Both photos are crops. In both photos the focal point is the distance / zoom scale. Both photos are taken at a minimum distance at a downward angle. The photo of the DA* was taken at a Portrait orientation, the photo of the kit lens was taken at a landscape angle. Both are auto-focused (MF made no difference). Both are shot at f7.1. The only other major difference other than the orientation is the shutter speeds. 1/320 in the second photo, 1/1000 in the first (and the exposure had to be brought up in post), using HSS with an AF540. The distance / zoom scale on the DA* lens in the first photo, is as good as it gets using the kit lens. One other difference in the photos, the first one was taken at 43mm (with the kit lens), the other was taken at 50mm.
The distance between the lenses and the Diet Pepsi bottle is not necessarily the same (in fact, I'd bet it isn't) so it is not a valid point of reference. Yes, I still think the photo is in focus, as shot with the kit lens. Can it do better? Perhaps but the camera is Not back focusing by 'several cm'.