We have another announcement for a price hike. From January 1, 2019, Isuzu Motors India will increase the prices of the D-Max pickup (both passenger and commercial versions) and the MU-X SUV. The company has said that the increase is expected to hover between 1-2 per cent for the commercial versions of the D-Max pickup (Regular Cab and D-Max S-Cab) and between 3-4 per cent for its passenger vehicles – D-Max V-Cross and the MU-X SUV. Depending on the model and variant chosen, buyers could end up paying anything between Rs 15,000 and Rs 1 lakh (ex-showroom) more.

The company has said that the main drivers behind this step are the increased input and distribution costs. In September 2018, Isuzu hiked the prices of its D-Max pickups. Prices were increased by up to Rs 50,000, with the D-Max V-Cross receiving the highest bump. The said vehicle is powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine which produces 134PS/320Nm. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission which, in the Standard variant, feeds the power to the rear wheels and, in the High trim, to all four wheels. Currently, the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is priced between Rs 14.82 – 16.32 lakh.

The other passenger vehicle that Isuzu retails in India is the MU-X SUV. It received its mid-life update in October this year. It is available in just two trims – 4×2 AT and 4×4 AT – and they are priced at Rs 26.34 lakh and Rs 28.31 lakh respectively. Both are powered by a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine which puts out 177PS/380Nm and comes mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission.

Isuzu isn’t the first automaker to announce a price hike from next year. Before it, BMW India Group and Toyota Kirloskar Motor had come clean about their plans of revising prices from January 1, 2019.