THERE are products that change and there are those that innovate. One example is Isuzu’s Crosswind, which keeps on transforming to avail the needs of the customers.
Launched as the Isuzu Hi-lander in 1997, the Philippine-built Crosswind is considered as the longest bestselling Asian utility vehicle in the Philippine market and remains the Filipinos’ favorite in terms of durability, reliability and fuel-efficiency. It also holds a special place in the history of Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) after it reached its 100,000th-unit production mark last month.
For 2015 the recently updated Isuzu Crosswind now gets a fresh and sporty fascia with a new silver grille and redesigned headlamps. The refreshed Crosswind also debuts the comeback of the popular XUV variant, which is only available in automatic transmission. To complement the exterior design, Isuzu also added a new set of 15-inch multispoke all-terrain silver alloy wheels, an aluminum black side step board (for the Sportivo X and XUV variants), roof rails (for the Sportivo X, XUV and XT variants), and a new black tire cover for the XUV variant.
IPC President Nobuo Izumina, said, “Basically, on this model, we only focused on its front face. The design is to meet the needs of Philippine market. Form and functionality is what the 2015 Isuzu Crosswind is all about. The Crosswind is capable of carrying not only members of the family in style, but also serves as a reliable cargo carrier for the enterprising few.”
Inside, Isuzu has stuck to its formula of being simple rather than sophisticated. The single in-dash DVD/CD/MP3/WMA/JPG Playback with USB function, integrated reverse camera, sturdy side impact beams, reverse sensor and alarm system (which are available on Sportivo X variants) are present to give each customer a quality entertainment feature.
Suspension-wise, the double wishbone with torsion bar springs in front and a flex-ride semi-elliptical leaf spring in its rear, allows the Crosswind to carry heavy payloads while having improved performance and stability. The tried-and-tested 2.5-liter (4JA1-L) turbo direct injection Euro-2 diesel engine offers the Crosswind a pleasant drive with superb ride quality.
When asked about when they will replace the Crosswind, Izumina said, “It will depend on when the Euro-4 arrives in the country. As of now, we are using Euro-2, same like the Indonesian market.” The 2015 Isuzu Crosswind Sportivo X A/T is priced at P1.195 million, the Sportivo X M/T at P1.13 million, the Crosswind XUV A/T at P1.010 million, the Crosswind XT M/T at P883,000, the Crosswind XL M/T at P794,000 and the Crosswind XS M/T at P750,000.