Isuzu D-Max EV could top $100,000 in Australia
IUA is yet to announce local pricing, specs or launch timing for the first D-Max electric vehicle (EV), which will be launched in Norway later this year, followed by Thailand and the UK, where it will be released in early 2026.
Revealed in April, the D-Max EV will be a critical vehicle for IUA, where its only two existing models – the diesel-powered D-Max ute and the related MU-X large SUV – will be hit with increasing CO2-related financial penalties under the federal government's New vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) from this month.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new D-Max. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
However, local demand for the first D-Max EV could be significantly impacted by a price premium that, based on the UK model lineup, could amount to about $30,000 over an equivalent diesel D-Max.
In Britain, the range-topping D-Max eV-Cross has been priced at £62,495 plus VAT sales tax – substantially more than the £40,900 price of that market's equivalent diesel-powered V-Cross variant.
While a direct currency conversion is less relevant, the same price difference applied to Australia's premium D-Max X-Terrain variant (currently priced at $70,500 before on-road costs), would see a fully loaded D-Max EV priced at around $108,000 plus on-roads.
An extended-cab D-Max EV will also be available in the UK, priced at £59,995, but even the entry-level dual-cab electric variant called the eDL40 will cost £60,995 in Britain – over £20,000 ($A40,000-plus) more than the diesel variant on which it's based. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Given the cheapest dual-cab 4×4 pickup version of the D-Max currently costs more than $50,000 in Australia, the same price premium would see the dual-motor four-wheel drive D-Max EV priced above $90,000.
Australia's first electric ute was the LDV eT60, which was initially launched at $92,990 before on-road costs in late 2022. Following significant discounts since then, it has attracted just 117 sales to June 2025.
But while the eT60, which will soon be replaced by the new eTerron 9, was a rear-wheel drive dual-cab which claimed a 330km driving range on the European WLTP standard, the D-Max EV will be offered exclusively with a dual-motor permanent four-wheel drive powertrain offering a claimed range of just 263km under the same test cycle.
It will, however, match its diesel equivalent/s with a 1000kg payload and 3500kg towing capacity, as well as similar off-road credentials – despite exchanging rear leaf springs for coil springs in a DeDion rear suspension setup. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
For reference, the eTerron 9 will bring 430km of range (WLTP), a power output of 325kW and the same 3.5-tonne tow rating.
The D-Max EV combines a front axle-mounted electric motor producing 43kW/108Nm with a rear motor delivering 97kW/217Nm to offer a combined total of 140kW/325Nm, matching the D-Max's 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel for power but falling 125Nm short.
Its 66.9kWh under-floor battery can be DC fast-charged at up to 50kW is claimed to offer 20-80 per cent charging in one hour, with 11kW AC home charging said to provide a 0-100 per cent charge in 10 hours.
Top speed is listed at just 128km/h and kerb weight increases by about 200kg of the X-Terrain to 2350kg.
However, the D-Max EV otherwise offers similar performance figures to its diesel equivalents, including claimed 0-100km/h acceleration in 10.1 seconds, 210mm of ground clearance (down from 240mm), a 600mm fording depth (down from 800mm), and slightly less generous approach and departure angles of 30.5 and 24.2 degrees respectively. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Apart from front quarter and rear 'EV' badging, a grille with blue highlights, and a CCS charging port instead of a diesel fuel filler, the electric D-Max looks almost identical to its dual-cab 4×4 diesel stablemates both inside and out.
Inside, there is a 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with smartphone mirroring, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control and heated front seas.
The D-Max EV will be offered in Europe in two trim levels, both riding on 18-inch wheels and featuring an energy-saving Eco mode and four levels of selectable brake energy regeneration.
First revealed in concept form in March 2024, the D-Max EV could be the next all-electric ute (as opposed to plug-in hybrid utes like the BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and Ford Ranger PHEV) to arrive in Australia after the eTerron 9.
Electric versions are expected of the top-selling Ranger, the next-generation Toyota HiLux due in 2026, and the all-new Kia Tasman that launches this month. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
IUA told CarExpert in February it was considering the release of several electrified versions of the D-Max, including mild-hybrid (MHEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), full electric (EV) and even fuel-cell electric (FCEV) and extended-range electric (EREV) powertrains to meet NVES emissions targets.
At the time, Isuzu Ute Australia (IUA) deputy general manager Sadanori Sugita confirmed the D-Max EV would be launched in Australia 'in the near future', before IUA managing director Junta Matsui said the company would not lock in any electrified powertrains until full details of the NVES had been announced.
'We haven't decided anything yet, frankly speaking,' he said. 'We leave our options open. We try to minimise the impact to the market of course.
'We're talking to the product development team, talking to Isuzu in Japan, and of course talking to the government side, because not many details have been disclosed yet, even though NVES is going to start in July.'
The NVES officially commenced on January 1 this year and fines for exceeding CO2 emissions limits started accruing on July 1, before becoming payable in 2028. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
It sets specific emissions targets that reduce between 2025 and 2029, for both 'Type 1' passenger cars and 'Type 2' heavy vehicles like the D-Max, which currently produces between 177g/km (for 1.9-litre turbo-diesel variants) and 207g/km of CO2 in 3.0-litre dual-cab 4×4 form.
