February 1999

MotorWeek Car Of The Month: 2000 Isuzu VehiCROSS

Isuzu is the top import branded sport-utility maker in the land, and for good reason. Isuzu has consistently kept tabs on what Americans want in an advanced SUV, and even builds it popular Rodeo in Indiana. But, for the 2000 model year, and actually on sale now, Isuzu has prepared the most advanced SUV concept yet, the VehiCROSS.

If the name VehiCROSS sounds familiar, it should. This is one show stopping SUV that actually began as an auto show concept vehicle at the 1993 Tokyo Motor Show. Styling is both sleek and scary. The flared headlights are more like the piercing eyes of a night predator, while the muscular hard-plastic body cladding and washboard ribs have the look of armor.

VehiCROSS was such a hit at the show, that it has been available in Japan in limited quantities for over a year. Now, VehiCROSS has arrived on our shores, ready for the great American wilderness. Or, the hard packed driveway to that hill top country club if buyers so choose.

VehiCROSS gets its name from abilities to easily make the switch from pave to unpaved roads, from daily commutes to weekend adventures, without compromising comfort or handling in either case. Most current sport-utility vehicles force buyers to sacrifice some on the road comforts for off the road abilities. That=s not the case with the Isuzu VehiCROSS.

Powered by the Trooper's 215-horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V-6 engine, the VehiCROSS drivetrain includes advances like Torque-On-Demand 4X4. The TOD automatic 4-wheel drive system senses road conditions and instantly adjusts torque balance from the front to the rear wheels in any ratio that is required. The VehiCROSS suspension contains the world=s first aluminum shock absorbers with a Apiggyback reservoir@. The shock design separates oil from gas and delivers greater damping efficiencies by eliminating the spongy transitional feeling of conventional oil/gas shocks.

Take the giant step up to enter VehiCROSS, however, and you'll find the production model has lost much of the space-age interior flavor of the show truck. The dash is well designed, but straight forward. It is, however, well equipped. Leather trimmed Recaro seats are standard, as are air conditioning, power windows, cruise control, and a 6-speaker AM/FM/Cassette stereo. Owners can add a CD player if they wish, and a roof-rack is available too. Which, you probably won't need since the split-folding rear seats expand the cargo bay to a generous 50.2 cubic feet.

If you' re ready for some off-roading to the future, be sure to catch MotorWeek's exclusive test of the Isuzu VehiCROSS on episode # 1823. Please check your local listings for time and channel.

The Isuzu VehiCROSS is most significant in that it shows a clear direction for the growing, and still evolving sport-utility market. Only in the case of the VehiCROSS, that direction will let you drive right out of this world.

Editors Take Note: MotorWeek Car Of The Month: March 1999: 2000 Buick LeSabre

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