Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Review
Car Tested: Isuzu D-Max V-Cross; Road Test No. 783
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 15.80 lakhs
The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is a car that you buy with your heart and it rewards you with its abilities and performance
When was the last time you did something for the first time? We all see and drive sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs and a variety of vehicles regularly but when it is time to test some unique vehicle, it always sets my pulse racing. I saw the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross for the first time at the 2016 Auto Expo and instantly got overwhelmed by its sheer size. The company then went on to launch it in the coming months and ever since I have been looking forward to driving this one. After driving the D-Max V-Cross extensively over the expressway, city traffic and some off-roading, I have mixed reactions about the car, but that one feeling which I have for this burly pick-up truck is that it is extremely loveable! Read on to find out how.
Motor Quest: The Isuzu D-Max was earlier available only as a commercial vehicle and hence a lot of potential buyers couldn’t really buy the car. However, The D-Max V-Cross is meant for private buyers only and Isuzu achieved this by lowering the payload rating of the car.
The D-Max V-Cross is all about butch styling
Exteriors – It takes some time to register the fact that the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is literally huge in its dimensions and the loading bay at the rear is pretty large. What I really like about this car is the fact that even though it is a utility vehicle, it still comes with many sophisticated touches. The front fascia gets a prominent chrome grille with a large Isuzu logo. It is flanked by projector headlamps while the bumper gets circular fog lamps. The side profile is rather simple and the length of the car is pretty much evident by now. The alloy wheels have a simplistic design. The rear is again pretty minimalist. The tail lamps are large and there’s huge Isuzu sticker on the rear lid.
I don’t think any other car can beat its road presence!
The D-Max V-Cross is a looker and it appears huge on our roads
Our test car came with a huge dose of chrome which is thankfully optional. From certain angles, the D-Max V-Cross does look a bit under-tyred. The best part about this car is that even though it is a pick-up truck, it doesn’t look or feel like a commercial vehicle and there’s a good appeal and character which the car carries. The large loading bay can be opened via a huge handle on the boot lid and when you do so, you realise how heavy the lid actually is. Talking about the headlamps, the projectors have decent throw though I would have personally preferred fog lamps a size larger. Isuzu offers a lot of customisation options for the car and accessories are aplenty so you can make your car exclusive. Another point worth mentioning is the sheer road presence that this car has. People just move out of your way and a lot of curious on-lookers keep glancing at the car.
The interiors remind you of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer
Interiors – Open the door and climb inside the cabin with the help of the grab handle on the A-pillar. Visibility from the driver’s seat is excellent with a good view of things ahead. Even sideward visibility is nice and the only time you have issues is while reversing the car. A rear view camera is desperately needed in this car. Our test car neither had a camera nor parking sensors. The layout of the dashboard is indeed quite similar to the Chevrolet TrailBlazer. The steering wheel gets audio controls while the instrument cluster has simple yet easy to read and large dials. The MID displays 2 tripmetres, average fuel efficiency, DTE, etc.
Equipment list is satisfactory for this price range
The audio system consists of 4 standard speakers and a touchscreen headunit which is an expensive option. While the screen itself is smooth to operate, the speakers have below-par sound quality. The Isuzu D-Max also gets an automatic climate control system and the AC is quite a chiller. The ORVMs are electrically adjustable and foldable and are pretty large to give a good view of things. We would have appreciated if Isuzu had provided an auto-dimming IRVM because it is an extremely useful feature. Apart from that, there are no other jazzy features and the interiors feel functional and ergonomic.
The quoted payload capacity is 265 kgs, but the car can carry much more
The cabin is functional and ergonomic, seats are soft and comfortable too
The loading bay has a claimed cargo payload of 265 kgs so that it can be registered as a private vehicle but we’re sure that it can carry much more than that. The loading bay is bare basic and you get an optional liner which was fitted on our test car. There’s a huge range of different types of covers that are available for the loading bay. The loading bay isn’t set too high and thus it is easy to load luggage in it. The liner doesn’t have any pipes for water to flow down but it is water-proof.
The front seats are large and comfy; rear seat back is upright
The front seats are large and comfy and in the 500-odd kms I drove the car, I had no major complaints with the seats whatsoever. There is a good amount of space at the rear but the seatback is a bit upright and you cannot recline it. Head room is more than enough but I found under-thigh support to be slightly lacking. The cushioning is pretty soft. However, one thing worth noting is that the seats as well as floor mats come in a shade of beige and it is bound to get really dirty when you go off-roading.
The 2.5-litre engine feels robust
Performance – The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is powered by a 2.5-litre VGT diesel engine that belts out 134 HP of power at 3600 RPM and 320 Nm of torque 1800-2800 RPM. The oil-burner comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Talking about the engine first, it has excellent torque at low RPMs and thus the pick-up feels very easy to drive in the city. In 2nd gear, it can easily accelerate from 0 km/hr and in most cases, downshifts aren’t required as there’s good punch even at 1000 RPM. The turbo kicks in at around 1800 RPM but there is no power rush since it is delivered in a linear manner.
