[Aditya]

Isuzu Hi-Lander Review

Isuzu Hi-Lander Pros

• Macho styling & incredible street presence. Turns heads wherever it goes
• Very solid, very robust with good build quality
• Reliable 1.9L diesel engine with 161 BHP & 360 Nm. Has good driveability too
• Impressive ground clearance. You don't have to worry about broken roads
• All-black interiors are practical and have multiple storage spaces
• Excellent cargo capacity makes it a talented work truck
• User-friendly cabin can easily accommodate 5 adults. Rear legroom is sufficient
• A long list of accessories available for customization

Isuzu Hi-Lander Cons

• Sheer length, heavy steering & wide turning radius make it cumbersome in the city
• Bumpy ride quality, especially at the rear (due to leaf springs)
• Outdated. Global markets have moved on to the next-gen five years ago
• Isuzu's wafer-thin dealership network
• No 4x4 or AT variants. No petrol version available either
• Vague and notchy gearbox; poor positioning of reverse
• Missing features such as audio head-unit, multiple airbags (only 2 airbags on offer), ORVM adjustment, auto-dimming IRVM, etc.
• We find the overall package expensive for what it offers

Introduction

Isuzu has been in the Indian market for more than a decade. The company launched the D-Max (Review Link) - its first pickup truck in the country, in 2014. At that time, it was the most advanced pickup that we had in the country. However, much to the dismay of enthusiasts, it could not be registered as a private vehicle and had to be used for commercial purposes only.

Then in 2016, the company introduced the V-Cross (Review Link) - a more upmarket version of the D-Max with a twin-cab setup and four-wheel drive for private buyers. It was an instant hit with people looking for a lifestyle vehicle. While the V-Cross had the market to itself for a long time, it could not sell in huge numbers due to its size, rather dated feel and all the disadvantages that are associated with pickup trucks. With time, its price kept rising.

Then, in 2019, Isuzu introduced a new 1.9L diesel engine for its pickup trucks. Along with that came a 6-speed automatic transmission and a rear-wheel drive configuration.

In 2021, the V-Cross was made BS6 compliant, and with that, Isuzu launched the D-Max Hi-Lander - a twin-cab version of the pickup truck that slotted between the commercial S-Cab and the V-Cross. It had the styling of the V-Cross, but with a rear-wheel drive configuration and a 6-speed manual transmission only. Many features were deleted, including alloy wheels, roof rails, automatic climate control, audio system, multifunction steering wheel, adjustable ORVM :shockked and more. This was a vehicle that would appeal to private buyers who wanted a pickup that was just a little more upmarket than the basic D-Max, but didn't need four-wheel drive or modern features.

Over the years, Isuzu has improved the equipment levels of the Hi-Lander. Some of the features from the V-Cross have been included in the Hi-Lander now. In turn, the V-Cross has been given some additional features.

Like other Isuzu vehicles, the Hi-lander comes with a standard warranty of 3 years or 1,00,000 km.

Coming to safety, the Hi-Lander has not been crash-tested by GNCAP or BNCAP. Our test car was old and equipped with basic features such as dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, emergency brake assist and ISOFIX child-seat anchors. Newer versions are equipped with traction control, hill descent control, ESC, 3-point seatbelts for all passengers, occupant detection for all seats, reverse parking sensors, and buzzers and warnings.

Even with all these updates, we must remember that all versions of the D-Max that we get in India are based on the second generation of the pickup. In many global markets, the third-generation D-Max has been on sale since 2019.

Isuzu Hi-Lander Price & Brochure

The Hi-Lander is priced at Rs. 21.80 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), making it one of the more affordable, somewhat modern pickup trucks that can be privately registered in India. That said, we feel it is still expensive for what it offers.

The Hi-Lander is available in Splash White, Silver Metallic, Black Mica, Red Spinel Mica, Galena Grey, and Nautilus Blue (our test car) body colours.

You can download the Isuzu Hi-Lander brochure here - Isuzu Hilander Brochure.pdf.

