Isuzu D-Max Blade Pickup is Here to Stay

In 2014, Isuzu introduced a special edition version of their D-Max pickup truck called the D-Max Blade. The truck launched with the tagline “Even nightmare jobs are no match for a pick up professional,” which makes a lot more sense after you watch the intro video below:

The tagline isn’t really relevant to today’s article, but we really liked that little short and have been looking for an opportunity to get it into a blog post since the special edition truck made its debut at the end of last year. So, there you go.

The Isuzu D-Max Blade was a huge success for the small Japanese automaker, Isuzu. In fact, it was enough to set a sales record for the 2014 model year – they managed to sell a full 5,500 units last year, and had to build twice as many D-Max Blades as planned to satisfy customer demand. So, they’re listening to demand in 2015 and beyond… The D-Max Blade will now be a permanent addition to Isuzu’s UK lineup, with deliveries starting later this month.

Even without the special Blade edition, the D-Max is a great truck. It doesn’t have the biggest engine in the world with a twin-turbocharged 2.5L diesel under the hood which only outputs 160 horsepower. However, don’t let the low power fool you – with 295 lb-ft of torque, this truck can tow a full 3.5 metric tons, which is about 3.8 short tons for our US readers. If it’s hauling you need, the D-Max can handle up to 2,345 lbs.

On top of that, the D-Max gets excellent fuel economy with a manufacturer estimated 38.7 mpg combined. Four-wheel drive is standard, and the powertrain can be mated to a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic for a bit extra

The D-Max Blade is set apart by the unique ‘Shadow’ style front grille, the black mirror caps and door handles, and of course you can’t miss those 18” ‘Shadow” alloy wheels fitted with Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires. The Blade is available in either Cosmic Black or Pearlescent White.

The interior is even better with Blade-only piano black accents, bespoke scuff plates, a 6.1” Pioneer touchscreen, a booming 8-speaker audio system, and of course the rear backup camera. You’ll also get built-in satellite GPS, heated leather seats and special Blade floor mats.

All in all, we love to see smaller Japanese car makers finding success with innovative offerings. The Isuzu D-Max Blade isn’t the biggest or the strongest pickup in the world, but it’s the perfect example of an automaker giving customers what they want. We hope the Blade continues to boost Isuzu sales in 2015 and beyond, but sadly the model will only be sold in the UK.