Q.Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Review

[URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/6"]Roshun[/URL] Nice one Sir nothing beats the utility of the king of all UVs, Crewcab pickup trucks, I`m glad someone did this. But....Isuzu cannot crack this, they dont have the infrastructure or the marketing machinery or the brand value to pull this off, let alone intent (GM afterall) to create a market for a comfortable pickup. Toyota \ Mahindra can do this, they just need to focus a little and create a demand. The sheer number of Bolero pickups/ campers with power steering and AC is a good sign, So is Super Ace. But for an offroad lifestyle vehicle, we shall still stick with Thar, why? Noone cares if the paint is scratched for starters.

In the current scenario, our car market is still not ready for pick-up trucks. But this Isuzu, from reviews, I find is a true beast. Nice prologue to a future detailed review.

I have always had a soft corner for pickup trucks – the bigger and meaner the better. India, unfortunately, does not really have a market for pickup trucks for personal use. Most larger pickups are only for commercial use. Only a handful such as the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, Mahindra Scorpio Getaway and Tata Xenon can be registered as private vehicles. Again, until the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross came in early this year, the other pickups were considered boring – with very few actually venturing to spruce them up. But at the Auto Expo last year, the [B][URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/posts/9842-isuzu-d-max-v-cross-launch-and-updates"]Isuzu D-Max V-Cross[/URL][/B] set the hearts of enthusiasts racing with its looks and the potential for modifications that it offered. A few months later, it was launched with a very attractive price tag of Rs. 12.31 lakh ex-showroom Delhi – a figure far lower than most had expected and that sealed the deal. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n21133[/ATTACH] We had the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross with us for a few days and decided to see why most off-road enthusiasts are in love with this vehicle. Before that, here’s a quick summary of what you will love and what you won’t with the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross. [B]What’s really nice about the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross[/B] [LIST] [*]The looks. It is mean and macho, fueling a primal instinct in buyers [*]Value-for-money pricing for the size, build and features it offers [*]Good 2.5 litre diesel engine with decent power (135 bhp) and torque (320 Nm) [*]Easy availability of aftermarket modification parts and performance remaps [*]Robust four-wheel drive system with low-range transfer-case [*]High ground clearance of 225 mm, makes light work of obstacles [*]Comfortable cabin for five-adults with good build quality and refinement [*]Range of add-ons available to personalize it [*]Safety features such as airbags, ABS with EBD are standard [/LIST] [B]What’s not so nice about the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross[/B] [LIST] [*]Steering is on the heavier side [*]Sheer length of the vehicle, large turning radius (over 6m) will make it difficult to park in tight spots [*]Long wheel-base is a hindrance in some off-road situations [*]Jumpy ride when empty because of stiff leaf spring suspension at rear [*]No speed-sensing auto-locking doors [/LIST] Here’s a video we put together about the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross’s off-road prowess. It asks a few crucial questions – is the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross a better alternative to a Mahindra Thar or Maruti Gypsy off-road? And how does it compare with the Mahindra Scorpio and Renault Duster? Plus, what modifications can you do with it? Take a look: [video=youtube;zsFiW4PDxdo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsFiW4PDxdo[/video] (Detailed review follows)