The off-road less traveled

MANILA, Philippines - We want you to experience the Isuzu Alterra 2009 on roads it was meant to be driven on,” said Art Balmadrid, SVP, corporate business division, Isuzu. “Of course, this means that it should be driven on all kinds of roads in the country.”

I guess that was the best way to start my day. It was 6 a.m. and we were in for a drive around Taal Lake, going through Batangas, and then on to Tagaytay. I was warned that the drive would take at least three hours, and as luck would have it, I got to drive for the first leg of the tour.

We left Alabang at 7:30 a.m. and the route was going to take us through the Star Expressway in Batangas on to Cuenca where we would make our first stop in the town of San Nicholas, Batangas, which had a great view of Taal Lake.

“This way, you will get to see just how beautiful the back roads of the country are in a vehicle that makes the ride truly comfortable,” added Balmadrid.

In these days of economic adversity, many carmakers cut costs by scaling down features of their vehicle models — or they hope to ride out the crisis by just keeping what they have. Such is not the case at Isuzu Philippines Corp. The diesel authority firmly believes that customers are won and kept by continuously improving its line of product offerings.

It this light, Isuzu launched the 2009 Alterra, a midsize sports-utility vehicle. The first Alterra was launched in the country in 2005. The sales of this SUV encouraged Isuzu to improve on the comforts of the vehicle, as this is what satisfied Alterra owners suggested to them. Taking these feedbacks to heart, Isuzu improved the features of the Alterra to meet the demands of its users.

Just Drive

The fun drive began after we made a pit stop at San Nicholas. We were led to the back roads of Taal Lake where we got to feel just how comfy the new Alterra is when driven off-road.

The drive was on dirt roads for almost an hour — truly fun. Inside the Alterra — with its newly designed 16-inch, six-spoke alloy wheels — the ride was smooth. No matter how bumpy the road was, with the sturdy build of the Alterra, I hardly noticed the bumpy roads — except for all the dust that came my way. I really love feeling safe in a vehicle; it is what makes driving fun.

There is nothing flimsy about this hardcore off-roader. And, even if I am a small driver, the Alterra was easy to handle even through the narrow roads.

Inside the Alterra, the music floated. I must admit the sounds were on a station not really to my liking, but the music kept my four companions quiet, and I enjoyed the silence because it gave me a better feel of the vehicle.

In the backseat, the passengers were kept busy as they plugged in their own MP4 players because there is an integrated audio-video console box, which allowed them to do just that.

“We at Isuzu believe that customers deserve only the best,” said IPC president Keiji Takeda. “So we keep finding ways to improve our vehicles, even if they cost us more. We have long discovered that car buyers appreciate quality and value even in the smallest of details. And I’m proud to say the 2009 Alterra is excellent down to the last detail.”

The Alterra is powered by the trailblazing 3.0-liter 4JJ1-TC common-rail direct-injection diesel engine, which meets Euro 3 emissions standards.

“If you want a vehicle for keeps, then a diesel-engine vehicle is the better choice,” quipped Balmadrid. “Just look at the trucks we have in the country — 90 percent of them are Isuzu.” It’s true that most of the trucks I saw on the road were Isuzu.

We finally made it to Tagytay by noon. The folks with me were ready for lunch — and a little relaxing at Tagaytay Highlands. For my part, I was hoping the drive would be a wee bit longer because I was just beginning to have fun.

In Tagaytay, I finally took a good look at the Alterra from the outside. Easy handling is the first thought that comes to mind when I think of the Alterra. Outside, the SUV is just as great.

Chrome is a nice addition on the vehicle, as the door handles and power-folding side mirrors were chromed. There are projector headlamps with fog lamps in front, a reverse camera, and four-eye backing-up sensor at the rear, which complete the exterior package.

The Isuzu Alterra I drove was starry black. I was told that there are other limited monotone colors like the omega white pearl and sterling silver.

For two-tone color combinations, the Alterra is available in starry black, chardonnay gold, nautilus blue, and nebula gray.

The 4x2 manual is P1,530,000 (monotone/two-tone) and P1,540,000 (pearl color). The 4x2 automatic goes for P1,585,000 (monotone/two-tone) and P1,595,000 (pearl color). Finally, the 4x4 automatic can be driven home for P1,713,000 (monotone/two-tone), and P1,723,000 (pearl color).

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For other inquiries, visit your nearest Isuzu dealerships now. In Metro Manila, Isuzu dealerships can be found on EDSA Balintawak, Quezon Avenue, Commonwealth, Pasig, Manila, Makati and Alabang. In the provinces, Isuzu dealerships are located in Isabela, Pangasinan, Cabanatuan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, San Pablo, Bacolod, Iloilo, Mandaue, Cagayan de Oro and Davao. Visit www.isuzuphil.com for other Isuzu updates.