[Aditya]

Isuzu Hi-Lander Exterior Review

Platform, body panels and other parts are shared with the V-Cross:


Front is dominated by a dark grey metallic finish radiator grille:


Rear styling is identical to the V-Cross. However, while the V-Cross has moved to LED tail-lamps, the Hi-Lander still uses halogen units:


On the sides, the main changes are to the wheel and badging. While the V-Cross gets side steps, the Hi-Lander doesn't:


Simple halogen headlamps clusters with integrated turn-indicators. No DRLs here The V-Cross gets Bi-LED headlamps and DRLs:


Large grey radiator grille with "ISUZU" branding looks much better than the chrome unit our V-Cross test car came fitted with:


Front bumper has a large air dam and a thick skid plate at the bottom:


Fog lamps have been dropped from the list of features:


While the metal bash plate is still there, the towing points on both sides have been deleted:


ORVMs have black covers. Turn-indicators have been moved...


...to the front doors. "Hi-Lander" lettering is pasted next to them:


Door handles are body coloured. No request sensors here:


245/70 section tyres on 16-inch steel rims with wheel covers. The V-Cross now comes with 18-inch alloy wheels shod with 255/60 section rubber:


Roof rails are not available on the Hi-Lander. B-pillars are blacked out. Window visors are aftermarket fittings:


While our test car did not come with a rear defogger, vehicles from later years have been equipped with one:


Our test car was fitted with a Thailand-made cover for the loading bay. It is not a part of standard equipment, but available as an accessory.


It comes with a lock and a strap to pull it down with:


Tailgate gets a chrome handle. The reverse parking sensors on the bumper must have been retro-fitted as they were introduced later:


The lining for the loading bay is an accessory. Payload rating = 225 kg:


The cover is heavy and thankfully, comes with pneumatic struts:


Cover locks into place via two points on the sides towards the rear:


Both sides of the loading bay have these hooks which hold the cover in place:

[Aditya]

Isuzu Hi-Lander Interior Review

Like the exterior, the Hi-Lander's interior parts are taken from the V-Cross. However, it has an all-black theme and many of the features that the V-Cross gets have been left out. Storage spaces, sun visors and grab handles are identical to the V-Cross. There are no soft-touch materials used anywhere, but the hard plastics feel tough and durable:


All-black steering wheel is identical in design to the V-Cross. Due to the lack of features, there are no buttons here. Also, it does not get a leather wrapping:


Instrument cluster is simple and easy to read. There's a rev-counter on the left, a speedometer on the right and a digital MID in the middle. It's basic, but most of the information one needs is relayed:


MID shows fuel and engine temperature gauges, time, outside temperature, odometer, two trip meters, distance to empty, driving time, average and instant fuel consumption, average speed, diesel particulate diffuser level and AdBlue range. A gear position indicator and shift indicator appear in the "GSI" marking when the car is on the move and the clutch is fully released:


Multiple MID settings can be changed according to your preference:


While foglamps are not available in the Hi-Lander, the light stalk from the V-Cross (which gets foglamps) has been retained:


No fancy engine start button. Just a simple ignition switch. No illuminating ring around it. The V-Cross now gets an engine start/stop button on the LHS of the steering wheel. In the Hi-Lander, that spot is blank:


A/C vents get a glossy black border:


Post-2023, the Hi-Lander was equipped with an idling start-stop system. The switch to turn it off would be located on the RHS of the steering wheel, next to the headlamp leveller. Our test car, being a 2021 spec, did not have it:


Switch to turn off the reverse parking sensors is located on the left of the steering wheel:


Doorpads are all-black. In design, they are identical to the ones in the V-Cross:


No scuff plates here:


Front seats are identical in design to the V-Cross. In the Hi-Lander though, they get black fabric upholstery. The top variant of the V-Cross has now moved to leather upholstery:


Pedals are carried over from the V-Cross. The carpet is black:


Very basic all-black centre fascia. The Hi-Lander is not the right choice if you are after creature comforts:


Forget a touchscreen head unit, the Hi-Lander does not even get a basic audio system. Small storage space on the centre fascia can hold a mobile phone:


Simple, yet effective HVAC system. A climate control system has been added in newer vehicles:


At the base of the centre fascia is a 12V power outlet and a USB port with a rubber cover:


Gear shifter gets a silver insert and leather boot:


The Hi-Lander does not have a four-wheel drive system. Therefore, there is a blank space on the centre console in place of the rotary knob that the V-Cross has. I feel this space could have been better utilised - another cubby maybe?