While all D-Max variants are therefore under the 2025 NVES Type 2 target of 210g/km, that CO2 limit will reduce to just 110g/km in 2029.
However, Mr Matsui said both the MU-X and D-Max will remain NVES-compliant in the long-term, with the help of electrified powertrains.
'We're going to find a way for sure. We're going to make a nice balance,' he said. 'We try to find a nice balance between being fit for purpose for the Australian people and coping with the NVES targets.'
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But the Mahindra has a 360-degree parking display in both variants, whereas this is only available in the top-spec Tiggo 4 Ultimate. The Tiggo 4 was given a maximum five-star ANCAP rating in 2024, while the XUV 300 has yet to be tested by the independent safety authority. Mahindra does, however, claim the vehicle has been designed to perform at the highest level in real-world scenarios, and the XUV 300 did receive a five-star rating last year from the India's ANCAP equivalent, Bharat NCAP. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal. For small SUVs, both the Mahindra XUV 3X0 and Chery Tiggo 4 are surprisingly spacious and well suited to small families thanks to excellent interior ride on a wheelbase with roughly the same space between the front and rear axles, but the Chery is longer in overall length and fractionally wider and taller. But not by enough that makes a significant difference inside the cabin, as both offer room for five with decent headroom and more legroom in the second row than you'd imagine. Both cars have 60:40-split folding rear seats, three top-tether and two ISOFIX child seat anchors, and a space-saver spare tyre under the floor of the boot, which are also surprisingly generous and offer enough cargo capacity to cater for weekly family duties and longer holiday road trips. As for the overall aesthetic, the Tiggo 4 is a little more modern with its asymmetric dash top that highlights the floating twin-screen configuration with a separate touchscreen for the climate control system on the curving centre stack. ABOVE: Mahindra XUV 3X0 (left), Chery Tiggo 4 (right) The Mahindra is more conservative with a digital instrument cluster under its own cowl while the tablet-style infotainment screen juts out at the top of the centre of the dashboard with a row of physical buttons, and a traditional volume knob for the audio within easy reach. It also has rotary dials for the climate control and a convenient bin at the base of the console for small items or mobile devices, with a pair of cupholders behind the upright gear lever. Both the Mahindra and Chery offer decent small-item storage spaces throughout the cabin, with deep door pockets, covered bins in the centre console and flip-down arm rests in the centre of the back seat. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal. Considering the size and focus on value for money here, both the Mahindra XUV 3X0 and Chery Tiggo 4 have relatively simple powertrains with no variations between Mahindra is powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that produces 82kW of power and 200Nm of torque, driving the front wheels through a conventional six-speed automatic transmission. The Chery has an extra cylinder and a larger-capacity 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine that, naturally, delivers higher outputs of 108kW and 210Nm. It too drives the front wheels, but via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Both engines are optimised to run on the most affordable standard unleaded petrol, and the Mahindra is more efficient with a claimed average of 6.5L/100km compared to the Chery's 7.4L/100km , neither of which is particularly exceptional for small cars like these. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal. There's not much separating these two when it comes to ownership credentials either, as both are covered by seven-year warranties with free roadside assistance and capped-price servicing packages. However, the Mahindra's coverage is limited to the first 150,000km and its capped-price service offer extends to only six years, whereas the Chery has unlimited mileage coverage and service prices set for the duration of the warranty. In terms of maintenance costs, both are reasonably affordable, with the Chery's yearly average slightly lower than the Mahindra ($310 versus $332), and both require servicing every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal. The reality is there's not much to separate these two and pick a definitive winner. Both provide Australians affordable access to a new car with the latest safety tech and digital conveniences, and both come equipped with a decent array of standard equipment. Plus, they're relatively cheap to own and have excellent aftersales provisions that provide plenty of peace of mind. If anything, small families and first-time car buyers are the real winners with either choice here. Interested in buying a Mahindra XUV 3X0? Let CarExpert find you the best deal hereInterested in buying a Chery Tiggo 4? Let CarExpert find you the best deal hereMORE: Explore the Mahindra XUV3X0 showroomMORE: Explore the Chery Tiggo 4 showroom Content originally sourced from: The race for Australia's cheapest SUV recently got a new entrant with the arrival of the Mahindra XUV 3X0. The Indian automaker has temporarily overtaken Chinese rival Chery and its popular Tiggo 4 at the head of the small SUV pack with its first city-sized soft-roader. Both compact SUVs offer exceptional value for money, generous levels of standard equipment and the latest in advanced safety systems, and both have affordable long-term ownership credentials. So, let's dig a little deeper to see how they stack up against each other. The Mahindra XUV 3X0 launched in Australia last month with a special introductory price that expires on August 31, 2025. It is available in two model grades, the AX5L and AX7L, which currently cost $23,490 and $26,490 drive-away. But both will increase by $500 from September 1. When that happens, the Mahindra will line-up exactly on price with the updated Chery Tiggo 4, which arrived in Australian showrooms earlier this year. It is also offered in two variants, Urban and Ultimate, which sell for $23,990 and $26,990 respectively, also including all on-road statutory costs. