The mobile living room

MANILA, Philippines - Every time a new model turns out to be a bestseller, its rival models from other carmakers seem to suddenly come honking on our garage doors. And with Mitsubishi’s svelte new Montero Sport high on every SUV buyers’ short list, it was no surprise that Isuzu wouldn’t take that sitting down.

Hence a silver 2009 Alterra 4x2 test unit made its way to our office. (Followed right after by a Toyota Fortuner – a review of which will come out soon in this Motoring section.)

It’s been almost a year since I last tested an Alterra. And it was good to sit down in one again, even if the latest model is probably 99 percent identical to the previous years’ models.

It’s many positives are still there: a comfy ride, strong (146 hp/294 Nm) yet fuel-efficient 3-liter common-rail diesel engine, spacious 7-seat cabin, a rear spoiler-mounted reversing camera that projects a color image of the area behind the vehicle to the dash LCD, and my personal favorite, a 5.1 Surround DVD A/V system with a JVC 3.5-inch head unit LCD monitor that ups the Alterra’s LCD monitor tally to three (two 7-inch monitors are mounted behind the front headrests).

It’s the height of summer, and what better vehicle to get away from it all than a big SUV? A minivan can seat more, but nothing beats an SUV, especially when you plan to go off the beaten path. The Alterra is a 7-seater, but it’s not as long and wide as the likewise 3-row-equipped big SUVs from Ford and Chevrolet. The rearmost row has limited elbow- and legroom, making it ideal for young or vertically challenged passengers. At least they still have storage compartments for snacks and beverages.

Of course, once you pop in a DVD and play a blockbuster movie on the three LCD monitors or hook up your iPod to the AUX jack of the JVC head unit and start playing music over the 11 speakers, then it’s highly likely that none of your passengers will care that you’re not all riding a Porsche Cayenne.

Style-wise, the Alterra was not designed to turn heads. I like the vertically oriented headlamps and tail lamps, which give it an edgy, futuristic look. I just find the wide chrome grille a tad overwrought. In contrast, the rest of the body seems a bit too restrained, especially in light of the more muscular Fortuner and the more curvaceous Montero Sport.

I tested the P1.53 million 4x2 Alterra with a manual transmission. Despite somewhat long throws between gears, the shift effort was light, as was the clutch pedal. Steering effort was equally light. Despite its size, driving the Alterra is as effortless as driving a minivan. The automatic variant would be an even more luxurious drive.

The Isuzu flagship’s cabin (with those upscale-looking Optitron gauge illumination), console, soft leather seats, and the rest of the cream-colored interior are carryover items from the previous models. Which is perfectly alright, as it’s a well-built, spacious, and versatile cabin to begin with.

There is even a decent amount of space behind the rearmost seat for your gear or more than a week’s worth of groceries. Of course, like most vehicles of its kind, the Alterra sports rear seats that can fold and tumble to maximize cargo-carrying space.

All things considered, the Isuzu Alterra might not be as stylish as its rivals, but it certainly has the edge when it comes to cabin space, riding comfort, and interior functionality.

THE GOOD

• Strong, yet fuel efficient engine

• Plush-for-an-SUV ride

• Spacious, versatile cabin

• Superb DVD A/V system with Bluetooth and iPod connectivity

• Lots of cupholders and other storage compartments

• Reversing camera/video monitor

THE BAD

• Pricey

• Not exactly head-turning styling

THE VERDICT

• Simply the best 7-seat SUV for couch potatoes on a road trip