Just like the front, rear doorpads are all black:


Rear seat is large enough to accommodate three adults and comes with a folding armrest. While Isuzu claims to have improved the angle of the seatback, it is still pretty pretty upright. Seat cushioning could be better too. Newer vehicles come with 3-point seatbelts for all three occupants. Legroom is ample:


Just like the V-Cross, the seat base is split in a 60:40 ratio. Both sides can be folded upwards. Tools are stored in two compartments below the seat base:


No A/C vents or cupholders for the rear passengers. One USB charging port with a cover has been provided though:


No cabin lights at the front. Just a single cabin light above the rear passenger footwell:

[Aditya]

Driving the Hi-Lander 1.9L Diesel MT

1,898 cc, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel produces 161 BHP & 360 Nm:


The Hi-Lander is powered by a 1.9L, 4-cylinder diesel engine that uses a variable geometry turbocharger. While this might sound like a downgrade from the 2.5L turbo-diesel that the old V-Cross used, it isn’t. In fact, this smaller unit produces more power and torque than the 2.5L engine.

While the old motor put out 134 BHP & 320 Nm, this one develops 161 BHP (@ 3,600 rpm) & 360 Nm (@ 2,000-2,500 rpm). The Hi-Lander has a kerb weight of 1,835 kg, which gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 88 BHP / ton & a torque-to-weight ratio of 196 Nm / ton. These figures mean that the Hi-Lander is not a fast vehicle, but it has more than adequate performance.

The 1.9L engine fires up with a typical UV-like diesel clatter, and there is a noticeable cabin + gear lever shake too. At idle, the gear lever keeps dancing around & continues to do so as you drive.

Press the clutch and you'll find it to have a long travel, yet it is fairly light to operate. Starting off is easy. Low-end torque is excellent, the gearing is short and the truck can move forward even in 2nd gear without accelerator input. Heck, you can pull away from 0 km/h in 3rd gear with a li'l accelerator input. In-city driveability is a strong point. In most situations, you can pull along in the same gear itself, without needing a downshift. As an example, in 3rd gear with the rev-counter showing less than 1,000 rpm, press the accelerator and this truck pulls ahead without any hesitation. One can potter around in town in 4th at 40 km/h or 5th gear at 50 km/h, with the engine spinning at just over 1,000 rpm. The engine feels comfortable over 1,250 rpm.

The Hi-Lander is at home on the open road. The engine feels nice once the needle crosses 1,500 rpm and pulls strongly (it's not a free-revving motor though). It is at its best in the 2,000 - 3,000 rpm range, and you can easily maintain pace in the fast lane of the expressway. The mid-range is punchy enough, and anyone tailgating you is in for a surprise! Just press the accelerator and watch him get smaller in the rearview mirror. There is sufficient power at your disposal to overtake slower-moving traffic. It's only when you need to overtake very quickly or on steep inclines that you'll feel the need to downshift. While the engine revs to 4,250 rpm, which is the start of the redline, it's clearly not happy to see the higher end of the tachometer. Firstly, beyond 3,000 rpm, the speed increases slowly and when revved hard (over 3,500 rpm), the engine starts sounding harsh & strained. There's no point taking the rpms too high. Long-distance cruisability is competent. The Hi-Lander has a 6-speed gearbox, which helps. 100 km/h is seen at ~1,900 rpm in 6th gear.

Those used to modern cars will find the gearshift vague and notchy. It has long throws, and the gates aren't well-defined. What’s really bad is that 1st and reverse are in the same position, and while you need to use a slightly heavier hand to engage the reverse, there is not much of a difference when it comes to engaging 1st. This can be dangerous and means that you will need to pay attention while engaging 1st or reverse. There were times when I put the car in reverse while starting at a green light. It was here that the reverse parking sensors were helpful. They beeped every time the reverse gear was engaged, and largely the reason I didn’t accelerate and crash into the car behind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOox...ature=youtu.be

Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH)

In terms of NVH, as mentioned earlier, there is a noticeable cabin & gear lever shake on start-up. When idling, press the accelerator and the body tilts to the driver's side! Vibrations are felt on the gear lever at idle and on acceleration, it moves. Vibrations are also felt on the steering, pedals and even the seat. The Hi-Lander has an old body-on-frame construction and it shows.

