Isuzu Crosswind - Is it a smart buy option?

Isuzu Philippines oldest running vehicle model happens to be the Crosswind. Now, the Crosswind hasn’t been developed specifically for our market. In fact, it is called as the Panther in Indonesia and Tavera in India. The model that you see in UAE is the second-generation Crosswind with the shape and size remaining largely similar to the version before it.

Isuzu Philippines manufactures this vehicle and there is a lot of local content that goes into this car. It is long, spacious, has an efficient diesel engine as well as has one of the most affordable automatic options in the country. All being said, updates are slow and too long in the coming. In fact, it is considered as one of the utility vehicles which has been mostly forgotten by the manufacturer, similar to what Nissan does with the Almera. The deal here is should you buy one or look at the alternatives.

If it’s space that you are looking at, then the Isuzu Crosswind has decent enough room in the cabin. It is a 9-seater vehicle with the rear seats being jump-type i.e. the occupants sit facing each other. Such an arrangement is beneficial only for short distances or if there are kids being seated at the back. Additionally, there are no seat belts provided for these seats and hence they are unsafe. For the second row seats, there is little under-thigh support and hence one cannot sit comfortably for too long. The front seats are quite the comfortable options. However, bear in mind that for the regular Crosswind customer, the Isuzu is mostly used for utility purposes and this means they will usually be carrying their vegetables and groceries or better still furniture around by tumbling the second and third row. As it is, there isn’t much being thought of in terms of the seating or passenger capacity. For this purpose, the Isuzu Crosswind makes sense. It also helps that it can occasionally carry the entire extended family too.

The looks of the vehicle, as we discussed before, haven’t changed much. However, it still comes across as a smart utility vehicle. There are basically three trims to choose from - Sportivo, XT, and XUV. The Sportivo and XUV trims are considered as SUVs as they ride higher than the XT and have more butch body kit to show with it. All the trims ride on 15-inch alloys, however, the Sportivo and XUV have fatter 235 section rubber as compared to 205 on the XT. One can avail of a manual and automatic with the XUV-aping trims whereas the XT can be ordered only with a manual.

All three sports multi-reflector halogen lights with all-weather fog lamps. There is a 30 kg payload roof rail as well. The tailpipes are done in chrome whereas there is also the spoiler with an integrated stop lamp on it. Overall, the vehicle cuts a handsome figure.

The cabin was revamped two years ago and for a utility vehicle, it ain’t that bad. One can get a touchscreen infotainment system, manual airconditioning, rear AC vents, height adjustable driver’s seat, and fabric upholstery. Pretty much basic then. The quality of plastics is good in some places whereas in others, not so much. The best part is that they are all durable and stand the test of time. Something we Filipinos agree with considering the Crosswinds on the road. If there is a name which is synonymous with reliability after Suzuki and Toyota, then it is the Isuzu Crosswind. This thing can rack up miles after miles and still go on for some more. Resale value too is an all-time high due to this. Remember the Toyota Qualis? If we told you that the Crosswind was introduced at that time to curb sales of the Qualis. The Qualis still is a legend and the Crosswind comes a close second.

In spite of having a larger engine, the Crosswind still is tuned to have a modest power output. The 2.5-litre direct injection turbocharged diesel motor makes 85 PS of power and 185 Nm of torque. There is a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic that will transfer power to the front wheels. The beauty of this engine is in its tractability and users have said that they have often pottered around in town using third gear at around speeds of 20 kmph without any protests from the engine. The fuel efficiency of this big vehicle is very impressive at 17.6 kmpl. It is known to consistently return this efficiency number and that too with a full complement of passengers. Astounding enough.

Spare parts of the Isuzu Crosswind too are cheaper compared to the competition. It is said that the parts are also available throughout the Philippines - a plus point if you travel long distances.

What we are not big fans of the lack of safety aspects in the car. Isuzu offers the Crosswind with side impact beams and seat belts for the first two rows. There is no ABS or airbags. Even as an option that is a reverse camera though can be fitted. It is appalling how the Crosswind considers the safety of its passengers and those of the pedestrians.

The Isuzu Crosswind is priced at Php 1,260,000 for the base trim, going all the way to Php 1,320,000. While it is a good and rugged option, we will still recommend you to check-out its alternatives. This is primarily because of the lack of safety features and that the Crosswind is going to leave the building by the end of this year. Never to return again!