It might have just had a minor refresh, but the Isuzu D-Max looks set to get a more substantial makeover if pictures taken at the factory in Thailand are to be believed.
Images from Kurdistan Automotive Blog
show that the D-Max pickup will receive another touched-up front end, with a new grille, more dynamically styled headlights, and a revised front bumper.
Rather than being a mockup of a future facelift, the fact that the vehicles are lined up in different colours and wearing pre-delivery wraps for protection shows that production has started.
It’s unlikely that the 1.9-litre diesel engine currently fitted to the D-Max pickup will be changed, although we understand there are plans to introduce a 2.2-litre diesel unit in the future. However, with an all-electric D-Max expected to be revealed in 2026, the engine upgrade might not make it to the European market.
What we can’t see is the interior, which is lagging behind its rivals for both technology and aesthetics, with the latest Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok appearing far more sophisticated. However, Isuzu has a Chinese-specification model with a neatly integrated digital touchscreen and plush cabin design (pictured above), which could easily be transferred to European models.
Isuzu has delivered 4,119 of its D-Max pickup to UK users this year, up by 36% from last year’s total at the end of September. The Ford Ranger remains the UK’s best-selling pickup, with 13,935 registrations for the year to date, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
