By : RACHNA TYAGI
NEW DELHI :
Fancy driving an ‘Adventure Utility Vehicle,’ aka ‘Truck’ or a ‘Pickup’ (as they like to call it in cowboy country), in order to take your driving game to the next level? Well, if you have the parking space for it, a pickup can be an excellent choice. In fact, you’ll be thrilled at the versatility that it offers. We recently got behind the wheel of the ISUZU V-Cross, D-Max, and were hugely impressed with its maneuverability. Read on to find out why this seldom seen pickup, or should we call it a hidden gem, makes for a fabulous choice.
One look at it and you know that it has captured not just your heart but your imagination as well and after you’ve driven it, let’s just say that you’d rather challenge somebody to a duel rather than part with the keys. Yes, the V-Cross is actually that good. Moreover, it has tremendous road presence. Those Bi-LED Projector headlamps that flank the large chrome grille, below which sit the fog lamps with chrome inserts add to the V-Cross’ strong appeal while lending it a more upmarket and premium feel. We really liked the simple crease lines on the bonnet and the way it slopes down to meet the chrome inserts on the headlights and the grille – simple, non-fussy and elegant. Everything on the V-Cross feels chunky and solid and is extremely well executed. The V-Cross also gets sidesteps with a dash of chrome that again add to the premium look which make ingress and egress less cumbersome on this 1840mm high vehicle. The flared-out fenders look proportionate on the V-Cross, especially when viewed from the side and though the V-Cross comes with 18-inch alloys, we feel that they seem a tad bit smaller on the vehicle, and for some reason, it seemed more pronounced on our test mule which was in the Mica Black colour. At the rear, there is a lot of badging from ISUZU and the model and the variant are prominently displayed. The tailgate handle looks and feels solid while the sports bar and the bed liner over rail complete the pickup’s look. The top, boasts chunky roof rails, which further adds to the overall outdoorsy look and feel of the V-Cross. If this was Texas maybe we could have suggested a high-security rifle locker for hunting deer, coyotes and elks, but you could probably get a good quality truck tool box instead or use all that space for lugging some outdoor camping equipment for that lakeside camping trip or that fishing trip that you’ve been planning all along.
Inside, things are a mix of practical and outdoorsy. The design looks like it could do with an update, however, there’s nothing to dislike in there. Infact, it boasts good quality plastic that can just be wiped down with a damp cloth after having embarked on any adventure that may or may not have involved beverage spills inside the cabin and/or remnants of sand or soil from wherever you may have last parked the V-Cross to explore other places by foot before jumping right in again and setting off. The seats, a combination of light and dark grey fabric upholstery, are generous and so are the headrests – infact, they’re really well made. The seats are one of the best in the business and get a thumbs up from us. You can be doubly sure of being really comfortable in there on those long drives. The air con vents are well-sized and we experienced absolutely no problems with the air-con’s cooling despite of all the large glass area inside the cabin. The instrument cluster had easy-to-read dials and the steering only had basic controls on the left side whereas the right side was just plain…a welcome change… from the many cars out there which boast upwards of 3724 buttons and knobs these days! This felt like the real thing and in more ways than one. Though the 7-inch touch screen entertainment system is basic, it does get the job done. The V-Cross also comes with a cd player…just pop in a cd and listen to your favourite band, without bothering with cables dangling inside the cabin…just the way it used to be, not too long ago, before smartphones, USBs and SD cards took over our lives. Having said that, the inside of the V-Cross offers plenty of space for five people and there are enough USB ports as well as cupholders so that your long journeys are as comfortable as possible, without you worrying about running out of juice for your phones, tabs, and other devices. We also liked the fact that it offers plenty of headroom and legroom which doesn’t make the other occupants feel crammed inside.
