No hybrid, no gimmick - One tank, 1,605 km: Isuzu D-Max 2.2 drives from Sandakan to Kuching

The Isuzu D-Max 2.2-litre turbo diesel has completed a 1,605 km journey from Sandakan, Sabah, to Kuching, Sarawak, on a single tank of fuel, according to Isuzu Malaysia.

Two variants took part in the East Malaysian leg of the D-Max One Tank. One Nation Challenge: the 4x2 Auto Plus and 4x4 Automatic Premium. Both reached the finish without refuelling, with Isuzu reporting that each still had diesel remaining.

The 4x2 Auto Plus went a step further, completing the journey without its low-fuel warning light coming on.

This follows the D-Max 2.2’s earlier single-tank challenge around Peninsular Malaysia.

Read Also: Over 1,500 km without hybrid? Isuzu D-Max 2.2 takes on Peninsular Malaysia with one-tank challenge

From Sabah’s mountain roads to Kuching

The convoy departed from Universal Motor’s Isuzu showroom in Sandakan, heading towards Telupid through sections affected by ongoing Pan Borneo Highway construction.

It then climbed towards Kundasang before continuing to Kota Kinabalu. From there, the route passed through Brunei and into Sarawak, taking in Miri, Bintulu, Sibu and Sarikei before finishing at Jimisar Auto Niaga’s Isuzu 3S Centre in Kuching.

Along the way, the trucks encountered mountainous terrain, elevation changes and trunk roads shared with heavy vehicles. Scheduled visits to Isuzu dealerships were also part of the journey.

Isuzu Malaysia chief operating officer for light commercial vehicles Kenichi Kudo said the route was chosen to reflect the roads customers use, including construction stretches and demanding climbs.

“It is easy to claim that a vehicle is fuel efficient by driving it along a smooth and quiet highway,” he said.

New 2.2-litre diesel paired with an eight-speed automatic

Both trucks use Isuzu’s new 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Isuzu attributes part of the result to the engine’s low-speed torque, which allows the trucks to tackle inclines in higher gears where conditions permit. The company says the new powertrain also improves refinement and everyday drivability.

For owners covering long distances across Sabah and Sarawak, the practical appeal is straightforward: fewer fuel stops and potentially lower diesel expenditure.

Given the D-Max's 76-litre ful tank, the whole 1,605 km journey would have worked out to roughly 4.7 L/100 km (~21.1 km/L) - with fuel remaining. Impressive? No doubt.

Dealer visits and prizes accompanied the drive

Selected dealerships hosted public engagement sessions along the route, with Isuzu D-Max brand ambassador Baki Zainal meeting fans and distributing merchandise while awaiting the convoy.

An online competition also invited the public to predict the challenge’s exact total distance. A RM 5,000 grocery voucher prize was offered as part of a total prize pool worth RM 10,000.