There are a few SUVs capable of serving the purpose of a pick-up truck and a pure off-road SUV, offering business and taking you to challenging places without breaking a sweat.
Isuzu is one brand that specialises in such vehicles and has managed to carve its niche in the Indian market. The brand competes in a segment where Toyota has already established its supremacy.
However, with its range of vehicles in this category, available at an affordable price of under Rs. 20 lakhs, Isuzu has been giving other brands a run.
The Japanese carmaker offers three vehicles under the given price range. These are Isuzu D-Max, Isuzu S-Cab, and Isuzu Hi-Lander. All the car provides something unique in their respective areas, with the core motive remaining the same.
Let's take a closer look at the features and specifications of each of these.
1. Isuzu D-Max
The Isuzu D-Max is aimed at both lifestyle consumers and commercial vehicle buyers. This makes the D-Max a well-suited vehicle for the rural parts of India and a small chunk of city buyers.
The Isuzu D-Max price in India falls between Rs 10.55 - 11.40 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). The vehicle is available in flat deck and cab chassis variants.
The D-Max has a 2.5L 4-cylinder VGT inter-cooled diesel engine that produces 78 PS and 176 Nm torque. The BS6 engine is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.
Regarding performance, the D-Max is a reasonable player, having decent road manners on both rougher and extreme obstacles. With a sorted leaf-spring suspension setup, the vehicle is worth a load-lugger.
The basic styling of the vehicle remains unchanged, with the same simple headlights and grille design with body cladding at the front. The D-Max sports large 16-inch wheels, which are nicely absorbed by flared wheel arches.
The latest model has improved the interiors with fabric seat covers and quality car-like interiors. The vehicle gets comfortable seating, with the co-passenger getting a slidable seat for better comfort and ease of access.
The dashboard gets a multi-information display giving every bit of information about the journey. The D-Max gets comfort features like power steering with tilt adjustment and optional AC and ORVMs with adjustment retention.
Plenty of storage space exists in multiple storage compartments, retractable cups, pocket twin glove box and coin holders on dashboard door trims with bottle holders. Its boot capacity can range from 170 to 225 litres.
Safety has been enhanced in the updated version of D-Max, which now offers more features to reassure you. It provides rear parking sensors, a brake override system, ventilated front disc brake with twin pot calliper and a hydraulic brake with a booster.
2. Isuzu S-Cab
Isuzu S-Cab is another pick-up based on the D-Max and aims to tackle the entry-level spectrum in the Indian market, dominated mainly by Bolero XT.
Priced between Rs.12.55 - 13 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi, the S-Cab is available in two variants including the 4-seater version.
The Isuzu S-Cab gets the same engine as the regular D-Max comes. The powertrain is the 2.5L 4-cylinder VGT inter-cooled diesel unit generating 78 PS and 176 Nm torque. The BS6 engine is coupled with a 5-speed manual transmission.
The S-Cab is a blend of power and technology. And this is reflected in the performance as the engine is refined with impressive NVH levels. With negligible turbo lag, the engine is peppy, with the mid-range performance being exceptionally well. And with excellent steering feedback, you can rest assured of confident driving in any given road conditions.
The Isuzu S-Cab retains the same delicate looks of the regular D-Max with clear lens headlamps, a simple grille and large rectangular-shaped taillamps. With large 16-inch wheels, the S-Cab ensures you stay on track and get a smooth driving experience whenever you plan to go with this vehicle.
The interiors of the vehicle are upmarket, with the use of dual-tone cabins and fabric on seats. The seats are comfortable, with the driver seat offering 6-way adjustability for a more relaxing driving position.
For more comfort, the S-Cab gets powered windows with driver-auto down functionality, AC, 60:40 rear tip-up seats and an advanced instrument panel.
Plenty of utilities include a retractable cup, pocket twin glove boxes and coin holders on dashboard door trims with bottle holders and a 12V charging socket.
The S-Cab gets the same set of safety as the regular D-Max with a few additional aspects. The vehicle gets rear parking sensors, brake override system, day & night IRVM, engine bottom guard, and cross car front beam.
A ventilated front disc brake with a twin pot calliper and a hydraulic brake with a booster ensures braking.
3. Isuzu Hi-Lander
The Isuzu Hi-Lander is the absolute beast when giving a head start, irrespective of business or leisure. The Hi-Lander is a modern-day pick-up that caters to all your style, comfort and safety needs.
The 5-seater is priced at Rs 19.50 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi) and is available in a single variant.
Power comes from the 1.9L diesel engine that pumps 163 PS and 360 Nm torque. The engine is synced with a six-speed manual gearbox with a 2WD setup.
The engine is decent to rev with good pulling power, and that's what you need for your business. While you appreciate the engine's refinement levels, the 6-speed gearbox nicely channels the energy. Ride comfort is what you expect from such a vehicle with good absorption of bumps. Overall, the performance is decent in both on and off-road conditions.
As per the exterior design, the versatile personality of the Hi-lander complements its ambitions. With a high level of customisation, the vehicle comes with a metallic finished grille and ORVMs, halogen headlights, body-coloured door handles, 17-inch wheels, chrome tailgate handles and rectangular taillights.
The interiors make the perfect picture with the dual-tone theme used in the cabin. The seats are cushioned well with high fabric upholstery, with the front getting wrap-around bucket ones and the rear getting 60:40 tip-up that can make room for sizable luggage. The driver's seat is also 6-way height adjustable.
With plenty of room for five passengers, the rear seating offers ample legroom. The Hi-Lander provides features like automatic AC, four speakers, 3 USB ports, and power windows on all sides. The car's dashboard is neatly designed with excellent overall cabin quality, multiple cup holders, and a multi-information display.
Safety remains the top priority of Hi-Lander. It comes with dual-front airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Override system, emergency brake assist, rear defogger, rear parking sensors, ISOFIX child anchorages and steel underbody protection.
Park+
As pick-up trucks might be a bit unfriendly for the people in the cities, a friendly mobile app Park+ can handle the parking problems. The platform lets you spot a suitable parking space near your location and conveniently book the slot even before you arrive.
Apart from tackling the parking chaos, the Park+ lets you avail several other car maintenance benefits such as doorstep car washing, FASTag recharge and battery jumpstart. You can also read the latest car updates in various categories, expert opinions, and user reviews on them.
Download the Park+ app today and enhance your car ownership experience with Park+.
FAQs
What are the colour options available in the Isuzu Hi-Lander?
The Isuzu Hi-Lander has three colour options: Titanium Silver Met, Splash White, and Galena Gray Mat.
Is the engine in Isuzu D-Max and Isuzu S-Cab the same?
Yes, the powertrain in Isuzu D-Max and Isuzu S-Cab is the same BS6 2.5L 4-cylinder diesel unit that makes 78 PS and 176 Nm torque, paired with 5-speed manual transmission.
What is the mileage of Isuzu D-Max?
The official figures for the mileage of Isuzu D-Max are unknown. However, the users reported mileage in real-world test driving conditions is around 12 kmpl.
Does the Isuzu Hi-Lander have a touchscreen infotainment unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay?
You don't get any touchscreen unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in the Isuzu Hi-Lander.
What is the tyre size of Isuzu Hi-Lander?
The Isuzu Hi-Lander has tubeless radial tyres measuring 245/70 R16 and 16-inch alloy wheels.
What are the dimensions of the Isuzu S-Cab pick-up SUV?
The overall dimensions of the Isuzu S-Cab 2WD HR trim stand at 5,200 mm in length, 1,860 mm in width, and 1,780 mm in height.
The Isuzu S-Cab 2WD, CBC HR trim, measures 5,045 mm in length, 1,860 mm in width, and 1,780 mm in height. The wheelbase of the car is 3,095 mm, irrespective of the variant.
What is the payload capacity of the Isuzu D-Max Super Strong variant?
The Isuzu D-Max Super Strong variant has a payload capacity of 1,650 kg.
What is the deck carrying capacity of the Isuzu Hi-Lander?
The deck carrying capacity of the Isuzu Hi-Lander is 225 kg.
What does Isuzu S-Cab offer safety features?
The Isuzu S-Cab offers plenty of safety features for the money. It has ventilated front disc brake with a twin-pot calliper and hydraulic brakes with a booster.
It provides a safety cover with rear parking sensors, brake override system, day & night IRVM, engine bottom guard, and cross-car front beam.
What are the accessories on offer with the Isuzu Hi-Lander?
The Isuzu Hi-Lander comes with many customisation options to stand out in the crowd.
You can choose optional accessories like Bed Liner Over Rail, D-Box with Spoiler, Sports Bar, Hard Lid, Canopy, Carpet Floor Mat, Door Visor and Rear Combi Lamp Guard.