1999 Isuzu VehiCROSS | Retro Review

[@AWDfreak]

Recaro seats, remote-reservoir shocks, full-time AWD with low-range, DOHC 24 valve V6, and the looks and handling that exceeded the truck-based competiton of that time... This is a truck I would not mind having.

[@isaakwelch3451]

All it needs is a 5 speed and it would be perfect

[@amandahugginkiss9119]

Wanna buy one?

[@Joe-hz1nw]

@@isaakwelch3451I believe they sold one with a manual

[@jackcobin5724]

saw one in 99 bought it and still have 23 years later.

[@cornelionsqween8028]

so what, you've just had seat covers over those shtting blood red seats for 23 years?

[@bwxmoto]

I remember seeing one of these in person when they were brand new in 1999 and I thought it was the coolest looking vehicle on the road. It looked way futuristic.

[@that_renegade_screenwriter]

Literally looks like a concept car that made it to productive without any refinement or changes. Very well executed. The outer design looks timeless.

[@mikebryant8122]

have one in 'Dragon Mica Green.' Cool trivia... Isuzu made 5000, as they had always planned. They wanted to get them to market fast. So, rather than take the normal route of ordering steel presses for the body panels (long - 1.5 yr.? - lead time), they ordered CERAMIC presses/molds, which are much cheaper and a fraction of the lead time. These are only good for about 5000 fenders/doors/hoods/roofs etc. It was a concept vehicle or halo car from the start, and didn't stop at the 5000 number due to waning demand. It was just the original plan by Isuzu.

[@flakeu]

This car was ahead of its time now that the small SUV craze is going on.

[@williamsinger4124]

And the styling seems fresh, wouldn't look out of place among today's cars

[@issuesexplained681]

I agree, what an interesting car!

[@kevins9785]

What are you talking about..? This started the trend of goofy looking, impractical BMW X6 craze. Now everything looks like this. Bulbous, soft, round and just plain weird. Why cant boxy be seen as “traditional” instead of “outdated.” Now we have the Ford EcoSport. I’d say this looks similar

[@ErnestHemingwayJr]

Nah. The defining characteristic of modern CUVs is that they are simply tall hatchbacks with big wheels, while this is an actual body on frame SUV with off-road abilities. It's a three door "leisure" SUV, actually an extremely 90s concept. Back then a lot of manufacturers experimented with sporty compact SUVs (e.g. Nissan Trail Runner, Toyota RSC, Fiat Bravo Enduro), but only Isuzu had the guts to put one of these concept vehicles on the road. As a result, it is still fresh looking and unique.

[@MouseyBusiness]

@@williamsinger4124 Yes it would. With all that black cladding at the bottom, it looks straight out the 90s. Would stick out like a sore thumb.

[@TonySoprano-wr3ug]

This thing was literally 11 years ahead of its time I always loved these

[@FantomLightning]

God I miss Isuzu...

[@whatevernevermind5960]

Same. They’re still around making pick up trucks and SUV’s in Europe and Asia

[@FantomLightning]

@@whatevernevermind5960 Yeah, I've been tempted to try and move to either Australia or NZ so I can get an Isuzu and Suzuki.

[@KS-qr1ry]

FantomLightning just buy and register one in Mexico, then bring it back

[@karmveer240]

Original Saab too

[@karmveer240]

Oh wait Saab in ur pfp?

[@graham-jefferson]

I've always loved these. Isuzu really entered another reality and came back with the design and build.

[@fernandorocha8459]

Very nice this Isuzu Veihcross

[@theKevronHarris]

It's good to hear Toni Braxton playing on the radio because that was my favorite R&B singer since I was 4 years old. 😍😍

[@marklopez7775]

Hey. I saw the Isuzu VehiCROSS television commercial, and it was good!

[@ohbogey]

So glad we have ours, since 2008 daily driven😍

[@machetero1]

Drove past one at a dealer today, every video I watch convinces me to give them a call tomorrow.

[@LoyalmoonieProductions]

As much as I believe that suvs/cuvs are practically oversaturating the market, however, this vehicle was ahead of it's time. Too bad Isuzu ditched us when they had a chance to try again today...

[@cool3865]

i really wish we got all the options the Japanese version of the VehiCROSS got, backup cameras, GPS, touchscreens and various other items

[@rileysmith9843]

And a 4 door model on both versions.