Adequate power on tap, good cruising ability on highways
The punchy diesel engine is noisy, old-school but feels tough
The mid-range is strong but the engine doesn’t love to be revved too much and hence powers starts tapering down once it reaches the 3500-3600 RPM mark. The D-Max V-Cross is a lovely cruiser and power is always adequate for quick bursts of acceleration too. In 5th gear, 100 km/hr comes in at 2100 RPM. You also get a shift-on-the-fly 4WD system wherein you can switch between 2H, 4H and 4L easily through a rotary knob near the handbrake.
The gearbox is notchy and throws are long
The 5-speed gearbox has long throws and it feels very notchy. It also vibrates a lot all the time. However, what really helps matters is the super light clutch but it does have a long travel. NVH levels on the car are decent but since this is a typical UV, there are quite a lot of vibrations. In terms of fuel efficiency, we managed to extract around 12 km/l while cruising on the expressway and around 9-10 km/l in city traffic conditions.
Hydarulic steering is heavy; excellent stability though
Driving Dynamics – The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross has a very heavy hydraulic steering which makes the car a bit difficult to drive at parking speeds. Your arms get a good workout while parking the car in tight spaces and the large turning radius of 6.3-metres just adds to the woes. However, the steering does provide good feedback and feels confidence-inspiring on the highways. Handling is decent at cruising speeds but during cornering you do feel a lot of body roll. Straight line stability is excellent and the car never loses composure.
Ride is very bouncy on empty load, especially at the rear
The truck gets a leaf spring suspension at the rear (useful for load carrying) and an independent wishbone with coil springs at the front. The ride is very bouncy, especially on empty load. While the front passengers will still find it acceptable, the bounciness is way more at the rear. Even when there are slight undulations on the road, it all filters inside the cabin. In comparison, the Tata Safari Storme has a much better ride. The Isuzu can tackle any sort of broken roads without breaking into a sweat and you can feel confident of taking it anywhere. You get disc brakes up front and drums at the rear. While the brake pedal lacks feel, stopping power is above average. The 245 mm tyres also have nice levels of grip.
Standard safety features include dual front airbags and ABS with EBD
Safety and After Sales Service – The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross has a service interval of 5000 kms while oil changes are recommended at every 20,000 kms. This means that you’ll have frequent visits to the service centre. Also note that Isuzu has a very small service network across the country which is quite an irony for a car that is meant to take you places. In Maharashtra, the company has one dealership each in Navi Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur. On the safety front, you get dual front airbags and ABS with EBD as standard equipment since there is only 1 trim on offer.
The D-Max V-Cross is a must buy if you’re looking for a unique lifestyle vehicle
Verdict – The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is a love-it or hate-it vehicle. There are quite a few things that are loveable and the go-anywhere ability is a huge benefit for those who love touring. The pick-up is well-equipped to be able to be a daily driver and the only things going against it are the ride, length and service network. While the ride is definitely livable with, Isuzu certainly needs to up its ante and increase the sales and service network in India. The D-Max V-Cross, at this price point, does make for a really good car to own and drive and the tons of customisation options make sure your car is one of a kind on our roads.
Isuzu offers quite a lot of customisation options
What’s Cool
* Unbeatable road presence, cars make way for you
* Tons of customisation options available for owners
* Interiors are decently spacious
* Shift-on-Fly 4WD system is a boon
* Excellent for highway cruising, brilliant stability
What’s Not So Cool
* Misses out on features like standard audio system, auto dimming IRVM
* Not everyone fancies the bouncy ride
Alternatives: Tata Xenon XT
You fall in love with the car, but it does have some flaws too
Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Specifications
* Engine: 2499cc, DOHC, 16V, 4-cylinder
* Power: 134 HP @ 3600 RPM
* Torque: 320 Nm @ 1800 RPM
* Transmission: 5-speed MT
* Fuel Consumption: 13.26 km/l (ARAI-claimed), 9-11 km/l (real world)
* Fuel Type: Diesel
* Suspension: Independent Double Wishbone, Coil Spring (Front), Leaf Spring (Rear)
* Tyres: 245/70/16
* Brakes: Discs (Front), Drum (Rear), ABS
* Safety: Dual front airbags, ABS, EBD
Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 5295 mm X 1860 mm X 1840 mm
* Wheelbase: 3095 mm
* Ground clearance: 225 mm
* Turning radius: 6.3-metres
* Kerb Weight – 1905 kgs
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 76-litres
The pick-up truck market in India has very few options
Testers’ Note: