The VehiCROSS is a gamble for Isuzu, and its design is as divisive today as it was when the vehicle was introduced in 1997. It is considered one of the strangest SUVs of all time and was only produced until 2001. In Japan (1997-1999) and the United States (1999-2001), the number of cars available was intentionally limited to make the VehiCROSS look like an exclusive offering.
Just under 6,000 vehicles were produced, of which around 4,150 were sold in the US, and 1,800 found buyers in Japan.
With its short two-door body, the VehiCROSS was even considered a compact SUV, even though it ran on an abbreviated edition of the same basics as the second-generation Isuzu Trooper (also rebranded as the Acura SLX and Chevrolet Trooper). It was only 162. 6 inches (4130 mm) long and had a wheelbase of 91. 8 inches (2332 mm), but since it was wide, it had a very planted and sporty stance.
The VehiCROSS was powered by a V6 engine that produced 215 horsepower at 5400 rpm and 230 pound-feet of torque at 3000 rpm. The only transmission option was a four-speed automatic and the vehicle featured a computer-controlled all-wheel-drive formula that, combined with its top-deck clearance, short wheelbase, and truck-like body-on-frame structure. , perfect all-rounder.
Interestingly, Isuzu has also produced four-door and convertible prototypes based on the VehiCROSS, VX-4 and VX-O2, which means that the automaker has thought about expanding the diversity of related models. Both were shown at the 2000 Los Angeles Auto Show. Show, where they probably weren’t well-earned enough to convince Isuzu that they’re worth putting into production.
The Isuzu VehiCROSS was one of those Japanese cars whose design was ahead of its time, featuring wide bulging bare plastic cladding. It added to the car’s aggressive look and put it in a design category of its own. From the front, the vehicle had small headlights that appeared to have melted and started running across the car’s hood at speed. But while that may sound a bit weird (and not aesthetically pleasing), they worked in the context of the whole design and didn’t look out of place.
It even had a pair of titanium teeth embedded in its grille to drive the point home just how aggressive it was meant to be.
But the façade is not the only debatable component of its design. From the side it also looked atypical, thanks to the aforementioned frame cladding that surrounded the entire vehicle, as well as the shape of the greenhouse and its distance from the long bonnet. The covered mount for the spare wheel at the rear is also molded into the tailgate.
In the design year 1999 in the U. S. In the U. S. , the unique polished 16-inch chrome wheels were replaced with larger 18-inch wheels in the last two years of production. In some examples, the interior was decorated with red leather on the steering wheel and Recaro sports seats. and door cards. Other than that, though, the interior of the VehiCROSS wasn’t special.
According to reviews at the time, the Isuzu VehiCROSS drove very well for a high-end vehicle. It handled more than respectably on the road, thanks to a suspension 60 percent stiffer than the Trooconsistente on which it was based and the Recaro. The seats helped add a sporty touch to the ride with a consistent driving experience. But it stands out in its off-road detail with its 8. 4-inch ground clearance, selectable all-wheel drive formula with TOD (Torque on Demand) and locking rear differential.
Car and Driver even used a VehiCROSS around the drift, registering a lateral force of 0. 75g, greater than the 0. 73g of a Mercedes-Benz ML430.
Isuzu wanted the VehiCROSS to be a vehicle that could navigate only temporarily over rough terrain. Therefore, it supplied the vehicle with special surprise shock absorbers with additional expansion chambers (also known as remote deposit surprise shock absorbers). These surprises are regularly seen on modified off-road vehicles. and Baja pickup trucks, however, Isuzu installed them at the factory in particular because of the VehiCROSS’s ability to travel at top speeds over potholes to justify the outlandish external design.
Another disadvantage of polarizing styling, but still the fact that other people think it’s weird when you’re driving, is that it detracts from visibility. That aforementioned rear spare wheel was fixed in such a way that it blocked much of what was happening behind you, and the shape of the tailgate didn’t make things any better. The steeply sloping windshield and the shape of the A-pillars also did not improve forward visibility.
[Featured image by dave_7 via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 2.0]
If the Pontiac Aztek, once considered one of the ugliest vehicles ever made, is now considered cool despite its design, then the Isuzu VehiCROSS also has a chance at it. Something is already happening to its image because prices for used examples have increased in recent years. While in the mid-to-late 2000s, you could find a low-mile VehiCROSS for a few thousand, now they are regularly changing hands for over $10,000. On Cars and Bids, most examples sold through the site starting in 2020 sold for over $11,000, with a few exceptions. One 1999 VehiCROSS sold in May of 2023 for just $4,250, but it had previous accident damage and many flaws that needed to be fixed, and these, along with the year, brought down the price.
The average value of a VehiCROSS, according to classic. com (which lists sales on other sites), based on the last 21 sales recorded on the site, was just over $13,000. It also shows the maximum amount a VehiCROSS cost, which was $25,500. For example, in 2001, it was the last to roll off the production line. The same site shows a graph showing that the average value has increased since 2019, when they were promoting for less than $10,000.
This is a testament that the vehicle’s prestige is evolving and has gained traction over the years. People don’t buy them just to pose. Some sold on auction sites had modifications to make them even more all-rounder. suggests that many owners have taken their VehiCROSS to the trails, which only adds to its freshness.