The all-new Isuzu D-MAX has put its fuel efficiency and long-distance capability to the test, completing a 1,756km journey around Peninsular Malaysia on a single tank of diesel. The achievement came as part of Isuzu Malaysia’s D-MAX One Tank. One Nation Challenge, which saw two D-MAX variants travel through multiple states while facing a mix of real-world driving conditions, including highways, trunk roads, heavy traffic and mountainous terrain.

The challenge began on 17 August in Balakong, Selangor, with the two pickups embarking on a counter-clockwise journey through Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Penang and Perak before returning to Selangor. Along the route, the trucks made 10 pit stops at Isuzu dealerships before completing the challenge at the Isuzu 3S Centre in Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur, on 22 August.

Perhaps most impressively, both vehicles crossed the finish line with more than four percent of their fuel remaining — enough, according to Isuzu Malaysia, to continue their journey towards Melaka once again. The vehicles selected for the challenge comprised a D-MAX 4×4 Auto Premium and the new D-MAX 4×2 Auto Plus, both powered by Isuzu’s latest-generation 2.2-litre RZ4F-TC turbocharged diesel engine.

The journey also included one of the more demanding stretches of road in Peninsular Malaysia, with the pickups traversing the mountainous East-West Link between Jeli and Gerik. According to Isuzu Malaysia Chief Operating Officer for Light Commercial Vehicles Kenichi Kudo, the challenge was designed to demonstrate the capabilities of the new 2.2-litre engine under conditions representative of what Malaysian motorists encounter in everyday driving.

Rather than relying solely on controlled testing conditions, Isuzu wanted the D-MAX to face a genuine cross-country journey involving different road surfaces, traffic conditions and terrain. Kudo said the company was confident enough in the D-MAX’s capabilities to provide live updates throughout the challenge via its social media platforms, allowing the public to follow the progress of both vehicles.

At the heart of the achievement is Isuzu’s new 2.2-litre RZ4F-TC turbocharged diesel engine, developed with a focus on combining performance, refinement, durability, reliability and fuel efficiency. The engine is paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission, with the combination designed to deliver smoother power delivery while keeping the engine operating efficiently across a wide range of driving conditions.

For Sing Yuin Christy, who drove the D-MAX 2.2L TD 4×2 Auto Plus during the challenge, the new powertrain also made the journey easier compared with her previous experience with the 3.0-litre D-MAX X-Terrain. Christy, who previously earned a place in the Malaysian Book of Records for the longest distance driven in a pickup truck using a single tank of fuel, highlighted the engine’s throttle response and the way its power delivery works with the eight-speed gearbox.

She noted that the transmission was generally able to select an appropriate gear for the prevailing road conditions, while cruising in seventh and eighth gears on highways and trunk roads helped reduce the need for frequent throttle inputs. The 4×2 Auto Plus variant itself is based on the popular Standard specification but removes the four-wheel-drive system. This helps reduce kerb weight by approximately 80kg, while the absence of additional drivetrain components also reduces mechanical drag.

As the only manufacturer currently offering a 4×2 D-MAX variant in Malaysia, Isuzu positions the configuration as a particularly economical and dependable option for customers whose driving is predominantly on sealed and semi-sealed roads. Beyond demonstrating the D-MAX’s fuel-saving credentials, the One Tank. One Nation Challenge also served as a showcase of the pickup’s versatility, proving that efficiency does not necessarily come at the expense of long-distance capability.

The challenge was accompanied by a social media ‘Guess the Final Mileage’ contest, with prizes worth more than RM10,000 up for grabs. The winning participant, from Kluang, Johor, correctly predicted the final distance of 1,756km, earning RM5,000 worth of grocery shopping vouchers.