Story & photos by Patrick Tulfo
DINOSAURS roamed the Earth 70 million years ago, and the exact cause of their extinction is unknown to science up to now. One theory suggests that a huge meteor hit the Earth, and the impact it made displaced so much soil in the atmosphere that it completely blacked out the sun. This killed the plants, which were the source of food of the herbivores, which died out, and without them the carnivores, such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex, followed suit.
The 2015 Isuzu Crosswind XUV lent to this writer two months ago is a dinosaur, which been around for quite some time now. It was developed by Isuzu in Indonesia for the Southeast Asian market in 1991 and was known as the Isuzu Panther in that country. In the Philippines, as well as Vietnam, it was called the Hilander, when it was introduced and marketed in those countries.
The vehicle underwent a major redesign in 2005, as well as a change in name from Hilander Crosswind to just Crosswind. The higher variant, which was called the Sportivo, was also introduced during that time. It had two minor face-lifts in 2007 and 2009, and the second-generation version also saw the introduction of a light-pressure turbo for its 4JA-1 direct-injection diesel engine that gave it a minimal increase in horsepower (from 81 to 85), as well as torque of 18.9 kg-m. The addition of the light-pressure turbo also allowed it to comply with the existing emissions standards set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources at the time. Isuzu also tweaked the suspension by an ingenious solution of reducing the number of leaves in its leaf spring-suspension system and called it Flex-Ride suspension system. This made the ride more pliable and bearable for the passengers, but at the cost of a decrease in payload.
The garnet-red Isuzu Crosswind 2015 XUV now features a redesigned grille and front bumpers that are color-coordinated. At the rear, a new spare tire cover with a black-and-silver combination is its most salient feature. It also sports a new multispoke alloy wheels that accommodate 235R15 tires. The aluminum step board is now black. Gone also is the retractable antenna in favor of a shark’s fin.
The interior remains the same, with the seats wrapped in synthetic leather from the front to the last row. Buyers of the XUV will be glad to know that the synthetic leather use is the type that can withstand hot and humid conditions in the country. The dashboard is still black with the usual speedometer and odometer in front of the steering wheel. The usual fuel gauge and the temperature gauge were also carried over from the previous model. A Kenwood tuner with a CD player capable of playing MP3 files, as well as USB and Auxiliary cable, are available for external music players, like cell phones.
The dual aircon cools the cabin quickly, even after leaving the vehicle under the sun for a long time. In fact, it may get so cold that having a jacket in the cabin is not a bad idea. All power features, such as door locks, windows and even side view-mirrors are, still there. The side-view mirror, with side turn lamps are now also black.
Driving the XUV is akin to driving a truck rather than a car, because steering response is slow. The four-speed automatic transmission is for convenience not speed. The high ground clearance will not inspire confidence in making sudden turns when driving. Instead, the XUV and its more expensive brother the Sportivo were built to transport passengers in cool comfort.
The only gripe that I have with this model is the deletion of the rear backup sensor and the front fog lamps. Having it for a week gave this scribe the notion that this variant was probably made for UV express operators, as it will seat 10 people, including the driver. The high ground clearance will give the driver confidence to tread knee-deep flood waters, while also giving the XUV the capability to go on beaten paths that a car would dare not go. Owners are assured of years of reliable service. My mom and my stepdad already had two variants in a span of 10 years, with the current one still in their possession. Being compared to a dinosaur is definitely not a bad thing as, they were the kings of the Earth for millions of years before man came along. It took one cataclysmic event to wipe them out, and it may take another such event to wipe out the Crosswind, because Isuzu vehicles are built to last well beyond their lifetimes. Well, maybe two lifetimes.
Image credits: Patrick Tulfo