Isuzu D-Max V-Cross: 5 Things We Loved About The Lifestyle Pick Up Truck

The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross has been in business for quite some time. This lifestyle pickup truck continues to be in good demand. It now faces strong competition from the Toyota Hilux- not that you could do an apples-to-apples comparison between the two. But the fact that the two belong to the lifestyle pickup segment calls for a comparison. We lived with the V-Cross for a few weeks, and here are 5 things we loved about it, and two things that could have been improved.

Before we begin to list out, we’d like you to be informed that the vehicle in question- the one which we lived with- was the pre-facelift model. This essentially means that it lacks the likes of an updated touchscreen infotainment system, smartphone connectivity and a few other things that the facelift comes with. The mechanicals and core character remain the same.

Things We Loved About The Isuzu V-Cross

First, the sheer size of the V-Cross is to be loved. It spans 5332 mm in length, 1880 mm in width, and 1855 mm in height. The wheelbase here is a good 3095 mm. Most of the length comes from the loading bed. Long, wide and well-shaped, the deck is capable of carrying up to 215 kilograms. This is, however, the rated capacity. If you were to load it with higher weights, the truck would still pull comfortably.

When you drive the V-Cross, you feel like driving something substantial. It feels tough, rugged and butch. You’ll end up loving this experience. The steering feels heavy and offers a good sense of being connected to the road. The size also translates well into cabin room. The upright rear backrest could be the only thing unhappy about the interior. This feels more like an SUV than a utilitarian truck.

The second thing to like about it is the V-Cross’s engine. It is powered by a 1.9L diesel engine that produces 163 hp and 360 Nm. Before making the transition to BS6, this truck’s predecessor used to be powered by a 2.5L diesel engine that produced a rather dull 136 hp.

The 1.9L engine delivers its power in a relaxed and enjoyable manner. There is a 5-speed manual and an automatic gearbox on offer. We drove the automatic- a smooth, old-school torque converter. Plus, there is a shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive as well.

Some might feel that this engine is somewhat small for a vehicle of this size. However, it performs well and has a major advantage- fuel efficiency. Expect an indicated mileage of 10-12 kpl on the top-spec automatic 4×4 variant.

Next, you’ll like the pricing. Even when it isn’t a levelled comparison, the V-Cross is significantly cheaper than the Toyota Hilux. The Toyota is priced in the range of 30.40 – 37.90 Lakh, ex-showroom. The top-spec automatic could thus cost around 49 lakh, on road. The top-spec V-Cross 4×4 AT has an ex-showroom price of 30.9 lakh, ex-showroom. The on-road price is around 39.5 lakh. This makes for a difference of around 10 lakh between the two.

You will also like the way this truck takes high speeds and handles around corners. It feels stable at high speeds. The suspension and steering are so calibrated that despite the huge size, the V-Cross has good road manners for a vehicle of this size. The ride quality differs sharply (and in a good way) when the cargo bay is loaded. The rear feels slightly bouncy when the bay is empty.

Finally, you’ll love how practical the cabin feels. There is a lot of storage spaces- cubby holes, covered compartments, glove box, and more. The rear seats feature a sculpted design that makes long drives comfortable.

What We Did Not Like About It:

Well, there are two things we think, could have improved on the V-Cross. One, the cabin quality. There is ample room and an uncluttered layout. However, the material quality and feature list could have been better, considering the price point of the pre-facelift V Cross. Yes, the facelift has fixed these to some extent. It comes with better trims and an upgraded infotainment unit with better smartphone connectivity.

The second would be the rear door design. The V-Cross comes with a double-cab design and the rear doors are rather small. The aperture is narrow and this makes ingress and egress cumbersome, especially for the elderly.

Bottomline: Why You Should Buy One?

There’s no question of saying NO to this truck. Pickup trucks generally have an effect on people. They make us fall in love with their size, the ‘I’m driving something big’ feeling, and even their nuances. I mean, it isn’t the easiest thing to park a 5.2 meter long vehicle everywhere. But if you own one, you won’t complain! That’s the magic of trucks. And the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross makes for a sweet VFM proposition. We had a heavy heart while handing the fleet car back!