Noise levels inside the cabin are well-controlled for the type of vehicle the Hi-Lander is. However, compared to modern diesels, it does feel rather loud and disturbing. The engine starts with a typical diesel clatter, which is audible in the cabin. Once the motor warms up, the noise is lesser, but it is always audible. At higher revs, it sounds strained and harsh.

Road noise is heard at speeds in excess of 80 km/h; this noise increases as the speedometer climbs. Wind noise starts creeping into the cabin only after 110 km/h.

Bonnet gets a thick insulation sheet on the underside:


Fair amount of insulation on the firewall:

Mileage & Fuel economy

The Hi-Lander has a claimed fuel-efficiency figure of 12.4 km/l. During our test drive (which included a lot of idling and hard acceleration & braking), I managed to get over 10 km/l according to the MID. With better driving, we are pretty sure that the turbo-diesel will deliver better FE figures. The fuel tank capacity remains unchanged at 55 litres.

Suspension

The Hi-Lander comes with an independent double wishbone suspension with coil springs at the front...


...and leaf springs at the rear:

Ride Comfort

Leaf springs are a must for robust load-carrying applications. The Hi-Lander's ride is far from plush. Things are still okay at the front, but in the back seat, it has that typical bumpiness experienced in UVs with leaf springs (especially when the loading bay is empty). At city speeds, the ride is jiggly, with even small road irregularities making themselves felt inside the cabin. At higher speeds, the bumpiness increases. On bad patches, the ride can get painful for those sitting in the rear seat. It can get jumpy on bad roads. There is simply no comparison with the ride comfort offered by same-price SUVs. This suspension is built to carry cargo, not passengers. You could improve comfort levels by adding weight to the loading bay. Just throw in a couple of sandbags and things should noticeably improve (weight will bring a performance + efficiency penalty though). What's nice about the suspension is its quietness. This is genuinely one of the most silent suspensions we have experienced. The large tyres allow the vehicle to tackle large potholes easily and healthy ground clearance ensures that you don't scrape the undercarriage anywhere.

Handling & Dynamics

Straight-line stability at high speeds is strong and crosswinds don’t seem to affect it either. Grip levels from those fat 245 mm tyres are adequate too. However, when it comes to cornering, there is a lot of body roll, which is expected from a tall body-on-frame vehicle. What's more, if one gets ambitious and starts pushing the Hi-Lander hard into corners, it will fishtail like any other pickup (due to the light rear end). Once again, loading up the rear deck will help in keeping the vehicle planted. Drive it like a tall UV (and not a low-slung sedan), understand its limitations and you should be okay.

Steering

What regular drivers won't like is the Isuzu's steering. It's a hydraulic unit that feels heavy at parking & slow speeds. Due to this, the steering requires a fair deal of effort to operate and gets cumbersome in crowded city areas. Of course, as the speedometer climbs, things aren't so bad. Still, those used to the superlight EPS of modern cars won't be able to live with such a heavy unit. On the open road, the steering offers sufficient weight. That helps the feeling of stability as well. But it still isn't a communicative steering that you'll enjoy using.

The Hi-Lander has a wide turning radius. This means you will be taking 3-point turns even where you didn't expect to. This, coupled with the heavy steering and the sheer size of the vehicle, makes the Hi-Lander a poor choice for narrow + crowded areas.

Braking

In the braking department, the Hi-Lander performs satisfactorily. You get discs at the front and drums at the rear. While they have enough power to bring the truck to a standstill from high speeds, I would have liked to see discs at the rear (considering the price of the vehicle). The Hi-Lander gets 245/70 section tures which aid overall braking performance. ABS, EBD and Brake Assist are a part of standard equipment. The vehicle had no trouble stopping from high speeds in a straight line. On the downside, the pedal travels quite a long way before the brakes actually bite. This will take some getting used to. Pedal feel is also poor and there is a fair amount of nosedive under hard braking.

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line.

