature a rear bumper, along with a reversing camera as standard; both items remain optional on cab chassis models due to the nature of the tray.

Isuzu for 18MY models and later is introducing a five-year capped price servicing program.

Isuzu UTE Capped Price Servicing costs (18MY-onwards)

The 18MY Isuzu D-MAX and MU-X range will go on sale nationally from the 1st of May.