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YOU
think “global” in the local automotive industry and the
first thing that comes to mind is the all-new Alterra,
Isuzu’s second-generation Alterra now fondly called the
Global Alterra.
Already
a smash hit with its first-generation Alterra a while
back, Isuzu just couldn’t help it and came up anew with
another head-turner in the Global Alterra, the SUV
(crossover?) with a touch of class.
That is
why when Ronald “Isuzu Joe” Baladad called to say he had
something up his sleeves again for me as ’07 was drawing
to a close, I had a hunch it would be a test-drive of
the Global Alterra. I wasn’t mistaken.
“In two
days, the Global Alterra will be right at your
doorstep,” said Isuzu Joe, also known to his dearest
friends as Mayor B—B as in “Banat” I was told.
One
admirable trait of Mayor B-Isuzu Joe-Ronald is, he’s got
an impeccable touch of timing. He brought the Global
Alterra to me when it mattered most—the year-ending
holidays of ’07. Simply perfect as I had a grand time
driving it both in the metropolis when the city lights
were at their brightest best and in the country when the
season’s solemnity—or what’s left of it—was at its
poignant best.
Couldn’t
ask for more and it couldn’t have come from a nicer,
better guy.
The
first Alterra, if I may visit memory lane, came into
view at the height of the Toyota Fortuner’s popularity.
It was said that because of the long queue for this
Toyota bestseller, many car buffs looked for an
alternative buy to avoid the long wait.
Many of
them went to Alterra and, to their happy surprise, they
were more than rewarded with their move.
The
first Alterra established tremendous record sales that
Isuzu Philippines Corp. exceeded expectations of
customer response.
The
Global Alterra itself is now vigorously following in the
footstep of its predecessor and I’m not surprised one
teeny-weeny bit by this phenomenon for two major
reasons: 1) The riding comfort is such that whether you
are doing city driving or country cruising, the feeling
is relaxed and you hardly encounter any aching joint or
any undisturbed muscle at the end of any journey. Who
needs a personal driver with the Global Alterra? 2)
There’s space everywhere—for your knees and legs, for
your carry-all bags and baggage and any stuff you might
buy along the highway or any market in the country.
What’s this, a small cargo truck with the riding comfort
of a stretch limo?
And yet,
through it all, through all the mountain of baggage and
a phalanx of passengers, this seven- to eight-seater SUV
has all the power you need, unmindful of any weight you
need to carry anywhere you go, any terrain you need to
negotiate.
This new
Alterra has an optitron-meter gauge that is both useful
and extremely pleasing to the eyes. Simplicity is,
indeed, beauty, as it doesn’t clutter the view from
behind the wheel.
The
comfort and convenience is all over as you have a
keyless entry, power door locks, the standard power
windows, power slide view mirrors, the back-up sensor
and cupholders from the first row of seats up to the
third row.
The
interior is like your living room as it both has an
audio and video system, plus sliding and reclining
bucket seats from the first to the third-row seats.
Also, there’s headrest from front to the end of all
three rows, plus personal reading lamps.
The
exterior is accented by headlamps of the projector type,
embellishing the vehicle’s macho, sturdy looks even as
the fog lamps are of circular design for added
aesthetics.
The ride
is superbly smooth because its front suspension has the
independent double wishbone with torsion bar springs and
stabilizer bar, and the rear suspension has the flex
ride move suspension, with the semielliptical leaf
springs with telescopic shock absorbers.
Power?
Well, my 4x4 “matic” Alterra’s engine is the superbly
engineered I-TEQ 4JJI computer-controlled
direct-injection common rail system with turbocharger
and intercooler with a displacement of 2,999 cc. Its
maximum output is 146 ps at 3,800 rpm and torque is 30.1
Nm from 1,400 to 3,400 rpm. I just can’t complain as I
regularly did 140 kph with ease at the NLEX—thank God,
the radar didn’t catch me speeding.
Once
again, thank you, Isuzu Joe. ’til then. |
