Isuzu finally delivers a tougher, more hard-core off-road D-Max with new flagship Blade dual-cab

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Meaner, tougher and more capable off-road, Isuzu has at last delivered a more hard-core D-Max dual-cab ute with its flagship Blade.

The new $76,990 drive-away model is the most extreme D-Max offered, featuring a lifted suspension tune, underbody protection, all-terrain tyres and wider stance. 

Isuzu customers have long asked for a more extreme D-Max, and the Blade will compete with the Toyota Hilux Rouge and GR Sport; Ford Ranger Tremor and Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior when it goes on sale next week on November 1.

The Blade’s price has it in the ballpark against such rivals. However, it’s roughly $20,000 more affordable than a Ford Ranger Raptor to driveaway, though the hard-core Ford rival remains a standalone outlier of performance, capability and complexity in the enhanced dual-cab segment.

The Blade is $9000 pricier than Isuzu’s current flagship X-Terrain ($67,990 drive-away), but the new ute – of which 400 will be produced in 2024 – will appeal not just from a capability perspective, but also an aesthetic one. 

Australian developed for Australians

The Blade hasn’t been finished on Isuzu’s Thailand production line, but is a re-engineered model completed locally on the well-equipped LS-U+ grade.

For the work, Isuzu Ute Australia enlisted Walkinshaw Automotive. The Melbourne-based company has a lengthy history in the field, including creating more hard-core versions of the Mitsubishi Triton and Volkswagen Amarok. 

It’s been no half measure, with a team of 60 in-house engineers working on the Blade. It’s been three years in the planning and making, has been developed locally for Australian off-road conditions, and completed a 100,000km durability program in Melbourne and Outback Australia. That includes the likes of the torturous Gibb River Road in the Kimberley and the Northern Territory.

Unlike a Toyota Hilux GR Sport, there’s been no enhancements to the D-Max’s 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, while the suspension raise of 29mm is less than that of the Navara PRO-4X Warrior’s 40mm.

Ground clearance is now 244mm (a Hilux GR Sport’s is 265mm), while the Blade offers 29.2 degree approach, 19.2 departure and 25.2 breakover angles.

Looks tough, built tough

The remit, according to Isuzu Ute Australia, was for the Blade to offer “rugged capability without compromising on consumer expectations for comfort, versatility and reliability.” Key was retaining the D-Max’s 3.5-tonne towing capacity and 896kg payload.

Walkinshaw has used bespoke Monroe 35mm MTV twin-tube suspension, well tuned for local conditions with the Blade-specific wheel and tyre package.

Standard springs are retained, but the dampers are 16.6 percent larger than original, offer greater chassis control, improved temperature management and improved durability. We’re told 30 different damper tunes were evaluated before sign-off testing.

Wheels are an inch smaller but an inch wider than a D-Max LS-U+, the satin black 17×8.5-inch rims shod in 275/65R17 Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac RT all-terrain tyres.

The package widens the D-Max’s track by 32mm, which should improve the vehicle’s handling and stability. Equally important to buyers – helped by custom widened wheel arch flares – the Blade has an improved, fatter stance.

The Duratrac RT tyres have a light truck rating, but as they also carry a 3PMSF rating, are certified for use in snowy conditions. That should prove ideal for the more adventurous D-Maxxer.

The standard D-Max’s 1.5mm steel underbody protection’s been chucked in favour of 3.0mm steel bash plates, decorated in red with laser-cut ‘ISUZU’ lettering. Behind is a dual hook recovery point system featuring an integrated cross-member, allowing an 8.0-tonne load from an angle of up to 35 degrees. 

There’s a re-designed satin black front grille with integrated curved 112-Watt lightbar, allowing a light pattern throw of over 325 metres.

Also added are chassis-mounted tubular side-steps and extended sports bar, both in satin black. The same colour is seen on accents for the doors, tailgate badges, mirrors and door handles. Black decals and ‘BLADE’ badging round off the look.

It’s a very black affair inside, but the heated leatherette seats feature BLADE headrest embroidery, alongside Blade scuff plates and floor mats, plus a special numbered build plate on the transmission selector.

As with all D-Max’s, the Blade has Isuzu’s six-year/150,000km warranty and five-year servicing program with visits costing $449 per year/15,000km. 

The new Blade is available to order from November 1 2024, and its $76,990 driveaway price includes premium paint: white pearl, black mica, grey mica and hero Sunstone orange mica.