Driving Impressions

The VehiCROSS handles amazingly well on winding roads, given its ground clearance and off-road orientation. Its effort-sensitive recirculating-ball steering is unexpectedly sharp, crisp and responsive. Despite its height, VehiCROSS provides a comforting sense of stability through even the sharpest corners. Isuzu's Torque-On-Demand all-wheel-drive system adds to that stability by constantly redistributing power to whichever tires offer the best grip. Stab the throttle in the middle of a quick, tight corner and it doesn't upset the handling. Of course, this system really shines when driving on slippery surfaces, such as dirt, snow or wet pavement. The front suspension uses unequal-length control arms and torsion-bar springs, while the rear mounts a live axle on four links and coil springs. Thick anti-roll bars front and rear improve handling on the road. Aerospace-grade aluminum monotube shocks with heat-expansion chambers are almost impossible to overheat-so you shouldn't lose shock damping no matter how rough the road. Furthermore, approach and departure angles (the available ground clearance front and rear for climbing over and descending large obstacles) are impressive, allowing VehiCROSS to traverse some seriously rugged terrain. At 3,955 pounds, the VehiCROSS is surprisingly hefty, nearly 1000 pounds heavier than the similarly sized Toyota RAV-4. But this is, of course, a true body-on-frame truck, not a unit-body car. To move all that mass, there's a 3.5-liter V6 with a computer-controlled induction system helping to boost output to 215 horsepower at 5400 rpm, and torque to 230 pound-feet at a flexible 3000. The engine is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission and a Borg-Warner Torque-On-Demand (TOD) four-wheel-drive system that includes a limited-slip rear differential. Computer-controlled TOD continuously monitors axle speeds and throttle position-among other things-and is smart enough to shift torque around even before the wheels start to slip. This sophisticated powertrain does its work through a set of P245/60R-18 mud and snow radials. It may look like a rocket, but VehiCROSS takes nearly 9 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. That's not slow by SUV standards, but it won't keep up with a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo (one of the quickest SUVs). The wheelbase, at 91.8 inches, is nearly two inches shorter than a standard Cherokee, and you'll notice the difference on rutted roads. With its rugged suspension, VehiCROSS rides hard and has a tendency to pogo on rough pavement. On smoother roads, however, it delivers a solid and stable ride.

Final Word

Isuzu's VehiCROSS offers quick acceleration, good handling on smooth roads, and, of course, wild styling inside and out. There are some tradeoffs for the sake of design, and the price tag is relatively high. But if you want something truly different, this is it.