If it ain’t broke, break it. At least that we tried to do with the new Sportivo last May 28-29, when Isuzu Philippines dragged us out to Boracay Island to launch their latest update of their best selling model.
We tried stuffing it with a tent, four Balikbayan boxes, a table, two beach chairs, a volleyball with a net, some scuba equipment, four life preservers, a cooler, sand castle building equipment, beach balls, a beach umbrella, four bags, a surf board and, of course, people. But the Sportivo swallowed it up with ease. Guess the joke was on us.
And that pretty much sums up the new Sportivo. It is unstoppable. Considering the fact that it is already 7 years old now, the Sportivo still continues to sell extremely well and is a favorite among Filipino families because of its no-nonsense approach to its segment.
It is what it is and it makes no apologies for itself, either. “The Crosswind, as we saw in this event, is indeed multipurpose,” beamed a very proud IPC President, Keiji Takeda. “You can take it with you on out-of-town excursions, but you can also utilize it as a reliable workhorse for business-related tasks. No other value-for-money vehicle is more ideal for Filipino entrepreneurs and overseas workers.”
So why mess with a good thing? This is why Isuzu has just fine tuned the Sportivo by giving it a host of new features based on extensive customer research and feedback. The 2008 model Sportivo now comes standard with electronic folding mirrors, a new 2-tone black and beige interior with perforated leather seats and embroidered head rests.
There’s also the very welcome audio controls now mounted on the steering wheel for added safety and a new JVC single in-dash DVD/CD/MP3 audio system that features a 3.5-inch LCD monitor and iPod interface. This monitor also serves as the display for the vehicle’s backing-up camera at the rear, which is usually a feature reserved for much higher end vehicles.
Outside, there’s the new chrome finish on the center billet grille as well as the new-design roof rails, new-design spare tire cover, and new-design rear spoiler with third-brake lamp.
But while all the new features are very welcome, Isuzu has not deviated from its’ core competence, which has always been reliability and fuel economy. During these days of rising gas prices and increased running costs, the traditional Isuzu buyer would take little comfort from his electronic folding mirrors if it came at the expense of dwindling fuel economy. And the folks from Isuzu know this.
This is why they have not tampered with the formula, at least not when it comes to the plumbing and mechanicals. I was chatting to another luxury car brand manager one time and he kept making jokes about Isuzu’s technology. Granted, Isuzu engines and drive trains may not stack up that well on the brochure, especially if you pit it against the more modern offerings from Toyota, Mitsubishi, Ford etc, but they have proven themselves over the years to be frugal, uncomplicated and surprisingly easy to maintain. And there lies its appeal.
If you are after a technologically advanced people mover, there are plenty of great ones on offer at the moment if you’re willing to pay the price. If you just want to get down to the business of moving people, cargo and other stuff that you just can’t seem to fit in a standard car, then look no further.
You see, aside from our drive from Kalibo to Caticlan, I have seen most of the Philippine countryside through the windows of an Isuzu vehicle. From one tip of the archipelago to the other. Literally. And not once have we broken down or gotten stranded, which is more than I can say for the SUV from same imported brand manager that conked out on me in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere, several hundred kilometers from the nearest service center. Thankfully, I was rescued by a friend who was driving a, you guessed it, an Isuzu.
Who is laughing now?