Isuzu MU-X Blade decision coming “ASAP”

A decision on whether the 2026 Isuzu MU-X Blade will go into production will be made “ASAP”.

A flagship Isuzu MU-X Blade SUV has been on the agenda since the launch of the D-Max Blade tough truck in 2024.

But Isuzu Ute Australia (IUA) made it clear at the time it wanted to see how the Walkinshaw Group-modified and assembled ute performed in the market before pressing the button on an SUV equivalent.

IUA managing director Junta Matsui told carsales at this week’s 2.2-litre D-Max and MU-X media launch the time was nearing for a decision to be made on whether the Ford Everest Tremor rival would go into production.

“We need to make a decision ASAP, for sure,” he said.

“If we want to go with these options, of course we need to make a decision ASAP. But we haven’t concluded yet.”

The D-Max Blade is a cosmetic and chassis upgrade (twin tube 35mm Monroe MTV dampers, unique 17-inch alloys, 275/65R17 all-terrains, heavy-duty bash plate) based on the high-spec LS-U+.

Walkinshaw Group in Melbourne performed the development work in conjunction with Isuzu, and assembles Blades at the rate of 100 units per month.

Matsui described sales of the D-Max Blade as being “as good as we expected … it’s a very good result”.

The MU-X Blade would follow a similar cosmetic and chassis recipe that would also avoid the expense of modifications to the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine.

Previously, carsales learned an MU-X Blade would be based on the penultimate LS-T trim rather than the flagship X-Terrain – just like the D-Max.

There had been suggestions that production restrictions at Walkinshaw could inhibit the green light for an MU-X Blade, but Matsui indicated that was not the case.

“It’s not Walkinshaw side [issue], it’s our side. It’s our decision,” he said.

Basically, we sit tight and wait for a decision on whether the MU-X Blade comes into being.

But considering the D-Max Blade is considered a success, the MU-X Blade must be a good chance.

If it does get signed off, it will set a new price ceiling for the MU-X which has just bumped up to $77,100 plus on-road costs for the X-Terrain.

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