2019 Isuzu D-Max V-Cross: First Impressions

2019 Isuzu D-Max V-Cross: First Impressions

Sheer presence! That’s the trump card Isuzu’s latest iteration of the V-Cross holds in the Indian market. After all, it’s the only pick-up truck that’s on sale – as of late-2019 that is – in the exorbitant Indian market. And that’s the reason it holds a sheer presence on the road. Because, simply said, there’s nothing else that matches the Isuzu in terms of the overall silhouette. With a recently introduced facelift, the Isuzu now becomes as civil as ever. So, naturally, we head out for our complete Isuzu D-Max V-Cross review. Here’s what’s new.

Since this is a mid-life facelift, the overall silhouette of the D-Max V-Cross remains identical to its predecessor. The length is still longer than an S-Class and the overall height puts the X5 to shame.

With the facelift, the V-Cross now gets a pair of Bi-LED headlamps with LED DRLs, tweaked bumper, chrome inserts in the right places, chrome wing mirrors, upsized 18-inch alloy wheels, shark fin antenna, blacked-out B-pillar, and a side-step. It also gets revamped LED taillamps and a chrome garnish on top of the rear bumper.

Step inside, and the first thing that catches your fancy is the all-new 7.0-inch touchscreen that gets AUX, Bluetooth, and USB functionality, though Apple Carplay and Android Auto are sorely missed.

The dashboard is now finished in an all-black layout and the seats are draped in plush black leather.

The only other noticeable change is the inclusion of a new MID flanked by identical analogue meters.

At the heart of the Isuzu is the same 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel that is capable of churning out 132bhp and 320Nm. In essence, the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross remains mechanically unchanged in comparison to its predecessor. As a result, the driveability also remains identical to the model it replaces. The only downside about the driveability remains to be the choppy ride for the rear passengers, thanks to the load-lugging leaf spring rear suspension. The NVH also remains to be high as diesel clatter seeps in the cabin at higher revolutions. However, the high NVH does work well with the character of the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross.

There’s no denying the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is a rather special product for the Indian market. And for the most part, it performs very well as a pick-up truck, with a little to be desired. And with the update, it’s now easier to live with. Plus, there’s nothing else that comes close to offering the road presence of the Isuzu, even at higher prices. To read our full Isuzu D-Max V-Cross review, be sure to visit us at autoX.