2026 Isuzu Giga gets a high-tech makeover

Isuzu holds world premiere of refreshed Giga heavy-duty truck

Isuzu Motors Limited (IML) has chosen the 2025 Japan Mobility Show to debut the refreshed and upgraded version of its popular heavy-duty truck.

Say hello to the 2026 Isuzu Giga, and boy, did it receive plenty of new toys and a stylish new look. Now featuring a sleeker and bolder appearance than before, along with a long list of new features and intelligent driver aids, the 2026 Giga (also called the S&E Series in the Philippines) gets a makeover not just in looks but also in technologies.

Starting with the exterior, the design of the Isuzu Giga now conforms to the brand’s current design language, which was first seen in the all-new Elf. The result is a front fascia that looks and feels more cutting-edge. It features the brand's new "World Cross Flow" grille design motif that unifies its looks with the equally popular Elf and Forward Isuzu models. It also comes with eye-catching LED daytime running lights, as well as the new headlights also provide the Giga with one heck of a look.

Besides giving it a facelift, the Giga also received a host of intelligent driver aids that are part of its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). For the 2026 model year and onwards, the Isuzu Giga is now available with pre-crash braking that also works while making turns.

The new safety feature works with both pedestrians as well as cyclists who may happen to be in the truck's blind spots. Once the driver uses the turn signals, an array of sensors constantly monitors for any pedestrians or cyclists to ensure safety.

Inside, pretty much everything remains the same for the 2026 Giga. It has a spacious cabin that features a driver-centric cockpit, an array of gauges on the instrument cluster, a huge steering wheel, at touchscreen media system, several cupholders, and plenty of buttons & switches that are easy-to-reach.

For better peace of mind, the system also comes with side collision mitigation and a wheel detachment early-warning detection system for improved driver safety. The latter works by detecting abnormalities when the wheel nuts begin to loosen, thus alerting the driver with a warning message and a buzzer before a wheel separates.

Since trucks like the Isuzu Giga have large blind spots, Isuzu also installed a new lane-keeping assist to help drivers maintain their lanes. The system activates once the driver turns on their indicators, where sensors constantly monitor for other vehicles or motorcyclists that may be in the adjacent lanes. Should the driver decide to change lanes while another vehicle is beside them, the system automatically steers the vehicle back to the center.

Last but not least, Isuzu also has on display a three-axle version of the Giga for when the going gets tough. Thanks to its heavy-duty construction and gross vehicle weight of 25 tons, it’s currently the only one of its kind on offer in Japan that allows for more payload capacity in every trip.

Powering the 2026 Isuzu Giga is a massive six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that displaces 9839cc or nearly 10 liters. It puts out 380 PS at 1800 rpm and a staggering 1,814 Nm of torque between 1000 and 2000 rpm. Power is then sent to a 12-speed automated manual transmission (AMT). The Giga also has a total loading capacity of 14,300 kg, which allows it to carry more than enough cargo during a single trip.

With the refreshed Giga now launched in Japan, we won't be surprised if Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) plans on launching it in the country sometime in the near future. We're hoping IPC brings the version with intelligent driver aids for better peace of mind for both the driver and pedestrians/other motorists.