The humble ute is on the frontline of one of the most fiercely contested segments of the new car market with rival manufacturers watching each other’s new model moves like chess masters and responding accordingly.

Ford’s recently launched Ranger has thrown the cat among the pigeons and prompted a flurry of changes from competitors looking to shore up their market share, with the latest move coming from Isuzu which has announced MY23 updates to its popular D-Max 4x2 and 4x4 range.

Since the launch of this third-generation model in 2020, the D-Max has been one of the segment’s best performers, currently holding second place in the 4x2 category, behind the Toyota HiLux, and fourth place in the larger and more competitive 4x4 category, behind the HiLux, Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton.

Keen to not let the grass grow under its feet, Isuzu has announced a range of updates for its MY23 D-Max 4x2 and 4x4 models which will be available from December and are designed to enhance the workhorse’s value and appeal.

Among the modest styling changes are a new signature grille design, new wheels, fresh trim and paint finishes and functionality updates.

The range has also been expanded with the smaller 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine now available across a wider range of body styles in the SX grade with the rest of the range retaining the proven 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel.

The three new 1.9-litre additions to the SX grade – comprising SX Crew Cab Chassis 4x2, and SX Crew Cab Ute in 4x2 and 4x4 guise – expand the MY23 Isuzu D-Max range to a total of 27 variants, making this one of the widest selections of body styles, tray configurations and powertrain options available in the local one-tonne ute segment. 

Other updates across the D-Max range include changes to the towing setup to disable some of the otherwise annoying alerts.

With close to half of all D-MAX owners choosing the Isuzu for its towing prowess, Isuzu said its engineers simplified the towing setup process by automatically disabling blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, when a trailer was hitched and detected via the genuine trailer wiring harness. 

Styling changes include a new grille design finished in two-tone black on the SX, two-tone black and grey on the LS-M, two-tone grey and chrome on the LS-U and LS-U+, and two-tone dark grey on the top-spec X-Terrain.

The LED rear combination lights on the X-Terrain are also now trimmed in dark grey metallic, rather than chrome.

There are also new wheel designs with the LS-M featuring new light grey, 17-inch six-spoke alloys, shod with Dunlop AT25 All-Terrain tyres.

The LS-U and LS-U+ both feature 18-inch machined alloys, wrapped with Bridgestone Dueller rubber, while the flagship X-Terrain takes the new 18-inch wheel design from the LS-U and LS-U+ and finishes it in dark grey metallic.

A handy new addition on LS-U, LS-U+ and X-Terrain variants is the inclusion of a new Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which enables the driver to keep an eye on tyre pressures, maximising traction and tyre life.

Another small but helpful inclusion on all variants is the addition of a gas-strut tailgate assist system which allows for easy one-hand opening or closing of the tailgate.

Inside there’s now an updated selection of seat upholstery trims with high-grade cloth on LS-M and LS-U, and leather-accented trim on the LS-U+ and X-Terrain.

Also, matching the offering in other grades, the SX Crew Cab Ute and Crew Cab Chassis now feature an additional 2.1 Amp USB port in the second row for charging mobile and tablet devices.

Prices for the new MY23 D-Max range are unchanged over MY22 with the 4x2 ute range starting at $31,990 (driveaway) for the SX Single Cab chassis 4x2 with 1.9-litre turbo-diesel and manual transmission, stepping through 10 variants to the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel powered LS-U Crew Cab Ute 4x2 with six-speed auto costing $53,000 (MRLP).

The MY23 D-Max 4x4 Cab Chassis range gets the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine exclusively and starts at $42,200 (MRLP) for the SX Single Cab chassis 4x4 manual, rising through eight variants to the LS-U Crew Cab Chassis auto costing $59,500 (MRLP).

Finally, the 4x4 Ute range starts at $50,200 for the new 1.9-litre turbo-diesel SX Crew Cab Ute, walking through nine variants to the top of the range X-Terrain with 3.0-litre turbo-diesel and six-speed auto costing $64,990 driveaway.  

As at the end of September Isuzu had sold a total of 19,244 vehicles, comprising 3756 D-Max 4x2 and 15,488 D-Max 4x4 models, which is almost 4% down on its 2021 sales in a segment that’s down just 0.1%.

Learn about RACQ Comprehensive Car Insurance