Gruelling 4WD off-road test
From the experience of Dura-Mission 2015 Challenge, Isuzu V-Cross is definitely worth considering should anyone ever need a pick-up.
FOR someone who rarely handles a four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle, experiencing an off-road drive in one across rugged terrain and under challenging conditions can be quite nerve-racking.
I got a taste of this during a recent four-day Isuzu DuraMission 2015 Challenge in Sabah – apart from test-driving the automaker’s D-Max V-Cross.
During the expedition, journalists girded up for a rough-and-smooth off-roading adventure along Sabah trunk roads, traversing hills, muddy and soft sandy trails, rocky rivers, beaches as well as jungle tracks before reaching the majestic Mount Kinabalu.
Everything was done impromptu upon our arrival at Kota Kinabalu on Jan 14. There was neither testdrive nor detailed briefing prior to the trip.
All we had with us were our driving licence, a simple programme book that included some guidelines for the trip – and lots of guts!
Given our scant experience in driving under harsh off-road conditions, Isuzu was confident its V-Cross had the capability to ensure we would not ‘suffer’ – at least not too much!
The press were assigned to the test-drive in pairs, with an Isuzu representative taking turns behind the wheel throughout the 10-hour daily itinerary.
The more experienced participants also guided the offroad convoy whenever the need arose.
For the record, the course chosen for us comprised what seasoned off-roaders term as Class I and II tracks – considerably safe for beginners but no less challenging. The courses used in competitions are labelled Class V.
“The Isuzu-Dura Mission 2015 aims to give media practitioners ample opportunity to experience the prowess of the D-Max under a variety of driving conditions,” Isuzu Malaysia chief operating officer Daisuke Ishida said during the welcoming dinner.
He stressed the D-Max variant was designed for off-road motorists seeking logistic reliability without compromising on style.
“It can bring you anywhere. The mission is meant to test its durability, performance, handling, safety, comfort and refinement, and of course, to highlight its impressive low-fuel consumption as well.” Travel log – Day One
We started from Kota Kinabalu. Our course for Day One was set for the Tip of Borneo (or Tanjung Simpang Mengayau), covering a distance of 234km.
The convoy comprised 16 4WDs – 10 transporting the media teams, four serving as ‘sweeper trucks’ with experienced offroad specialists on board, one functioning as the scout vehicle and another transporting Isuzu’s in-house photographers and videographers.
We drove 133km before reaching Kampung Taburan to tackle the 29km off-road challenge.
The trail was truly tough, made worse by the heavy rain since the night before. We had to bulldoze our way through thick mud tracks, constantly on our toes to avoid getting get stuck in potholes or ditches – or sliding down the ravine as we negotiated the boulders along the boggy road.
There were two hillslopes which were highly difficult to manoeuvre. Many of the teams had to be winched up to continue the journey.
I was able to pull it off though without any help f rom the ‘sweepers’. Still, the obstacles were unnerving for us off-road first-timers.
After the ‘near-death’ experience (I could be exaggerating a bit here), we stopped at a beach to change drivers.
Our next challenge was crossing a river almost five-foot deep. Slowly and carefully, the drivers made it through – one by one – before pushing on to a secluded spot at Pantai Teringai for lunch.
After that, we drove another 72km to get to Simpang Mengayau in Kudat where we spent the night at a local resort, just half-mile from the Tip of Borneo.
Personally, it has been a dream of mine to stand on this northernmost point of Borneo island, hoping to catch the resplendent sunset and perhaps, a faint view of the Philippines across the Sulu Sea.
Alas, this was not to be as we only arrived around 6.30pm when dusk had set in.
Nonetheless, the view was no less breathtaking. Many in our group seized the opportunity to take selfies and wefies against a majestic background of the blue sea and f lawless horizon that no painting – not even the most revered masterpiece – could ever capture in totality. Day Two
The next day, we headed to Kota Marudu, 146km from Simpang Mengayau.
The off-road route started at Kota Belud shooting range in Kampung Rosok, stretching 18km along mountainous terrain.
En route, we stopped for lunch in Kandukut where we got to enjoy the panorama from the hilltop.
The main challenge for the day was crossing a deep trench. All of us – media people, Isuzu crew members and off-road guides – toiled for an hour, filling up the gaping depression with rocks and soil to create a solid passing. Still, every 4WD had to be winched across.
From there, we crossed Sungai Tempusuk and continued for another 98km before arriving at Mesilau Nature Resort in Kundasang where the only challenge was the thick fog. The total distance covered for the day was 262km. Day Three
On the final day, Isuzu Malaysia treated the media group to a sightseeing tour around Mount Kinabalu (and its peak) by helicopter which took off from Kundasang Golf Club.
After that, we drove to Kiulu to try our hands at white-water rafting before heading to Kota Kinabalu in the evening to catch our flight home.
Along the way to Kiulu, we passed the iconic Jambatan Tamparuli – a suspension bridge spanning the Tamparuli River in Tuaran – which has been immortalised into a local folk song penned by the late John Goisah and made famous by Justin Lusah.
For this leg of the whole journey, we logged a distance of 145km. The five-star V-Cross
The D-Max is probably among the most celebrated pick-up trucks in the market today.
Introduced in Malaysia in 2005, it has entered its second generation with the latest variant already raking in numerous accolades.
The V-Cross has undergone one of the most intensive development programmes for any Isuzu vehicle, including a whooping four million kilometres of road testing.
This makes the D-Max variant the benchmark by which others are judged. For two years in a row, since its debut in 2013, it was named Car of the Year – Pick-up Truck Segment by NST-CBT, as well as Best Value For Money Pick-up Truck by Asian Auto Magazine.
Its three-litre engine is impressive, providing balance between performance, durability and fuel economy via the Variable Geometry Turbo System (VGS).
This gives it that excellent lowend torque, required during offroad driving, as well as the boost when overtaking in hilly terrain.
The engine turns below 2,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) at normal road speeds, ensuring fuel economy. It is built to be robust and highly dependable, with minute prospects of untimely ruptures or needing regular replacements.
For safety, it is the first Japanese pick-up in Malaysia that meets the highly stringent regulations imposed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
One feature that exemplifies this is the concept called i-GRIP – Isuzu Gravity Response Intelligent Platform.
The vehicle is designed with a wide and low stance, the engine being mounted lower to keep the centre of gravity closer to the ground, while the wheelbase and tracks being wide apart for greater stance.
This ensures the vehicle will not easily roll over even if tilted up to 49 degrees on any side.
Apart from the UNECE prerequisites, the V-Cross has also received a five-star safety rating from the Australian New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP). Notable considerations
One thing I like about the V-Cross is the comfort of being inside one. The entire cabin is spacious, with wide and padded seats along with plenty of legroom, making long journeys enjoyable.
Throughout our off-road journey, the back passengers never complained about any bumpy rides – a predicament often associated with pick-ups.
As a driver, I could hardly find any blind spot when navigating the trails via the mirrors.
The V-Cross also comes with automatic climate control and premium surround sound system.
Another impressive feature is its ability to shift between 2WD and 4WD without needing to stop. A convenient mode selector on the central tunnel allows the driver to conveniently and safely select the mode suited to certain road conditions.
What I have learnt from the Dura-Mission 2015 Challenge is that should anyone ever need a pick-up, the V-Cross is definitely worth considering.
Overall, we logged a total of 640km, using about 70 per cent of fuel. A quick check minutes after arriving at Kota Kinabalu airport showed we still had about 300km worth of remaining mileage inside the tank.