Isuzu Malaysia launched the facelifted D-Max pick-up truck back in September last year, which also saw the debut of the latest-generation 1.9 litre Ddi Blue Power turbodiesel engine in the country.
The new RZ4E-TC 1.9 litre common-rail four-cylinder diesel engine with variable geometry turbocharging makes 150 PS and 350 Nm of torque, which is more than the old 4JK1-TCX 2.5 litre unit (136 PS and 320 Nm) it replaces.
More impressively, despite the higher outputs and smaller displacement – the latter also sees a reduction in road tax – the Isuzu claims a 19% improvement in fuel efficiency. This is thanks to the use of low-friction parts and a lighter engine weight by 56 kg thanks to the smaller capacity.
While these claims certainly do sound good on paper, how does the new engine in the refreshed pick-up truck perform in real life? To answer that question, Isuzu Malaysia recently organised the 1.9 Blue Power Dura Challenge, where a Single Cab variant of the D-max with the RZ4E-TC engine was made to drive through some of the highest hills along the Titiwangsa Range.
The journey, which covered more than 1,000 km, was also done on a single tank of diesel, and to make things even more challenging, the pick-up was loaded up with crates to its maximum permissible payload capacity of 1,000 kg.
To quell any doubts about the challenge’s credibility, the pick-up used was first subject to a thorough inspection conducted by Puspakom to ensure it is identical to a showroom-standard unit. After that, the truck was loaded up, while the bonnet and fuel filler cap were sealed with anti-tamper tape before the start of the journey from the Isuzu-Hicom factory in Pekan, Pahang.
The first day of challenge saw the white D-Max head north along the East-West Highway linking Jeli, Kelantan and Gerik, Pahang, climbing to an elevation of 1,052 metres before heading to Ipoh for the night.
The day after, the pick-up made the 1,112-metre climb up to Tanah Rata in Cameron Highlands before pushing onwards to Fraser’s Hill (1,222 metres) via Raub, followed by a 1,604-metre-high climb up to Genting Highlands.
From there, the pick-up headed all the way back to the Isuzu service centre in Shah Alam, clocking a total of 1,145 km by the end of the two-day journey. According to the trip computer, the pick-up averaged 7.2 l/100 km, or 13.7 km/l, and still had two bars of fuel left (the D-Max has a 76-litre fuel tank).
“The prowess of the Isuzu D-Max continues to astound with its remarkable capabilities. Despite being the pick-up truck with smallest displacement on the market, the 1.9 litre Isuzu D-Max completed the challenge with absolute ease and confidence. It truly suggests that the Isuzu D-Max 1.9 litre Blue Power has what it takes to get any job done,” said Masayuki Suzuki, chief operating officer of Isuzu Malaysia.
“Through advanced technology, the new 1.9-litre RZ4E-TC engine is by far the most fuel-efficient engine ever produced by Isuzu Motors and this was clearly demonstrated in this exercise. Perhaps some vehicles can travel long distances on a tank of fuel, some can probably manage to carry a ton of weight or climb mountains. But to achieve all three criteria with one vehicle is a true feat of a competent vehicle,” added Koji Nakamura, chief executive officer of Isuzu Malaysia.
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Wow, Genting hilltop parking lot so empty. First time I see this ever.
Super impressive. to put it on a real Life test and to prove its fuel efficiency is really something. Having to have a tonne of weight and still with 2 bars, mind blowing. Thanks for the story, gotta go for a test drive this week and to consider this truck as an option before my purchase. Thanks Paultan, this helps a lot. Keep it up guys.
Basher said this fuel tank challenge is just shiok sendiri and real fuel consumption is like a Rolls-Royce.
Err…. how big is the fuel tank? To ave travelled 1145KM at average fuel consumption of 7.2/100KM, would require some 82.5 litres of fuel… and still have 2 bars of fuel as shown by the fuel gauge?
Fuel tank must be well over 100 l capacity……… ?
The Isuzu D-Max has a 76-litre fuel tank.
So where did that extra 6.5liters of fuel to last the entire journey came by? From Aether?
Perplexed as how can they get 1145km as claimed in the news from the unfinished diesel tank of 76 liters, the numbers certainly didn’t add up at all
The above 1145 km not tally with the fuel rating at all, what went wrong as it supposed 80++ litre of fuel, pls answer as I found this news is totally misleading
consider deceleration travel distance while slowing down or hill descending..
The above 1145 km not tally with the fuel rating at all, what went wrong as it supposed 80++ litre of fuel, pls answer as I found this news is totally misleading
Its coz the distance of 1145km is from tripmeter/odometer. The fc figure is from the trip computer. Both figure cant be reliably related to each other.
Why? coz 1145km is the actual distance travelled.
7.2l / 100km is average. Average is not actual or accurate but an ‘in between’ figure over a prefix distance.
If the driver drives all out for the last leg of 10-20km of the 1145km the av figure displayed will increase significantly and straight calculation with tank capacity will be way off. However, overall fc will still be good over the 1145km.
76 liters / 7.2 = 10.56 x 100km = 1056 km only
76 liters / 7.2 = 10.56 x 100km = 1056 km only
The news is not misleading. But the trip computer’s calculation was not accurate.
The article had mentioned that the 7.2L/100 figure came from the trip computer. Trip computers in any car are known to be inaccurate.
So the most accurate figure should be calculated manually, which in this case:
Distance traveled = 1145km
From my observation, the fuel gauge meter has 17 bars, which means 76 ÷ 17 = 1 bar represents 4.47 litres of fuel. After the journey, the d-max had two bars left, which means it consumed 15 bars of fuel that can be calculated as 15 bars x 4.47 litres = 67 litres.
Now we can divide the distance travelled with the amount of fuel consumed, 1145km ÷ 67 litres = 17.09km/L.
Or, 67 ÷ 1145km x 100km = 5.85L/100km
So, true figure for the d-max 1.9 fuel consumption should be 17.09km/L or 5.85L/100km.
Very fuel efficient!
Each bar normally is not linear. So 2 bars left may not necessarily have 9 litres left.
Impressive work by a 1.9L engine. To Gerik, Cameron Highlands and Genting with 1 tonne load and with fuel to spare was just great. Din know a pick-up can achieve this kind of mileage.
these challenge showing 1 full tank can run for 1145KM with weight 1 ton, but if without weight will it run far more.. how many more KM can go without weight 1 ton..?
Thumbs up great Pickup truck. I wish it be would be great if you could fix this engine into a van instead. Maybe useful for business people, people carrier and school minibuses.
”East-West Highway linking Jeli, Kelantan and Gerik, Pahang“
Gerik is in Pahang?
Pahang has conquered Gerik
That sort of efficiency while hauling load is impressive. I’m sold.
Now, if they only made a high spec single cab for private registration.
Perfect if you have an Automatic Transmission variant (A/T) for this single cab chasis.
May I know what is the speed they are travelling at? 80km/h? If you are travelling more than 80km/h, you will not get that kind of mileage.
Please do this again to prove that your fuel gauges is correct, many people commented this is total misleading on the 1 tank mileage, This is highly suspect that either you gauge calculation is wrongly setup, but i can see Myvi is have more accurate calculation than you and this is highly suspect that the tank size is larger than 76liter.
i challenge you to get existing 1.9ddi customer to prove this again.