Silent but Deadly? Isuzu Plugs In Its Workhorse
Image Credit: ISUZU.
The world of sensible workhorses is about to get a bit electrifying. Isuzu has decided to stick a battery where the noisy, smelly bits used to be, and lo and behold, the D-Max EV has lumbered onto the scene. Europe's apparently wetting its collective whistle, calling it the "first production electric pickup with full commercial capabilities." Right. Let's see about that…
Pickups? They're usually about grunt, about hauling stuff that would make a Sherpa wince, and smelling faintly of diesel and damp dogs. So, the idea of one that whispers along like a startled librarian is intriguing. Yes, yes, I know. F-150 Lightning has been around for what feels like forever; the GMC Sierra EV is my favorite electric car in the world (find out why right here), but - D-Max has always been Toyota Hilux's kryptonite. Boring, dependable, indestructible… and now electric?
Image Credit: ISUZU.
Visually, you'd be hard-pressed to tell this electric D-Max from its oil-guzzling brethren. They haven't gone all futuristic and pointy like some of these newfangled EVs. Nope, it's the same solid, slightly agricultural-looking beast we've come to expect. They've even kept the grille, which seems a bit redundant when there's no radiator to cool. The only real giveaways are the little EV badges and the distinct lack of a smoky tailpipe – a change I suspect the local squirrels will appreciate. And where you'd normally find the fuel cap, there's now a socket for the electric jiggery-pokery. Clever, I'll give them that.
Underneath this familiar skin, though, things are decidedly different. Instead of a chugging diesel, you've got a pair of electric motors kicking out a combined 188 horsepower. That's actually a tad more giddy-up than the diesel version, although it's a bit down on the twisty-turny force, delivering 240 pound-feet of torque. Still, it's all-wheel drive, so it should scramble up a muddy field without much trouble. They've even kept the "Rough Terrain Mode," which sounds promising for those who fancy taking their silent workhorse off the beaten path.
Performance-wise, it'll do the 0 to 62 mph dash in a leisurely 10.1 seconds. Not exactly going to set your trousers on fire then. And the top speed is a whisker over 80 mph. Clearly, this isn't designed for chasing Ferraris down the autobahn. But when you've got a bed full of bricks, speed isn't usually your top priority. What is important is what it can lug and what it can tow. And here, the electric D-Max seems to hold its own, boasting a payload capacity of over 2,200 pounds and the ability to tow a hefty 7,700 pounds. That's properly impressive and right up there with the diesel competition. It can even wade through water up to nearly 24 inches deep, and it's got a respectable 8.3 inches of ground clearance, so it shouldn't get beached on a particularly grumpy speed bump.
Here's the bit everyone gets twitchy about with electric vehicles – the range. The D-Max EV packs a 66.9 kWh battery, which supposedly gives you about 163 miles on a single charge, according to the WLTP boffins. We all know those figures are usually about as accurate as my internal body clock, especially when you're actually working the thing hard, or the weather decides to have a bit of a tantrum. Still, for a big, heavy pickup, that's in the ballpark of what you might expect.
Image Credit: ISUZU.
And when you do run out of sparks, it can handle DC fast charging up to 50 kW, meaning you can get it from a nearly empty battery to 80% full in about an hour. Not lightning fast, but enough time for a decent cuppa and a biscuit. Isuzu is even backing the battery with an 8-year or 100,000-mile warranty, which is a reassuringly long time.
Interestingly, they've tinkered with the suspension at the back, swapping out the traditional leaf springs for a De-Dion setup. This, they say, should make the ride a bit more civilized. Pickups aren't exactly known for their plushness, so any improvement in the spine-jostling department is a welcome one.
Image Credit: ISUZU.
Well then - the electric Isuzu D-Max. It looks familiar, promises to work hard, and does away with the dinosaur juice. Pre-orders are slated to begin later this year, with deliveries starting in March 2026. Isuzu hasn't mentioned the price yet, but you can bet your last dollar it won't be cheap. Still, for businesses and individuals looking to go green without sacrificing the practicality of a pickup, this could be a serious contender. It's not going to win any drag races, but it might just teach those smoky diesels a thing or two about quiet competence.
Whether it truly lives up to the hype of being the "first" with "full commercial capabilities" is another story, especially with that electric Hilux lurking just around the corner. Will it ever arrive on this side of the pond? Unlikely, unless someone is desperate enough to go the private import route. But that will make it even more expensive. So, no - we won't see the electric D-Max unless we're on holiday in Europe.
