Isuzu Updates the D-Max With a Stronger Engine and New 8-Speed Gearbox
Isuzu has refreshed the D-Max pickup for 2026 in response to Toyota’s new generation Hilux, updating the drivetrain and keeping the truck’s conservative workhorse character. The test drive took place in Thailand on June 20, 2026, where the reviewer saw two updated D-Max models, including the regular pickup and the electric version.
The main upgrade is mechanical. The diesel D-Max now gets a stronger engine and a new 8-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous 6-speed unit. Isuzu is still offering a manual version in general, but in Israel the facelifted model will arrive only with an automatic. The longer spread of ratios improves low-end punch and smoothness, especially off-road, where first gear is shorter and the truck can climb steep slopes and crawl over obstacles with less throttle input.
The cabin keeps physical buttons for key functions, a practical choice for work use because they can be operated with gloves. The cargo bed remains one of the model’s strengths, with the double-cab version measuring 1,571 mm long at floor level, 1,530 mm wide between the sides, and 490 mm high, for about 1,100 liters of space. Isuzu also keeps a real spare wheel, which the article says is especially important for a work truck.
The electric D-Max was shown with two electric motors and a 66.9 kWh battery, giving 263 km of range in ideal unloaded conditions and 361 km in city driving according to the manufacturer. Towing capacity remains 3.5 tons, but range drops sharply under load, and the writer says its price is likely much higher than the diesel’s. The article also notes the MU-X SUV variant, which is popular in Bangkok, but says Isuzu has not adapted it to European regulations, so it is not planned for Israel.
