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Isuzu D-Max Climbs to No. 2 in Malaysia’s Pick-Up Truck Market Amid Diesel Price Surge

The Isuzu D-Max continues to solidify its position as one of Malaysia’s top-performing pick-up trucks in 2025, with its reputation for reliability, fuel efficiency, and robust performance driving it to unprecedented heights. In the first quarter of the year, Isuzu Malaysia captured a record 18.3 per cent share of the national pick-up truck segment, a marked increase from the 14.0 per cent achieved during the same period in 2024.

This performance has propelled the D-Max into second place overall in Malaysia’s competitive pick-up market, making it one of the most sought-after choices among both urban and rural buyers. The surge in demand comes despite growing public scepticism towards diesel vehicles, largely triggered by a recent spike in diesel fuel prices across Peninsular Malaysia.

According to Kenkichi Sogo, Chief Operating Officer of Isuzu Malaysia, the company is witnessing a significant shift in buyer perception. Consumers, he said, are increasingly recognising the D-Max’s versatility, dependability, and affordability, particularly in times of rising living costs. Sogo emphasised that the D-Max offers not just impressive capabilities for both work and leisure, but also extremely low running costs and a road tax of under RM400 annually in Peninsular Malaysia—making it a financially prudent choice.

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Isuzu D-Max Breaks Record with 2,000km Fuel Efficiency Feat

Long regarded as a benchmark for fuel efficiency, the Isuzu D-Max has once again proven its unmatched capabilities. Three units of the latest Isuzu D-Max successfully completed an incredible 2,000km journey using only the fuel from their 76-litre tanks, demonstrating the enduring fuel economy of these versatile pick-up trucks.

This achievement builds on the D-Max’s previous fuel-sipping record, which saw the truck travel 1,809km from Bangkok to Singapore on a single tank of diesel. More recently, an Isuzu 1.9-litre Single Cab model loaded with one tonne of weight completed a challenging journey of over 1,000km, conquering three mountains, each rising over 1,000 meters in elevation, using just one tank of fuel.

In this latest feat, Isuzu Malaysia’s Dura Miles Challenge tested the endurance of three models: the 1.9-litre 4×2 Auto Plus, the 1.9-litre 4×4 Auto Premium, and the premium 3.0-litre 4×4 X-Terrain. The vehicles embarked on a journey from Phitsanulok, Thailand, to Klang, Selangor, covering 2,000km without refuelling. The test marked the first time the new third-generation Isuzu D-Max was put to such a test. These 2024 models, equipped with Euro 4 engines, boast enhanced power and superior fuel efficiency alongside a stylish, aerodynamic design.

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The New Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain – The Perfect Vehicle for your Weekends

It has finally arrived, the perfect weekend that you have planned for months: an outing with the family to a hidden beach where clear blue waters and fine white sand await you. But as soon as you turn off onto the dirt road, suddenly the road threatens to bog you down, everyone and everything not tied down gets thrown around like in the movie Twister. The kids start turning green and the barf bags come out. The Mrs. starts yelling at the kids. And soon, the entire trip becomes a nightmare.

But this only happens when you drive anything other than the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain. Isuzu has decades of building the best pick-ups and the D-Max X-Terrain is the result of putting this experience into producing a pick-up that not only takes on challenges head-on, but makes it the perfect vehicle for your weekend adventures.

These are what the new Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain has for you:

It all starts with versatility, and it is what endears millions to the Isuzu pick-up platform. The magic of having a pick-up truck is the ability to traverse anywhere the road may lead you, even where there is no road left.The go-anywhere, do-anything attitude of the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain is undeniable. While some pick-up trucks may focus on one aspect over another, the X-Terrain has managed to capture a fine balance of comfort, durability and efficiency.
However, the D-Max X-Terrain takes it several steps further.It is equipped with an advanced 4×4 system which includes a Rough Terrain Mode (RTM) that gives it versatile performance across all terrains. Consequently, you can transition from the daily grind to rugged off-road trails with only the turn of a switch. Think of it like the McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18 fighter-bomber jet: It transitions from mode to another at the, you got it, the flick of a switch, making it ideal for weekend getaways.

