Isuzu D-Max V-Cross launched for Rs 12.49 lakh

Words by Abhishek Wairagade

Isuzu Motors India announced the launch of its new pick-up, the D-Max V-Cross at an event yesterday. The D-Max V-Cross will be sold for an inaugural price of Rs 12.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Chennai) through Isuzu’s network of 25 dealers spread across major cities in India. Showcased at the Auto Expo in February, the D-Max will be manufactured by Isuzu India at its new plant based in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh.

The large pick-up is over 5 metres long and has a kerb weight of 1905kg. It is powered by a 2.5-litre diesel engine with a variable geometry turbo that churns out 134bhp and 320Nm torque mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The pick-up also offers a shift-on-fly 4-wheel drive modes as well as low ratio transfer case. It is based on Isuzu’s ‘iGRIP’ (Isuzu Gravity Response Intelligent Platform) platform and gets independent double wishbone suspension at the front and leaf spring at the rear to allow maximum drivability off-road.

Being a pick-up, The D-Max V-Cross gets a loading deck at the rear that allows a maximum payload of 235kg, instead of the traditional boot. It also gets 60:40 foldable rear seats and projector headlamps, along with fog lamps. To add to the list of features, ABS and EBD is standard and it also gets front dual airbags.

The new generation D-Max  is also available as a regular cab pick-up variant, which is available for commercial use. The new V-Cross goes up against the likes of Tata Xenon and Mahindra Scorpio Getaway, both of which are available for private and commercial use. Both pick-ups have been in the market for long but have not fared well, especially when compared to the SUVs like the Hyundai Creta and Mahindra XUV500 priced in the bracket of Rs. 12-20 lakh. Isuzu are marketing the D-Max V-Cross as a lifestyle vehicle. Could this change the way the market looks at pick-ups? Let’s wait and watch.