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal. Considering their price, the entry-level variants of both the Chery Tiggo 4 and Mahindra XUV3X0 come with a decent level of standard equipment. ABOVE: Mahindra XUV 3X0 (left), Chery Tiggo 4 (right) The extensive list of standard features in both models includes: The Mahindra also comes with a standard glass sunroof and a cooled glovebox. For the top-spec variants, both get leather trim and larger alloy wheels (from 16- to 17-inch with the Mahindra and from 17- to 18-inch with the Chery), but there are a host more unique differences. The Mahindra XUV 300 AX7L picks up a larger 'Sky Roof', a premium Harman Kardon sound system with amplifier and sub-woofer, and the option of a two-tone paint scheme with a black roof for certain exterior colours. Meanwhile, the Chery Tiggo 4 Ultimate has power adjustment and heating for the front seats, colour interior ambient lighting, a wireless phone charger and a sunroof. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal. Both the Chery Tiggo 4 and Mahindra XUV 3X0 are equipped with a comprehensive array of advanced driver aids and safety features in all model variants. Standard safety equipment across both models includes: The Chery does go a little further with seven airbags, including a centre airbag between the front-seat occupants, as well as driver fatigue monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and collision avoidance, and door-opening warning. But the Mahindra has a 360-degree parking display in both variants, whereas this is only available in the top-spec Tiggo 4 Ultimate. The Tiggo 4 was given a maximum five-star ANCAP rating in 2024, while the XUV 300 has yet to be tested by the independent safety authority. Mahindra does, however, claim the vehicle has been designed to perform at the highest level in real-world scenarios, and the XUV 300 did receive a five-star rating last year from the India's ANCAP equivalent, Bharat NCAP. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal. For small SUVs, both the Mahindra XUV 3X0 and Chery Tiggo 4 are surprisingly spacious and well suited to small families thanks to excellent interior ride on a wheelbase with roughly the same space between the front and rear axles, but the Chery is longer in overall length and fractionally wider and taller. But not by enough that makes a significant difference inside the cabin, as both offer room for five with decent headroom and more legroom in the second row than you'd imagine. Both cars have 60:40-split folding rear seats, three top-tether and two ISOFIX child seat anchors, and a space-saver spare tyre under the floor of the boot, which are also surprisingly generous and offer enough cargo capacity to cater for weekly family duties and longer holiday road trips. As for the overall aesthetic, the Tiggo 4 is a little more modern with its asymmetric dash top that highlights the floating twin-screen configuration with a separate touchscreen for the climate control system on the curving centre stack. ABOVE: Mahindra XUV 3X0 (left), Chery Tiggo 4 (right) The Mahindra is more conservative with a digital instrument cluster under its own cowl while the tablet-style infotainment screen juts out at the top of the centre of the dashboard with a row of physical buttons, and a traditional volume knob for the audio within easy reach. It also has rotary dials for the climate control and a convenient bin at the base of the console for small items or mobile devices, with a pair of cupholders behind the upright gear lever. Both the Mahindra and Chery offer decent small-item storage spaces throughout the cabin, with deep door pockets, covered bins in the centre console and flip-down arm rests in the centre of the back seat. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal. Considering the size and focus on value for money here, both the Mahindra XUV 3X0 and Chery Tiggo 4 have relatively simple powertrains with no variations between Mahindra is powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that produces 82kW of power and 200Nm of torque, driving the front wheels through a conventional six-speed automatic transmission. The Chery has an extra cylinder and a larger-capacity 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine that, naturally, delivers higher outputs of 108kW and 210Nm. It too drives the front wheels, but via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Both engines are optimised to run on the most affordable standard unleaded petrol, and the Mahindra is more efficient with a claimed average of 6.5L/100km compared to the Chery's 7.4L/100km , neither of which is particularly exceptional for small cars like these. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal. There's not much separating these two when it comes to ownership credentials either, as both are covered by seven-year warranties with free roadside assistance and capped-price servicing packages. However, the Mahindra's coverage is limited to the first 150,000km and its capped-price service offer extends to only six years, whereas the Chery has unlimited mileage coverage and service prices set for the duration of the warranty. In terms of maintenance costs, both are reasonably affordable, with the Chery's yearly average slightly lower than the Mahindra ($310 versus $332), and both require servicing every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal. The reality is there's not much to separate these two and pick a definitive winner. Both provide Australians affordable access to a new car with the latest safety tech and digital conveniences, and both come equipped with a decent array of standard equipment. Plus, they're relatively cheap to own and have excellent aftersales provisions that provide plenty of peace of mind. If anything, small families and first-time car buyers are the real winners with either choice here. Interested in buying a Mahindra XUV 3X0? Let CarExpert find you the best deal hereInterested in buying a Chery Tiggo 4? Let CarExpert find you the best deal hereMORE: Explore the Mahindra XUV3X0 showroomMORE: Explore the Chery Tiggo 4 showroom Content originally sourced from:
