Long drives & crosswinds
The delight or displeasure that arises from a long drive can depend on several factors. For example a trip can turn sour if one gets caught in traffic; what was supposed to be a leisurely drive becomes a tiring ordeal peppered with complaints and very colorful language. Inclement weather also has the potential to ruin any car trip. Really, taking a lengthy excursion through a typhoon is no fun at all.
But while there is the bad side, there is also the good. Long drives allow people to get to know each other better, mainly due to proximity: if your seatmate is speaking to you, you’ll no doubt share a conversation. Furthermore, if the aforementioned negative factors fail to occur, then a long drive becomes a thing of real enjoyment. Good weather, good company, swell conversation, and the wide-open road are perfect ingredients for a pleasant road trip.
Of course, the issue of what vehicle you choose for such a trip matters. Although no one really admits it for fear of looking picky or maarte, this is a valid point of consideration. Sitting in one spot for an extended period of time, one will naturally begin to scrutinize every detail of the automobile he or she is riding. The passenger will judge the vehicle on its spaciousness, comfort, entertainment, and other such factors.
Any road trip of over 600 kilometers that lasts 10 hours can be classified in the “long drive” category. This is, of course, a condensed description of the trip from Manila to Baguio via Nueva Vizcaya and Aritao. It was during this trip that I got very well acquainted with the 2010 Isuzu Crosswind AUV.
Taking the long way to Baguio, the Crosswind passed through several roads of varying conditions. On both the NLEX and the SCTEX, the Crosswind was stable and kept itself steady on the road. In downtown Cabanatuan, on the way to Nueva Vizcaya, traffic became a bit heavier. The Crosswind, however, had a good, strong air conditioner, maintaining a comfy cabin temperature throughout the jam.
The undulating roads of Nueva Vizcaya, Aritao and Ambuklao were also well negotiated by the 2010 Crosswind, owing to its Flex Ride MOVE suspension system. “Plush” is the best word to describe the ride. Being higher off the ground, as it is an AUV, the Crosswind naturally avoids many bumps on the road. The Flex Ride MOVE system, however, further contributes by eliminating any unwanted jarring that may come from unfavorable road conditions.
Aside from the ride itself, the 2010 Crosswind has been beefed up in terms of passenger amenities. For the Sportivo variant in particular, Isuzu has transformed the vehicle into a mobile audio-visual room. The Sportivo is the first vehicle in its class to feature an upgraded audio unit with a wide touch-screen monitor as well as MP3- and iPod-playing capabilities. The stereo works in tandem with a pair of headrest-mounted seven-inch high-resolution monitors for second row passengers. Sound quality is also uncompromised as this Crosswind boasts six speakers, truly enhancing the video system and the new stereo head unit. Dull moments can be easily avoided by just popping in a DVD or connecting your iPod.
Aside from improving the interior conditions, Isuzu has also made some changes on the outside of the Crosswind. The redesigned six-hole radiator grille is chromed and fully embossed; the front bumper has been given a new style with a silver under-spoiler and fog lamps with chrome garnish; halogen projector-type headlamps are 63 percent brighter on low-beam setting than the ones on previous models; turning lights have been incorporated into the electronically controlled side mirrors; and for the Sportivo, a new spare tire cover completes that “SUV look.”
“We chose a longer route to Baguio because we wanted you to have a more intimate experience inside the 2010 Isuzu Crosswind,” Isuzu Philippine Corporation president Keiji Takeda told me. “I am particularly proud of the Crosswind. We manufacture it in our Biñan plant in Laguna. More than anything, it showcases the world-class skills of Filipino workers. You can say that it is a vehicle made by Filipinos for Filipinos. In a way, the people who assemble it have instilled it with all the positive Filipino qualities,” he continues.
Upon reaching Baguio in the evening, the cold mountain air was refreshing. The Crosswinds were parked and we all still had enough energy to enjoy the rest of the night. It was a fun excursion accompanied by a very reliable and dependable, proudly Pinoy automobile.
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For more information, visit Isuzu’s website at www.isuzuphil.com
The Crosswind is also making a number of mall tours this month, so catch it at a mall near you.
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E-mail me at enricomiguelsubido@yahoo.com.