[PB65]

Isuzu has to be the most delusional automaker in India. They had the opportunity as well as the image to fill the void left by Endeavour. They just needed to bring in the latest MUX at a price cheaper than the fortuner. It could've been a success in all probability, even with Isuzu's limited footprint, since it's tough, Japanese and huge. Just what a Fortuner rival should be.

Hilux could've been easily uprooted by the new DMax. That truck has such a fan following and legacy. But no. All we get is a generation old, bare bones version of the DMax.

Wake up Isuzu! The market is up for grabs at the moment!

[Amrit@wheels]

Maybe it's just me, but I genuinely don't understand the point of launching a diesel pickup at this price point without even offering an option for a 4x4 system.

[AnAntinspired]

Genuinely surprised to read a review of the Highlander in 2025. After years of having eyes on the Isuzu since its launch, and visiting the dealership year after year inching closer to both the budget and irrationality required to purchase a pick up truck, I bought one. Brand new, at Bangalore's inflated on road prices in April 2024!

Ironically the Hilux and the VCross pushed me towards rhe Highlander, though credit for seeing sense the pick up lifestyle goes in equal measure to the farm and forest life i live aa well as an initimate encounter with a Mahindra Getaway in 2005 when it launched.

I was getting both a V Cross and a Hilux within an easy 1 lakh/5 lakh respectively more than the on road of a new Highlander and am happy to discover that the decisions that made me choose this 2wd pick up still feel good.

Some deciding criteria include - I dislike LED lights, both as a motorcyclist/cyclist facing them during rides as well as from practicality of spending over 3 months each year in foggy terrain. The cost of the spares such as Bi xenon headlights, chrome grill etc are 6x to 10x of the Highlander, and I do not repair if dented, only replace...for example, a rearview mirror of the Highlander costs about 5k, the VCross about 25k. Each! The main thing - running on taller rubber, on 16 inch steel wheels gives the Highlander greater ride comfort and greater mileage. I have never got below 13 in peak traffic in Bangalore and all my cross country (4 times from Bangalore to Himalayas) in the past 1 year have always averaged over 16kmpl.

Space, ride comfort etc etc. Many nuanced points observed over a leisurely year making up my mind between the 3 - Hilux, V Cross and Highlander, that made me finally take the plunge. The only regret - even after waiting 3 months, the Isuzu factory wasn't able to give me any colour but white. For the ONLY Highlander I believe the Bangalore showroom sold until then last year.

I agree completely with all points of the review. There are some details, that having covered over 15000 kms criss crossing the country i would amend from these initial impressions, but thats a detailed write up, with lots of anecdotes and realizations, for another day.

The only detail that seems wrong in this review is - the Highlander post 2023 comes with Automatic Climate Control. The same unit that is there on the VCross. So in interior trim, apart from some shiny bits, there is no feature difference, I got a music system with speakers as well.

I call my Highlander - Tonga - for its got the horses in front and the cart behind. The horses in front are truly a beast - iv changed dozens of cars in my life till now, this one makes me smile like very few of those have. I view my journeys in it as in a Tonga, which iv had many childhood rides in where I grew up. I'm happy to note, that seen in that light, the car is super luxurious in ride and comfort

Attaching a couple of pics here, just so the Highlander in the review doesn't feel so blue in loneliness! Cheers.







One more point. A pickup truck wasn't a want for a lifestyle. It was a need for my life choices. Dogs, cycles, farms, forests, and massive distances spanning the country between multiple homes in locations without a proper pin code. The Highlander does 80 percent of anyones terrain and season and 100% of mine, without needing anything more than a nudge of the steering and pedals.

I was clear I wanted a vehicle for where my life choices make me VENTURE and not for thrill/social time ADVENTURE. For that and my earlier post reasons, the Highlander ended up being the only 2wd pick up in the market that ticked my specific criteria. Therefore do go through your priorities and need if considering the Highlander.

[redohabitat]

Does the management at Isuzu ever wonder why their sales are so low? Or are they intentionally selling 5 year old, previous generation models for ridiculous prices? I can buy one right away if there's atleast a 20% price reduction. Atleast 20%. Look at Hilux, a 14 lakh discount on MRP

[pavannagaraja]

As usual a good and crisp review! But what is the point of reviewing a 2021 spec car in 2025? Wasn't ISUZU able to provide the latest spec model for the review?

