Prices of fuel, especially that of diesel, have spiked again for the nth time. And while such market forces are basically beyond any one individual’s control, there’s still a way to rein in one’s fuel expenses during these times.
Actually, two ways: The way you drive, and what you drive. Combined, these two can significantly help you make the most out of every precious drop of fuel you put into the tank.
While you may be still honing your driving skills to become a more fuel-efficient driver, your choice of vehicle will make an immediate impact on your driving expenses. So, as you mull over what vehicle you should be buying next to get around this crazy fossil fuels conundrum (I would tend to shout “try an EV!”, but I understand that the EV market here is still very much limited and still virtually non-existent in the LCV category, so set that option aside, for now), know that there are diesel-powered vehicles that are quite remarkably engineered with the way they’re ultra-efficient in harnessing their fluid fuels.
Wouldn’t you like to own a vehicle that can go for 1,564 kms in just one full tank of diesel? That’s what an Isuzu D-Max did—consuming an average 20.58km for every liter of fuel. How about for an even more remarkable 1,675 kms, which an Isuzu mu-X achieved for an average mileage of 20.94km/liter?
Not surprisingly, the D-Max pickup and mu-X SUV are two of the best-selling LCVs of Isuzu Philippines Corp (IPC). Those aforementioned numbers were achieved specifically by the D-Max 3.0L 4×2 LS-A AT and the Isuzu mu-X 3.0L 4×2 LS-A AT variants after a 5-day “Isuzu Challenge” (on August 22 to 26, 2022), designed to push the limits of the models’ fuel efficiencies.
Two teams drove north from Isuzu Subic, going to Isabela then Cagayan. Accompanied by official verifiers from the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP), the teams drove through torrential rains and strong winds brought on by Typhoon Florita.
Making their way south, through the twists and turns of Nueva Vizcaya, passing through the congested National Capital Region, and onwards via Laguna and Quezon provinces, the teams made their way to the final stretch in Bicol.
The remarkable numbers were achieved thanks to the teams’ efficient driving and the 4JJ3-TCX engine, which is coupled with the intelligent 6-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift, providing drivers more control over gear changes, thus optimizing performance with fuel efficiency.
Having a 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating also helped the team immensely in driving the D-Max and mu-X more confidently during the more challenging and unpredictable portions of the journey.
In a statement, IPC vice president for sales Yasuhiko Oyama said: “More than highlighting Isuzu’s superiority when it comes to diesel engine technology, we would like to provide a solution for our customers, especially in the face of increasing fuel prices. Excellent fuel economy is just one of the many Isuzu advantages they can enjoy while driving these models.”
