The new Isuzu D-MAX 2.2-litre turbo-diesel has demonstrated its long-distance fuel efficiency by completing a 1,756km loop of Peninsular Malaysia on a single tank of diesel, with both participating pickups finishing the journey with fuel remaining.
The achievement is part of the D-MAX One Tank. One Nation Challenge, which was organised by Isuzu Malaysia to demonstrate the real-world efficiency and versatility of its latest D-MAX 2.2 across a variety of Malaysian road conditions.
Rather than limiting the challenge to highways, the route included urban traffic, trunk roads, highways, rain and mountainous terrain, including the demanding East-West Link between Jeli and Gerik.
Traveling Around Peninsular Malaysia
The challenge began on 17 August 2026 in Balakong, Selangor, when two Isuzu D-MAX pickups set off on a counter-clockwise loop of Peninsular Malaysia.
The route covered Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor, with the vehicles making 10 stops, at Isuzu dealerships, along the way.
The journey concluded on 22 August at the Isuzu 3S Centre in Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur.
Despite covering 1,756km across different types of roads and terrain, both D-MAX units arrived at the finish line with more than four per cent of their fuel remaining.
According to Isuzu Malaysia, the remaining fuel would have been sufficient for the vehicles to continue towards Melaka.
The New Efficient 2.2-Litre Turbo Diesel
At the heart of the latest Isuzu D-MAX 2.2 is the new-generation RZ4F-TC 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine.
The engine is paired with a new 8-speed automatic transmission, with Isuzu focusing on improving performance, refinement, durability, reliability and fuel efficiency.
Isuzu Motors has also continued to develop its diesel technology with the aim of reducing fuel consumption and the carbon footprint associated with vehicle use.
Isuzu Malaysia Chief Operating Officer for Light Commercial Vehicles, Kenichi Kudo, said the One Tank. One Nation Challenge was created to demonstrate the capabilities of the new D-MAX 2.2 under conditions representative of everyday Malaysian driving.
“The One Tank. One Nation Challenge was the result of us wanting to showcase the capability of the new Isuzu D-MAX and its 2.2-litre engine in a way that no others have done before. We also 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.”
Isuzu Malaysia also shared live updates of the journey through its social media channels, allowing the public to follow the progress of the two trucks throughout the challenge.
D-MAX 4×2 Auto Plus Highlights Fuel Efficiency
The two vehicles used for the challenge were the Isuzu D-MAX 2.2 4×4 Auto Premium and D-MAX 2.2 4×2 Auto Plus.
The 4×2 Auto Plus was driven by Sing Yuin Christy, who previously earned a place in the Malaysian Book of Records after achieving the longest distance driven in a pickup truck using one tank of fuel.
For this challenge, Christy moved from her previous 3.0-litre D-MAX X-Terrain to the new 2.2-litre 4×2 Auto Plus.
She said the combination of the new engine and 8-speed automatic transmission made the D-MAX easier to drive efficiently over long distances.
“The throttle response of the new engine and the way its power delivery have been matched brilliantly to the ratios of the new 8-speed gearbox meant that we were usually in the correct gear for any given road condition. Cruising along trunk roads and highways in 7th and 8th gears also allowed us to coast along rather efficiently without needing too much throttle input thereby saving lots of fuel,” said Christy.
Why the D-MAX 4×2 Is Designed for Efficiency
The D-MAX 2.2 4×2 Auto Plus is based on the highly popular Standard variant but does not have the four-wheel-drive system.
This reduces kerb weight by approximately 80kg, while also reducing drag and the mechanical components associated with the additional drivetrain.
Isuzu says the 4×2 configuration is particularly suited to customers who spend most of their time driving on sealed and semi-sealed roads.
The configuration also gives Malaysian pickup buyers another option if four-wheel-drive capability is not required for their daily driving or business needs.
One Tank, One Nation: A Real-World Efficiency Demonstration
The significance of the Isuzu D-MAX 1,756km one-tank challenge lies in the variety of conditions covered during the journey.
The pickups were not confined to a controlled test route. Instead, they encountered highways, trunk roads, traffic, rain and mountainous terrain during their journey around Peninsular Malaysia.
Completing the route with more than four per cent fuel remaining gives the new Isuzu D-MAX 2.2 a strong real-world demonstration of its long-distance efficiency.
However, the result should be viewed as a demonstration from a specific driving challenge rather than an official fuel-consumption figure applicable to every D-MAX. Actual fuel consumption will vary according to factors such as driving style, traffic, load, road conditions and weather.
Strengthening Long-Distance Credentials
The One Tank. One Nation Challenge highlights the combination of the 2.2-litre RZ4F-TC turbo-diesel engine, 8-speed automatic transmission and 4×2 drivetrain in delivering efficient long-distance performance.
For Malaysian drivers who regularly travel between states, as well as businesses that depend on their pickups for daily transportation, the ability to cover long distances without frequent fuel stops can be a significant practical advantage.
With both D-MAX 2.2 units completing the 1,756km journey with fuel remaining, Isuzu has used a demanding cross-country drive to demonstrate the latest D-MAX’s combination of fuel efficiency, durability and versatility.
CarTok Editor’s Note
Isuzu did not just put a D-MAX on a highway and chase a laboratory-style fuel economy figure. The challenge included all types of conditions typically encountered in Malaysia — traffic, rain, highways, trunk roads and mountainous routes.
The 2.2-litre engine, 8-speed automatic and lighter 4×2 configuration also show why drivetrain specification matters when efficiency is a top priority. For buyers who rarely need four-wheel drive, the 4×2 Auto Plus variant is a more practical proposition: retaining the practicality of a pickup but removing some of the weight and mechanical complexity of a 4×4 system.
However, the 1,756km result should not be mistaken for a universal fuel-consumption guarantee but as a real-world demonstration of the D-MAX 2.2’s potential long-distance capability.
