Isuzu's mantra is ``Go Farther.'' Well, they just did.
Entering the crowded sport utility vehicle segment, the 1999
VehiCROSS is not a mini, luxury, hybrid or full-size SUV, but a high
performance on-road and off-road sports vehicle. The VehiCROSS team
sees no other competition in its class, except for maybe the
V8-powered Mercedes ML430, but they're miles apart in pricing. The
VehiCROSS is fully loaded at $28,900 (excluding destination charge),
with a roof rack as the only option.
The 1999 VehiCROSS is Isuzu's most radical design in years. When
I first saw the VehiCROSS, I thought it was wildly
futuristic-looking, with exterior functionality that complemented
its techno-design.
The lower section of the body is a black rugged, chip and
scratch-resistent polypropylene paneling. The upper portion is made
of zinc-plated steel with a black matte resin hood that cuts down on
eye glare. A small spoiler juts out from the top of the rear roof
end working as an air deflector. The VehiCROSS's rear hatch is a
pill box design which contains the spare tire. Clear lens
polycarbonate headlamps are seemlessly integrated into the front
fascia; this headlight display gives off a sense of playfulness with
its pointy little cat ears that house the directional
signals.
VehiCROSS is Isuzu's new technology platform. Highly visible and
exciting, it is mechanically one of the most advanced light-trucks
produced by the Japanese automaker. The guts of this performance SUV
is a new generation V6 engine.
The 3.5-liter dual overhead cam V6 is rated at 215 horsepower and
230 ft-lbs of torque at 3000 rpm. Engineering of the air intake
valve and port allows for high torque at low engine speeds, letting
the driver feel the responsive and brisk acceleration.
During high speed hard cornering on a dirt road, the Torque On
Demand four-wheel drive system kept the VehiCROSS centered and on
track. TOD is a full-time terrain-sensing 4WD system that reads what
the driver is doing with wheels, speed, and brakes, monitoring and
adjusting the stability of the vehicle.
VehiCROSS is the official vehicle of the 20th Anniversary Ironman
Competition, because Isuzu sees its image as that of the elite
athletes of the Ironman race. For those who don't know, the Ironman
is a grueling triathlon of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike race,
followed by a 26.2 mile marathon. Isuzu wants to convey that the
VehiCROSS is a high performance SUV that will get serious off-road
use, unlike most SUVs which never leave the blacktop.
Isuzu makes no apologies for not being all things to all people;
they don't build cars, just trucks. The automaker is the first to
say the VehiCROSS is not for everyone. I agree. While the VehiCROSS
is durable and powerful, it has weak areas that make it unsuitable
for many drivers. For example, stepping into the back seat in this
two-door SUV is for the skinny and agile only, however, once a
passenger has squeezed into the back, there's amazing
legroom.
Rear visibility is the weakest feature. On my off-road test-drive
down a steep one lane path, I had to back the vehicle up to a
pullout to allow another driver to pass. There's only moderate
visibility out the rear and side windows. Fortunately, large
sideview mirrors allowed me to see what the windows would not. In
Japan, the VehiCROSS has a television-like monitor so the driver can
see rearward clearly. Like the relentless, fearless Ironman athlete,
the VehiCROSS is for people who are not afraid to go
farther.
SPECIFICATIONS
1999 Isuzu VehiCROSS
VEHICLE TYPE................. 4-passenger 2-door sport utility
vehicle
BASE PRICE................... $28,900 (as tested:
$29,395)
ENGINE TYPE.................. 24-valve DOHC V6
w/SMPI
DISPLACEMENT................. 3.5-liter
HORSEPOWER
(net)............. 215 at 5400 rpm
TORQUE (lb-ft)...............
230 at 3000 rpm
TRANSMISSION................. 4-speed
automatic
WHEELBASE.................... 92 in. 2332 mm
TREAD
(front/rear)........... 59/60 in. 1515/1520 mm
OVERALL
LENGTH............... 163 in. 4130 mm
OVERALL
WIDTH................ 70 in. 1790
mm
HEIGHT....................... 67 in. 1700 mm
TURNING CIRCLE
(curb-to-curb) 34 ft. 10.4 m
CURB WEIGHT.................. 3955
lbs. 1794 kgs
FUEL CAPACITY................ 21 gals. 80 L
EPA
MILEAGE RATING........... Est. 16 city, 20 highway
ASSEMBLY
PLANT............... Fujisawa, Japan
STRONG FEATURE
.............. Performance
WEAK FEATURE ................ Rearward
visibility
Copyright 1998, Motor
Matters