[W.A.G.7]

I love this truck, but not at the price point at which it is launched. Perhaps it was relevant in 2020, but it's no longer applicable. When I looked at the interior photos, I was so disappointed. There's a Hilux next door that is often parked outside our home. When I look at those interiors, they seem to be two segments above what this pickup has. A wasted opportunity for Isuzu to launch a proper contender for the Hilux and also the Fortuner. I wouldn't buy this truck for sure in 2025 even though I like it, and even if I had the budget for it and also if I were in the market for one.

[AnAntinspired]

Okay, since i do have the 'updated' post 2023 Highlander, let me add a few more pictures, especially one of the newer dashboard, since the worst impressions are being made by the above review images of a beat up, 4 year old test drive Hilander. I'm not sure the one-and-a-half additional features do help in making a positive impression �� but here they are.

I'm sorry, havent figured out how to add descriptions below images so clustering the pics with my points separately.

1. A random mid drive pic of my 78 year old dad having a go of driving it between Delhi and Nagpur, where the climate control + music system are seen (i recieved an android touchscreen system, which i dislike, so with great requesting managed a switch at the factory to their earlier cd player with physical buttons - i have over 400 cds collected since the 90s...and quite enjoy the retro activity of physically handling my music playing)

2. There are some superb all weather storage solutions for the rear deck of pick-ups available across India, and they work very well. You can glimpse these in a few pics.

3. The isuzu easily becomes the activity venue during Highway pit-stops, with refreshment serving and new friend conversations blooming from it.

4. A few pics of being able to stop really anywhere off the highway. See a view and make your way to it, such that privacy, peaceful dog stretching and unique views are yours to enjoy

5. The checklist for travelling in the isuzu has now expanded to carrying - what one needs + all the gear one wishes to use + what one wants to give en-route + anything you wish to bring back from where you go.

As I type these additional inputs i wondered for an instant as to why am I? It's not like I want to lose the uniqueness of having a car i rarely see, by improving perceptions about it.

Last year I bought 2 more cars - the Adventure edition automatic diesel Alcazar and a manual petrol Carens. You can sense I'm big on space and legs for highways in a car. Honestly, the Hilander won me over in areas i didn't even expect an impression in - the visibility from the drivers seat, top notch, thanks to being old school and not that raised dash of modern design (completely put me oft the Hilux which iv extensively driven). The seat squab and shoulder room, so comfy. These cars, made for long journeys and expeditions, reveal no merits in their 1st hour spent in the cabin. Any test drive or urban experience throws up all the flaws. An Spresso would feel better in so many ways. It's in the 3rd hour of driving onwards, that you realise the comparitive benefits. That torque wave, its a highway thing. So is the uneven tarmac ride. In these areas, both the Carens and Alcazar left me feeling like they were soul-less.

Im not even sure the pricing is off. Yes, like the review says, its outdated and hasn't changed much since 2021. Heck, not even since 2015. Yet, the drive is so engaging, awakening even, that i havent had time to notice the trims within the cabin when driving...it demands, even punishes (that awful reverse gear placement - bah) but above all makes you feel like your drive was an adventure. There are such few cars that do that...and survive the way a true blue Japanese truck can. Pricing is off for potatoes and litchis also...a huge part of everything is going in taxes and towards inflation - Activas cost over 1.2 lakh and the much better first gen japanese engine, metal body one was at 40k!

Just look up mechanical or electronic failures in an Isuzu - barely any. Take your favourite other off road worthy vehicle and look for the same - where quality is a lottery. With a sub 10k service once in 10k kms/once a year its not even expensive to maintain. At 26 lakh on road, the only way to see worth in this car is to look at Uniqueness, Toughness, Reliability and Lifestyle luggage Space. Now pick your other option and see to what measure these 4 aspects exist.

You will know if this is a vehicle for your priorities. For these priorities there is maybe a Gurkha (loses out on space, Reliability) Thar Roxx (lower Reliability, space, uniqueness)
or Hilux (appears to be a match but at atleast 10 lakh more than this inspite of a heavy discount). The other choices are poised visually as rugged, but will cause tremendous heartburn to take out into the rough - and any of these too cost over 20 lakh as well.