Add an 800mm water wading depth and you have almost nothing to fear (except for that electric truck running out of juice in front of you and blocking your way).

Driving this performance is the 3.0L “Blue Power” turbo diesel which pumps out a healthy 190PS and 450Nm, for that extra grunt to deal with difficult conditions, offering adaptable performance to ensure a smooth and enjoyable ride anywhere, anytime.
Good technical specification does not mean anything if the interior looks and feels dated. This is where the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain delivers once again with a well-designed, well-appointed interior with premium touches that will put others to shame such as the large, leather seats that are constructed using elastic foam with anti-vibration technology. The seats offer impressive comfort for extended periods and that is just some of the premium features that the X-Terrain has to offer.
The interior is also impressively large which makes it feel comfortable and spacious. Combine this with features such as dual-zone air-conditioning and the interior of the X-Terrain is the perfect place to be either on a daily basis or on long adventure trips towards the unknown.The Isuzu X-Terrain also features an advanced infotainment system running on wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless entertainment and precise navigation. The occupants also do not have to worry about their devices running out of juice, either, as there are multiple USB charging ports placed strategically around the cabin.
When it comes to 4×4 capabilities, interior comfort and tech, the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain is arguably the best at it. But it also offers amazing versatility and has the means to offer everything you would need on your daily escapades to make driving the X-Terrain truly hassle free.
The practical features that the X-Terrain offers include multiple storage options inside the truck. So whether you are in charge of building stuff, a law firm or simply like to have the convenience of owning a pick-up truck, the X-Terrain makes it incredibly easy to live with it.
Then there is the incredible clear and precise 360-degree camera. This is one of the X-Terrain’s ace cards as it makes it easy to maneuver the big truck even in tight parking spots.You can also depend on the camera to keep you safe in uncertain conditions, like using the camera to look around the truck before alighting from it, just to ensure no one is hiding around the truck in spots that you cannot see through the mirrors.

The large and deep cargo bed is another feature that is important for those who like to have the versatility that a pick-up truck offers. Shallow beds make it unsafe to store items at the back as they may tip over in corners, but there is no fear of that happening with the X-Terrain.

It is also quite large so you can store all your gear for your weekend camping trips, or even materials you need for your work. Those with a knack for an adventurous lifestyle such as dirt-bikers or supermoto riders will also appreciate the large bed of the Isuzu as it makes it easy to carry two bikes with multiple points to tie down the bikes.

Simply said, the bed of the X-Terrain is ideal for all types of lifestyles.

The only “feature” left out by the Isuzu D-Max is what you have in mind for your perfect weekend: Be it a road trip, camping adventure, or that trip to that hidden beach you have always dreamt about. But now you can be sure of arriving there and overcoming all the challenges along the way.

The Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain is priced at RM157,938.40 OTR without insurance where else in Sabah the X-Terrain carries a price tag of RM159,830.70 while in Sarawak the price is RM160,011.10.

The X-Terrain also comes with a 7-year unlimited mileage warranty, one of the longest in the industry for added peace of mind throughout your ownership life cycle.

Interested to find out more about the new Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain? Click here for everything you need to know!

Ford To Build Ranger In China

Although Ford pick-up trucks are sold all over the planet, they are not seen in China as the company’s range does not include such products. This will soon change as the carmaker has announced that it will manufacture and sell the Ranger in the world’s largest vehicle market.

The announcement was made at Auto Shanghai 2023 and the model to be introduced will be the latest generation which made its debut in November 2021 (Malaysia in July 2022). The Ranger is exported from two production hubs – in Thailand and in South Africa – to some 180 markets.

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Hennessey transforms Ford Raptor R Into a 6×6 VelociRaptoR

30 years ago, many people came to know about a dinosaur that was called a raptor (full name: velociraptor). It was one of the dinosaurs in The Jurassic Park movie and it was very ferocious and very nasty.

Fast forward to today and people still talk about a raptor – except that they usually do not refer to the dinosaur but an equally ferocious Ford truck. Ford was quick to use the name, capitalising on its image known by the older generation and at the same time building an image of high performance and ruggedness for younger buyers.

