The all-new Isuzu D-MAX Blade is ready for anything

Australians love a good all-rounder, whether it’s on the footy field or the cricket pitch.

And that has translated onto our driveways too thanks to the latest team of dual-cab utes, which have become the default choice for Aussie new car owners over the last decade.

That’s because they are no longer just a specialised player like a Ruckman or an opening batsman. Nope, the latest generation of high-riding hay haulers can do it all, from being a suburban family runabout or a weekday workhorse to a weekend adventurer or a cross-country holiday maker.

But not all of them are great at everything. That is unless they are created specifically to meet Australia’s unique demands, like the all-new Isuzu D-MAX Blade which arrives as the new flagship model and developed locally in partnership with Walkinshaw Performance.

So, let’s put the all-new Isuzu D-MAX Blade through a series of challenges to see where it stacks up.

First of all, every challenge comes with its own price, whether that be physical, emotional or financial. But they don’t always have to cost you a fortune.

And, continuing the value-for-money philosophy offered by all other models in the Isuzu D-MAX range, the all-new Blade is a winner from the start by undercutting its primary competitors with a drive-away price of just $76,990.

While that positions it at the pinnacle of the D-MAX range above the X-Terrain, the Blade is significantly cheaper than the Ford Ranger Raptor and more affordable than the Toyota HiLux GR Sport when you factor in the addition of on-road costs above its retail price.

And it doesn’t lack for anything compared to its rivals, with a long list of standard equipment that includes leather accented interior trim with exclusive Blade badges embossed in the front headrests, an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control with rear air vents, keyless entry with push button start and a nine-inch digital infotainment display with sat-nav, wireless smartphone mirroring and a premium eight-speaker Sky Sound eight-speaker audio system.

The Isuzu D-MAX Blade beats the competition for ownership too, with a bumper-to-bumper six-year, 150,000km warranty as well as seven years of free roadside assistance when properly maintained through the Isuzu dealer network while taking advantage of its affordable capped-price service program.

The luxuries don’t end with its on-paper specification as the D-MAX Blade’s flexible and spacious cabin is perfectly suited to the challenges of a modern Australian family life.

It has seating for five adults with generous head and legroom for all occupants as well as two child seat tethers and ISOFIX mounting points for baby capsules.

Plus, there’s a myriad of convenient small item storage solutions throughout, including a clever twin glovebox configuration, a large centre console, an overhead sunglass holder, front and rear cupholders, bottle holders in the front doors, and secure tool storage behind the split-fold rear seat.

And it is equipped with a comprehensive array of advanced safety features too, ensuring your most precious cargo is protected while navigating the urban jungle. With a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating and eight airbags, the Isuzu D-MAX Blade is among the highest scoring vehicles in its segment for occupant protection, plus is fitted with autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, intelligent adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane keeping assistance, blind spot monitoring and more.

Most importantly, the D-MAX Blade is comfortable and easy to drive around town. For starters, the raised ride height further amplifies the commanding view of the road ahead from the driver’s seat, while the extensive glasshouse provides clear vision around the vehicle.

Then there’s the 3.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder, which produces 140kW of power and 450Nm of torque and delivers smooth and progressive acceleration with a strong surge of mid-range grunt for quick overtaking at highway speeds.

With a claimed average fuel consumption of 8.0L/100km, the D-MAX is frugal and efficient and, with a 76L fuel tank capacity, delivers almost 1000km of long-distance travel between refills.

The engine is perfectly mated to the standard six-speed automatic that offers seamless shifts between gears, while the speed sensitive electric power steering makes light work of heavy traffic while also delivering a sense of security when out on the open road.

It also has both front and rear parking sensors, plus a high-definition digital reversing camera with dynamic guidelines, which takes the hard work out of squeezing into tight parking spaces.

It also excels on the tools too as the ultimate workmate.

The D-MAX Blade maintains all the heavy-duty cargo-carrying and towing capacities of the LSU+ on which it is based, with a maximum payload of 896kg and a maximum braked towing capability of 3500kg.

The ultra-strong double-walled tray measures 1570mm in length, 1530mm in width and 490mm in depth and has 1122mm between the wheelarches. It is fitted with a durable tub liner and has six integrated tie-down points to keep your load secure, plus the tailgate assist function means you don’t have to be a weightlifter to open and close it.

The D-MAX Blade is even more functional and secure than normal, thanks to its tubular sports bar that also adds to the more aggressive visual design elements.

Plus, it features a host of new mechanical components that improve its abilities to access worksites with tough terrain. Key among them is new twin-tube Monroe 35mm dampers with new spring seats that increases the ride height by 29mm which, in turn, improves ground clearance as well as departure and ramp over angles.

Those features, and more, also make the Isuzu D-MAX the perfect companion for off-road adventurers.

Building on the strengths already cemented into all 4x4 D-MAX variants, the Blade has been designed to take on the toughest outback challenges. Developed in partnership with Walkinshaw Performance specifically for Australian consumers, the D-MAX Blade has undergone a three-year engineering and durability program that saw more than a dozen prototype vehicles complete more than 100,000km of real-world testing, including many punishing trips into the outback.

The upgraded suspension is matched to new flow-formed 17-inch alloy wheels that are wrapped in 275/65 R17 Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac RT all-terrain tyres, which provide sure-footed grip and excellent on-road comfort in all conditions and peerless off-road traction in rough and slippery terrain.

The rugged tyres also increase the overall footprint of the D-MAX Blade, with 32mm extra track width that improves overall stability.

To complete any challenge, protection from the elements is critical which is why the D-MAX Blade is fitted with a 3mm steel powder-coated bash plate while the diff pumpkin has been raised by the increased ride height, both of which prevent damage to important underbody components. Plus, there’s a revised cross member that braces the chassis rails together for increased rigidity and features two integrated recovery hooks that are load rated to 8000kg.

Completing the overhaul, the D-MAX Blade looks just as tough as it performs with a bold new design package. Inspired by Japanese Katana swords, the most noticeable element is an all-new two-piece satin black front grille that includes a 112W lightbar with a tinted lens neatly hidden in the lower section and large ISUZU script at the top. This is matched to additional front cladding, exclusive wheel arches with integrated air curtains, tubular side steps, black door handles and mirror scalps, and decals on the boot, front bumper, doors and tailgate.

Inside the cabin, the front seats feature unique Blade badges embroidered into the head rests and embossed in the scuff plates, plus a numbered build plate is placed on the centre console and in the engine bay, further enhancing the exclusivity of the D-MAX Blade.

The reality is that the Isuzu D-MAX Blade is a brilliant all-rounder that is tough enough for any challenge. To discover more about the all-new Isuzu D-MAX Blade head to the Isuzu website.