Isuzu D-Max 2.2 completes 1,756 km Peninsular Malaysia loop on one tank

Isuzu Malaysia has announced that two units of its new 2026 Isuzu D-Max 2.2-litre turbodiesel have completed a 1,756 km loop of Peninsular Malaysia using only one tank of diesel each.

The feat was achieved during the D-Max One Tank. One Nation Challenge, which began in Balakong, Selangor on 17 August and ended at the Isuzu 3S Centre in Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur on 22 August.

Both pick-ups completed the counter-clockwise route with more than four per cent fuel remaining, according to Isuzu Malaysia. The company said the vehicles could have continued as far as Melaka before requiring a refill.

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The route covered Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor. Along the way, the two D-MAX units made 10 stops at Isuzu dealerships and tackled a mix of highways, trunk roads, urban traffic and mountainous terrain, including the East-West Link between Jeli and Gerik.

The vehicles used were a D-MAX 4x4 Auto Premium and a lighter 4x2 Auto Plus. Both are powered by Isuzu’s new-generation RZ4F-TC 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine.

Isuzu Malaysia’s Chief Operating Officer for Light Commercial Vehicles, Kenichi Kudo, said the challenge was designed to demonstrate the new engine’s fuel efficiency under conditions similar to those faced by Malaysian motorists.

“We wanted to reflect the kind of road conditions that Malaysian motorists would face in their daily drives around the country, including rain, heavy traffic, trunk roads, mountains and highways,” said Kudo.

The 4x2 Auto Plus was driven by Sing Yuin Christy, who previously set a Malaysian Book of Records achievement for the longest distance travelled by a pick-up truck on a single tank of fuel.

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Having previously driven a 3.0-litre D-MAX X-Terrain, Christy said the new 2.2-litre model was easier to manage over the long-distance route.

“The throttle response of the new engine and the way its power delivery have been matched to the ratios of the new eight-speed gearbox meant that we were usually in the correct gear for any given road condition,” she said.

Christy added that cruising in seventh and eighth gear on highways and trunk roads helped reduce throttle input and improve efficiency.

The 4x2 Auto Plus is based on the D-MAX Standard variant but omits the four-wheel-drive system. This reduces kerb weight by around 80 kg, while also reducing drag from the additional drivetrain components.

Isuzu Malaysia remains the only manufacturer in the local pick-up market to offer a 4x2 D-MAX variant. The company positions the model as a more economical option for buyers who mainly drive on sealed or semi-sealed roads and do not require four-wheel-drive capability.

The challenge was also supported by a “Guess the Final Mileage” social media contest. A participant from Kluang, Johor correctly predicted the final distance of 1,756 km and won RM 5,000 worth of grocery vouchers, with total prizes valued at more than RM 10,000.

While a controlled endurance drive does not represent every owner’s daily usage, completing the route with fuel remaining provides a useful demonstration of the new 2.2-litre D-MAX’s long-distance efficiency and touring capability.