The Rodeo is soon to be back – well, it is and it isn’t. The nameplate that has been a household word in Australia for nearly three decades is gone, but the car that would have been the next generation Rodeo is about to arrive – and it’s now called the D-MAX.
In a matter of weeks, the new D-MAX one-tonne light truck range will go on sale in Australia under the banner of Isuzu UTE Australia Pty Ltd (IUA), not to be confused with brand sibling but separate entity, Isuzu Australia Ltd.
IUA’s D-MAX range will include 4x2 and 4x4 variants in ute (pickup) and cab/chassis configurations. The D-MAX name is by no means new, in fact it is the second top-selling one-tonne conventional cab/chassis/ute range in the world, we’ve just known it as the Rodeo in Australia.
Australians have already had a taste of D-MAX, but in the form of a Dakar-style diesel desert rally racer driven by Sydney’s Bruce Garland in the recent Australasian Safari in outback WA from August 23-30. Garland won by the way, and in doing so became the Safari’s first ever diesel-powered podium finisher and competitive stage winner.
Isuzu still owns the Rodeo name, but IUA decided to adopt the worldwide D-MAX nameplate. Around 40 Isuzu UTE dealers have already been appointed nationally with more to follow.
According to IUA, they are all well-established and reputable operators and many are luxury and niche car brand dealers, who will now be able to bolster their offerings with a light commercial range.
We’ll keep you updated.


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Comments
2 years ago 0 points
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1 year ago 0 points
I am rezk amar from Egypt,
I need abut fifty vehicles every months but different colures and single cabana and
double cabana model 2009 I want good price and good discount , and I will bay cash money
But please send for my all details BY EMAIL: REZK_AMAR@YAHOO.COM
1 year ago 0 points
hoping they have a better track record than rodeo gm.have only had bad reports on the rodeo.but if all the reports so far on d/max like great fuel economy are justifide then show me the way to the nearest dealer.
8 months ago 0 points
It leaves the Hilux, Ranger, B-50 and Triton for dead. I can outrun them all easily and I've hit the 220kmh on the speedo many times outside of the city. I drive all those other makes/models when I'm hiring in other centres in PNG but can't wait to get back to the "real" d-cab ute!
I replaced my original/factory Bridgestone Dueler HT last Friday and now have GT Radial Adventuro MT's and can only pull 190kmh now, but I guess that's a tyre restriction.
My Isuzu D-MAX IS a real workhorse. I carry over 500kg of sound gear, each load, every day and with road conditions here in PNG - she's just nothing but tough and reliable.
I'm off-road every weekend and flog the hell out of this thing and it won't break. I even towed other d-cabs out serious boggy mud with my "slicks"
Tougher, more Powerful and Reliable? Hell yeah... It's an Isuzu.
7 months ago 0 points
5 months ago 0 points
how is the fuel consumption?
what type of tires are best suited for the DMAX?
How does it handle on wet road?