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It’s also quite loud in here. The engine is front-mounted, but it might as well be under your seat as in a refrigerator-type van. Thrashing the engine past 4000 rpm, as you will likely do to cut through traffic, will have your ears begging you to give it a rest. This isn’t the kind of soundtrack that will have you fantasizing about driving in the Monaco Grand Prix; more like the Monaco pit lane, where the transporter trucks are. There is a stereo, but better save it for the parking lot when you can at last hear it. Perhaps a powertrain transplant from the D-Max offers the best chance of evolving our creature here. Seating is still a remnant from the Fiera age. Front seats are reasonably roomy, with second row seats that are adequate for three. The rear seats though are still side-facing benches—more like upholstered ledges just one notch above our typical PUJ’s. There are some welcome touches such as rear airconditioning and headrest-mounted VCD monitors. For 2004, Isuzu added even more luxury features, such as a pneumatic massage device for the front passenger. If Lexus and Mercedes thought they had an exclusive on this built-in backrub machine, wait till they see the XUVi. Then we have to teach our vehicle some manners. Road manners, that is. The unfortunately-named vehicle is prone to leaning even when the air is still. Show it a corner and it will fight to keep going straight. Isuzu has performed reasonably well in taming the Crosswind’s ride; it’s still firm, showing crashiness only on heavily raised surfaces like humps. |
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