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Selling Ford Trucks In The World’s Most Advanced EV Market?

The Europeans never really liked SUVs because they were seen as big, heavy, consumed excessive fuel and were therefore not good for the environment. Pick-up trucks have been moderately tolerated but generally, they have preferred their small vans and stationwagons if they required something more utilitarian to carry stuff.

Of course, over the past 10 years, European carmakers themselves have also begun offering SUVs but they are more passenger car-like. They are compact and use passenger car platforms and drivetrains, so they are still largely cars with the looks of SUVs. And they are in great demand too…

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Magna Offers eBeam Technology To Electrify Pick-Up Trucks With Lower Cost

As the auto industry transitions towards electric vehicles (EVs), there is increasing use of common platforms which have been developed and engineered specifically to integrate electric motors, related systems and battery packs. These are flexible platforms which can be used for different vehicle types by varying the platform dimensions.

However, most of such platforms are suited for passenger vehicles which have limited payload demands. They may not necessarily be suitable for pick-up trucks which have greater load-carrying requirements, hence the continued use of the chassis frame instead of a monocoque structure.

Magna International, the Canadian automotive systems and parts manufacturer, has come up with new technology which provides a simple way to electrify a pick-up truck without losing truck capabilities. Known as eBeam technology, it is the first significant change to solid beam rear axle in trucks in more than 100 years.

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Malaysia Is First Market in Asia-Pacific To Sell Peugeot Landtrek Pick-Up Truck

While pick-up trucks are popular in many markets, they have never appealed to consumers in the European markets. Their size has been one reason, given the narrow roads and tight parking spaces in many cities. For farm use, tractors would be preferred and if it comes to carrying goods, they have small vans that are more practical.

For this reason, Peugeot has never really given much attention to making pick-up trucks although it did produce one as far back as 1938. There were also a few other models over the years and one based on the 504 was quite popular – in Africa. In fact, to satisfy demand by its overseas distributors (mainly in Africa), it has provided ‘badge-engineered’ pick-up trucks, one of them being based on a model made by Dongfeng.

More recently, the French carmaker co-developed a truck with Changan, another Chinese manufacturer. Changan calls its version the Kaicene F70 while Peugeot calls it the Landtrek, and it is sold in some markets in South America and Africa. It is also now available in Malaysia, which is the first market in the Asia-Pacific region to well the Landtrek.

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Discover The Full Capabilities Of The Ford Ranger Yourself

The pick-up truck was once just for work and regulations (in Malaysia) before the late 1990s did not permit registration for private use. When the regulations changed, Ford was the first to show people the fun side of owning a pick-up truck with its Ranger. Built tough for workhorse duties, the Ranger was also a very capable truck able to travel over difficult terrain.

Today’s Ranger is even more capable but many people don’t realise just how capable, or they do not have an opportunity to take it to its limits. Sime Darby Auto ConneXion, the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, can help Ranger owners discover the capabilities of their Ranger at a course specially designed for beginners.

To be held on March 19, the Ford Ranger Getaways M4TREC Beginner 4WD Course offers any Ranger owner the chance to master his or her vehicle. Participants will also gain in-depth familiarity with their vehicle and might even discover some features which they did not realise their Ranger had.

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Ram’s Concept EV Truck Proposes A 3-Row Cabin!

Ram is unlikely to be known to Malaysians as it is a brand presently mainly in North America. It used to be the name of a truck range in Dodge but got spun off in 2010 to become a brand on its own within the Fiat Chrysler Group. With the merger of Fiat Chrysler and the PSA Group in 2021, Ram became part of the enlarged Stellantis group.

Ram has always been a truck specialist and when it was a division in Chrysler, it focussed on delivering ‘real trucks’ and not the ‘lifestyle’ machines that have become common in recent times. It therefore has a solid niche in the market where capable trucks are sought for serious work.

At CES 2023 recently, Ram gave a preview of what it’s looking at further down the road in the age of electrification. It presented its vision in 3-dimensional form as the Ram 1500 Revolution Battery-electric Vehicle (BEV) Concept which also gives an idea of its design direction.

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