IMAGINE getting 2,004km out from a single 76-litre fuel tank - it sounds like a dream for most, except it is very real with the Isuzu D-Max.

For the first time, Isuzu Malaysia’s latest Dura Miles Challenge had three of the new generation D-Maxs drive from 300km north of Bangkok, Thailand to Klang, Selangor.

The result speaks for itself when the D-Max found its place in the Malaysian Book of Records for the ‘Longest distance driven in a pick-up truck with a single tank of fuel’.

Not only does it exceed the range output achievable by any petrol or hybrid powertrain on a single tank, but it is also a breakthrough achievement for a diesel engine on record.

This isn't a one-off achievement either. Previously the D-Max completed a distance of 1,809km with one tank of diesel from Bangkok to Singapore. 

Isuzu also successfully drove a 1.9-litre Single Cab model loaded with a tonne of weight while covering a distance of over 1,000km using just its single tank of fuel. 

The journey included climbing three mountains, each measuring over 1,000m in elevation.

That is the potential of Isuzu's Blue Power engines. According to the company, the Euro 4-compliant Blue Power engines of 3.0 TD (190PS with 450Nm torque) and 1.9 TD (150PS and 350Nm) features less internal resistance and better optimization over previous motors.

We're looking at better fuel efficiency, more power and a smoother motor with less vibration meaning greater comfort. 

As an Euro 4-complaint pickup truck that means its emissions are also no greater than 0.50g/km of CO2.

This is only achievable with an extremely durable and reliable engine.

From personal experience, we have managed to achieve anywhere between 7.5L to 8.0L/100km consumption with the 3.0TD engine. This meant stretching out the D-Max's range to a potential 900km on a single tank - without us even trying hard.

We’re looking at RM224.20 for a full tank with the D-Max’s fuel capacity of 76L paired to the current diesel rate of RM2.95 per litre.

By comparison most of its competitors with a 2.8L or 3.0L engine rated a consumption between 10.9L/100km at best, to 14.0L/100km for a 80L tank. 

Their full tank, based on the B7 diesel price rate of RM2.95 per litre, would cost them a pricier RM236 and they still won’t get the range of the D-Max since their engine’s higher consumption automatically offsets the benefits of their larger fuel tank.

Why all of these matters? Because you don't have to compromise on power, range efficiency and driving comfort in a pick-up truck in addition to paying less for a full tank with the Blue Power engine.

You’re paying by comparison less for a lot more range 1-for-1 than you would in not only petrol or hybrid engines but compared to other diesel engines as well.

More importantly no other pick-up truck other than the D-Max can claim to achieve 2,000km in one full fuel-up either.

In all these are standards no other powertrain let alone general diesel vehicles can achieve, and they are achievements that require an extremely durable engine.

There's no more complete and economical choice for a pick-up truck than the Isuzu D-Max for their no-brainer choice of Blue Power engines.

For added peace of mind to an already extremely reliable and capable model like no other, the top Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain variant comes with a seven-year or unlimited mileage warranty, whichever comes first 

All other new Isuzu D-Max variants come with a five-year or 150,000km mileage warranty, whichever comes first - that is Isuzu’s confidence in the D-Max, and the trust and reliability customers are assured.

For more information please visit ISUZU official website

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