The V-Cross is powered by a 4-cylinder, 1.9-litre (1898cc) VGS turbo intercooled diesel engine that churns out 163hp@3600rpm and 360 Nm of torque @ 2000-2500rpm. While we drove the V-Cross Z, 6-speed MT, 4X4, a very capable vehicle on the capital’s smooth roads mostly, we wouldn’t think twice before putting the V-Cross to test through some of the most difficult terrain. The fact that the V-Cross gets an independent double-wishbone suspension with coil springs in the front and leaf springs at the back, makes it an ideal combination for good performance driving as well as for lugging around all the bulk that it has been designed to.
The V-Cross indeed felt quite different to drive and calling it an enjoyable drive would be an understatement. For one, the overall visibility from inside was just brilliant. It truly felt great sitting on that elevated seat and viewing the world from up there. Sure, SUVs also have that command position but the fact that the V-Cross has a passenger row behind, a large rear windshield and a truck bed, just gives the driver a whole different feel. Next, we felt the steering was meaty and really grippy enough with just the right amount of weight. Neither too heavy, nor too light. What we discovered was that driving the V-Cross, a 5295mm long pickup, across the wide and smooth roads of Delhi, was really a breeze. We’ll admit, we weren’t driving much in the crowded areas, during our time with the V-Cross which does make me wonder how one could live with it in a city such as Mumbai, where the roads are narrower than Delhi’s. However, that’s not so much of a problem because the power steering did a good job and we never felt the slightest awkwardness while maneuvering this beast around. In fact, we were truly impressed with the handling of the V-Cross. The manner in which the V-Cross was just beautifully turning around circles and traffic islands and the way it exuded that reassured feel throughout the drive was really outstanding. Despite such a long vehicle with an almost 2.0-litre powertrain, the V-Cross went about its tasks in a very refined manner. At no point in time did we ever get the feeling that we were dragging around a heavyweight truck (1955kg) because truly the V-Cross felt agile and seemed ready to take on almost anything. One thing is for sure, ISUZU, has really brought a very different kind of Adventure Utility Vehicle to India, which will be used by a very different set of people out there. From those who wish to use it to ferry construction workers back and forth to construction sites to those who want to carry a lot of their leisure activity equipment in it. The V-Cross is the kind of vehicle that will attract many because of the sheer versatility that it offers. It isn’t just a truck to stash your equipment but it is also a very comfortable way in which the entire family can head out on adventure weekends and actually lead that outdoorsy life that you’ve always dreamt of. For instance, if you’re the creative types, the V-Cross could be a perfect companion… whether you’re an artist who wants to put your easel and canvas into the rear and drive away to paint in isolation or whether you’re a gourmand who wants to pitch a tent on a hilltop and indulge in some barbequing while taking in the scenic beauty, or whether you harbour dreams of becoming the next Steven Spielberg, you can easily stash all your camera equipment in it, seat your camera crew and take off to the next shoot location and be assured that the V-Cross won’t let you down.
We really had a blast driving the V-Cross which feels right at home around the 2000rpm mark. Push it harder and the engine becomes more audible inside but it definitely isn’t something that you can’t live with. There is also some amount of body roll that can be felt but that is mostly only when tackling corners briskly and for the most part you know only too well that that is certianly not the way you will be driving this Adventure Utility Vehicle. With different modes on offer, you can change the models by twirling the knob provided near the gearshift and that should immediately also show you the difference in the ride quality based on the terrain you’re driving on.
Overall, our impressions of the ISUZU V-Cross are just fantastic. We think it is a great outdoor vehicle that is being offered with most of the safety features such as ABS and EBD, besides a host of others. We do wish it had six airbags instead of just two but maybe in the forthcoming models, ISUZU will take note of that. Other features such as the engine immobilizer and the steel underbody protection speak volumes about ISUZU’s thrust on delivering a quality product to Indians. So, if you’re looking for something distinct around INR 20 lakhs and if you have the space to park this Adventure Utility Vehicle, you may just have found your next set of wheels and believe us when we tell you that you will be making one helluva statement with this truck. Pull into a rocking party venue with the V-Cross and just watch people’s jaws drop but hey, don’t forget you got the idea here first. The ISUZU V-Cross definitely gets a hat tip from us. Happy Vrooming!