To conclude - as the only car - it would he a nightmare, unless you live on a highway or the back of beyond. It would also be a mistake to buy this car and discover purpose. For that - the Hilux, the Thars or Tatas will give you sensory pleasure within the cabin until you discover it outdoors. If you are a disgruntled with the city, running away from population person, driving multiple species in muddy clothes and footwear - you will he glad to have a hard wearing, easy to clean, rugged ride as this!

[maddy42]

Originally Posted by AnAntinspired

1. A random mid drive pic of my 78 year old dad having a go of driving it between Delhi and Nagpur, where the climate control + music system are seen (i recieved an android touchscreen system, which i dislike, so with great requesting managed a switch at the factory to their earlier cd player with physical buttons - i have over 400 cds collected since the 90s...and quite enjoy the retro activity of physically handling my music playing)

Gorgeous looker you got there. It indeed needs you to be a part of the lifestyle to justify buying a vehicle like a pickup.

Crisp review Aditya. Did you find out the point why Isuzu intended on launching this vehicle? Where does it fit in the current market?

Will the Bolero Maxx and Mahindra Pikups let any sales trickle to Isuzu?

[DicKy]

Great review and actually refreshing to see this being reviewed, though like most other BHPians am slightly amused why a review all of a sudden for a 2021 model in 2025. That said, I actually welcome such reviews as we have a good number of misses regarding reviews especially of low selling/ niche models.

Agreed the Hi-lander can be registered on white plates and it gets the modern 1.9l engine. But is it really worth the premium of 5-6 lakhs over the S-cab Z variant? The S-cab didn't have airbags and ABS, but the S-cab Z variants gets those and more features than the normal Hi-lander model.

Also wonder why Isuzu severely detuned the 2.5l engine from 135bhp to 77 bhp somewhere before the BS6 norms came. Is it the same engine but detuned from the 2014 D-max, or is it the engine that Tavera had?

Originally Posted by Aditya

What’s really bad is that 1st and reverse are in the same position, and while you need to use a slightly heavier hand to engage the reverse, there is not much of a difference when it comes to engaging 1st.

Really bad. Have seen all other ones. Push down the lever to engage reverse, lift the lever to engage reverse, life the collar to engage reverse, push button to engage reverse. And Isuzu choose to do this? Atleast they could have put reverse in the normal reverse position at right bottom.

[AnAntinspired]

Originally Posted by DicKy

But is it really worth the premium of 5-6 lakhs over the S-cab Z variant? The S-cab didn't have airbags and ABS, but the S-cab Z variants gets those and more features than the normal Hi-lander model.

tleast they could have put reverse in the normal reverse position at right bottom.

You bet! In fact the Z variant of the S Cab is way better specced than the Hilander (steering mounted controls, running board, roof rails, chrome trim, internally adjustable rear views etc.) And not 5-6 lakhs more, its 10 lakhs more (15+ for the Z variant and 26+ for the Hilander in Bangalore) The S Cab Z's engine is inferior by more than half in power/torque (77bhp vs 163 bhp) but more than enough for our country's speed regulations currently quite strictly enforced.

The speed limiter enforced at 80 is an inconvenience that one can adjust to or illegally hack at own risk. The critical part is - in today's RTO scenario, especially if registering in big cities, there is no work around to having a white board for it. ONLY yellow board. This is true of a model in Hilux as well - the yellow board is atleast 15 lakhs cheaper for almost the same car than a white board. This tells you what our tax structures are, not the company's greed!

So i also realised the Hilander isn't to be looked at as the - why more expensive than Z' car. Its the cheapest white board Isuzu you can buy - period. It took a while wrapping my head around this one, but just as say an unlimited multi-cuisine breakfast at an airport lounge being just 25 rupees is valid ONLY for certain credit card holders, the rest should be only comparing the 300 rupee Dosa with the 500 rupee Aloo Paratha option at the airport food court...the Isuzu Hilander too cannot be dragged into the commercial segment vehicle comparisons.

And about the other detail - as to why the reverse cannot be lower extreme right - thats where the 6th gear is. The hilander comes with a 6 speed manual gear box, unlike the commercial ones with 5 speed only. The reverse could have had that lift locking mechanism tho'...