HI-LANDER 2000 : Your reliable AUV just got better

How do you improve an already reliable vehicle? Start from the inside.

This is what Isuzu Philippines just did to the Hi-lander this year, adding trims here and there and completely changing the dashboard to make it more functional and fashionable.

We tested one two weeks ago and we were surprised at how our initial impression of the vehicle changed the moment we stepped into the cabin.

In the past, image of the Hi-lander was just this: Its beauty lies under the hood, with its dependable 4JA1 engine that is not only fuel efficient but powerful as well.

We never looked for flashy things when we scrutinized it. For us, flares were just cosmetics meant to hide inner flaws. What counted more was its performance, and of course the feeling it gave to our pockets each time we gassed up.

Maybe this was also what Isuzu people were thinking in recent years. Why add something to the Hi-lander when buyers were already satisfied with it? The vehicle has been repeatedly praised for its reliability. Why fix it when it ain't broke?

This attitude, however, has changed. And it made the Hi-lander better.

Challenged by the competition from flashier AUVs, Isuzu designers reinvented the Hi-lander by making drastic improvements in its cabin.

The dash now has more curves and more compartments. You'll no longer have an excuse for losing those pesky toll tickets since now you have pockets in front of you where you can easily insert those things.

The steering wheel also has changed. The Hi-lander XTRM variant has a four-spoke wheel that is easier to grip and maneuver. And the seats (yes, they have been altered too) seem sturdier than before yet provide more comfort especially in long drives.

Sheila Tolentino, Isuzu's comebacking PRO, told us that all the additions to the new Hi-lander did not reflect much on the vehicle's price. "The retail price went up by only about P5,000," she said. "And this already includes the new front bumper, the staight-step rear bumper, a new plate holder and a new set of magwheels."

While driving to and from Subic in the new Hi-lander, we were tempted to look for more in the vehicle. We gave Sheila several suggestions on how to make the Hi-lander still a little bit better and she assured us that all the things we requested -- like a cupholder in the center console, a sliding passenger seat in the front, and movable headrests -- would be surely considered for next year.

By then, the Hi-lander will definitely surprise us further.