Altering Expectations

Okay, let’s get this article started off on the right foot. Fact # 1: The Isuzu Alterra is the genetic sibling of the Isuzu D-MAX, a hardworking, torque-y pick-up with as much bounce to the ounce as it does pulling power. Fact # 2: We actually own a D-MAX and would be hard-pressed to find anything intrinsically wrong with it save for its, well, admittedly bouncy ride. Fact # 3: When our friends from Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) sent us a test drive unit for use over a weekend, we were half-expecting the Alterra to display the same if not similar driving characteristics as its more rugged brother. Fact # 4: We were wrong.

The Isuzu Alterra — pardon the unavoidable comparison — is IPC’s answer to the growing demand for "innovative multi-purpose vehicles" in the mold of the Toyota Fortuner. Now, we all know what kind of wait list problems Toyota Motor Philippines has been facing since the launch of that particular product, but has everyone actually taken a really good look at this particular alternative from IPC? Because if SUV shoppers do, then they’ll find a particularly surprising vehicle in the Alterra.

While I will in no way describe the Alterra’s ride as "car-like", it has as good a road-taming capability as any Japanese SUV in its class. Methinks Isuzu’s patented "Flex Ride MOVE (Mobility On Versatile Equilibrium)" system is actually more than just some fancy terminology Isuzu engineers thought up to refer to extra leaf springs in their vehicles’ rear suspension mechanism. The darn thing actually works wonders! Yes, the Alterra rides much better than its pick-up sibling, though it does lack the D-MAX’s rather menacing, macho stance.

So how does the Alterra hold up against rivals in its class — particularly the vaunted Fortuner? Well, if you ask people from the motoring beat, the line is drawn straight down the middle. Some like the Toyota’s no-nonsense ruggedly handsome feel, others argue that the slightly more pillowy ride of the Isuzu works better. The solution? Go test-drive both vehicles and see for yourself which one works better for you.

In the meantime, here are some characteristics that clearly distinguish one from the other. While the Fortuner, no doubt, looks more like the macho machine people imagine an SUV to be, it’s the Alterra that functions more like a real SUV/multi-purpose vehicle — at least from the inside. Seating configurations vary to dizzying degrees thanks to the folding third row seats and the individually adjustable second row seats. Leg-room on row two is fantastic and body roll due perhaps to the lower center of gravity seems to favor the Isuzu. Shifting into the 4x4 mode is also much more convenient with the Alterra’s push-button set up. And, darn, does that 5.1 DVD-capable sound system kick some serious @$$ (yes, there are two screens behind the front headrests, yes, you can watch DVDs and listen to them like they’re supposed to sound)!

Shifting is almost seamless in the Alterra and the air-conditioning system works like a charm (even though it took us a while to find the rear vent switch which is hidden from the driver’s view by the four-spoke steering wheel). Two of the things that can be improved in the Alterra (though are not necessarily bad) are the upholstery (it’s still wanting in leather) and the added external MP3 player connection (it’s inside the glove compartment). These extra frills may be icing on the cake but the discerning market that the Alterra 4x4 is looking to attract will certainly appreciate the little improvements. As the Alterra replaces the Trooper as Isuzu’s flagship model, people will naturally have high expectations of the vehicle. Leather seats and an iPod connector that’s easier to access? As my editor pal Allan Madrilejos from the country’s widest circulated men’s magazine would say, "Why not?" I’d say it’s only natural that Isuzu addresses these perky quirks sooner or later.

Toyota scores one on the Isuzu where NVH levels are concerned, though. The Fortuner’s diesel engine emits less noise (or maybe they’ve insulated the cabin better) compared to the Alterra’s already (comparatively) quiet 3.0-liter 16-valve DOHC 4JJ-1 I-TEQ engine, but that again works both ways. Some will favor a less spartan-sounding vehicle but 4x4 purists will always prefer hearing the torque roar through when they squeeze on that gas pedal. This much I’ll say, the Alterra is without a doubt one of the better sound-insulated Isuzus we’ve ever driven — and we’ve driven them all. That being said, one of the best things about the Alterra is still necessarily its engine. Not only is it quite capable of pulling the extra weight of the added passengers and sheetmetal of the Alterra, but being a third generation CRDi, it’s also quite fuel efficient. Plus, it’s compliant with Euro-3 emission standards.

Unless you’re the kind who’s used to European plush, the Alterra can definitely be considered a joy to drive on both smooth and rough roads. It’s responsive on many levels and can hold its own in the prestige department. But perhaps the best thing about the Isuzu Alterra is its relevance in these times. Being a true-blue CRDi equipped vehicle, it can take the fight straight to the frugal Korean alternatives of today even as it goes up against a really sturdy Japanese rival. It alters one’s expectations of a vehicle in its class, really, making it worthy of a second look from seriously practical car buyers.

The Good

• CRDi frugal

• Surprisingly smooth suspension

• Versatile on many levels

• Kick @$$ sound system

• Most quiet Isuzu ever

The Bad

• Not as immediately aesthetically appealing as rival SUVs

• Its iPod connector is not very strategically located

• What? No leather seats?

The Verdict

• The Isuzu Alterra is a very able SUV that has a charm of its own. Maybe it shouldn’t be seen as an alternative at all, but as a vehicle that could potentially attract it own unique market.