[@Nolan-xc3yl]

@@rileysmith9843 does it even exist?

[@aidaaliten8817]

@@Nolan-xc3yl it never made it into production

[@Nolan-xc3yl]

@@aidaaliten8817 it was only a concept I think

[@vMaxHeadroom]

This would not look out of place today....This retro MotorWeek is just fantastic!!!! Thank you...

[@hemingsgarage]

Bring back Isuzu! I love the VehiCross.

[@wawewawe1316]

I remember seeing this as a kid. Jez it got me excited. Very futuristic, sporty, aggressive styling for the time!

[@davidg4026]

That was the problem; it only appealed to kids.

[@Offshore1977]

This was an awesome vehicle. Still looks great today.

[@Alexander_Timonin]

The main ingredient missing from most SUVs nowadays is BODY ON FRAME! This had it, Ml 320 had it, Discovery had it. They sure as hell don't make em like they used to.

[@mskudlarczyk]

We sooooo need these back

[@dmonk926]

I'm always amazed that this vehicle existed in the 90's, and isn't more reknowned for the design being completely anachronistic, capturing the look of cars, especially crossovers, three even four generations later, with a very streamlined silhouette, rounded edges, visible skid plate, smoothly integrated two toned bumpers, spoilers and fenders. Most concept cars barely ever get even the next gen right, and yet this existed back when cars where shaped like boxes with disjointed body parts with chintzy square or completely round lights

[@demri123]

Wow this car was 20 years ahead of the game

[@mrdaykurutakuchannel]

This thing looks so rugged, buff & out of this world!

[@nathanadkins9374]

John davis can say the word chunky any day in my book.

[@davidaubin3902]

Yes. John is a great narrator for the road and comparison tests retro or new

[@cadsux]

When this first came out, I thought it would look great next to a Dodge Viper, since the grille had snake fangs!

[@Trendyflute]

My brother test drove one in 2001 when he was shopping for a car, but it was too expensive ($35k) and he ended up with a Mazda Tribute for about $27k. Super cool vehicle. Way ahead of its time. A genuine classic, from Isuzu! (on second thought, come to think of it,another reason we didn't get the Vehicross is because we literally couldn't get into the back seats. It was impossible.)

[@GalenlevyPhoto]

Still looks timeless styling compared to the today’s small SUVs. Wish Isuzu still made vehicles in the USA market. They still do in Asia and South Pacific I think.

[@TheKelzer]

There are still a couple of them running around here on the Big Island ! Love this car !

[@jmurphy1973]

My wife and I saw one of these in Des Moines, IA right when they came out and it had a vanity license plate that read "MCCOOL". Since then we've always referred to them as a McCool

[@kirksway1]

my cousin worked at the Isuzu dealer on Merle Hay Road when these came out. He said that customers liked the size and performance but hated the look. I guess they sold several of them to a dealer out of state.

[@jaredmontgomery1920]

Oh my god yes. I wanted one of these SO BAD from ages 10-12. lol

[@jackdough8164]

I wish they still made anything like this now.

[@foxtrot685]

Thanks GM for yet another company you mismanaged and is no longer with us. Everything GM touched pre bailout turned to turds, smfh

[@Alexander_Timonin]

SAAB *tear*

[@LrulestheworldM8]

Not much has changed since the bailouts.

[@ryanyecny3409]

Isuzu is still around in other markets.

[@technologyproductions-ye3px]

@@ryanyecny3409 they make commerical vehicles.

[@rodmunch69]

I think this one failed as it cost $30k... it looks like it should cost $15k - and I like the looks, but this doesn't look like it's a $30k vehicle, which is like $45k today.

[@Superflight777ge]

I remember it on the streets brand-new you couldn't forget it. I like how contemporary it looks now.

[@cadsux]

My favorite SUV of all time, but it was expensive for it's size. $28,000 in 1999 would be $43,000 in 2018, for a vehicle that's 163" long (about the size of a Kia Soul), and it weighed almost 4,000 lbs!

[@brandondannys-menary3678]

Damn

[@DentherTV]

Can't really compare it to modern cars though since stuff like that didn't really even exist at the time. Still expensive but it's important to consider what it competed with (or lack thereof).

[@14s0cc3r14]

DentherTV I mean it competed with an Xterra, CR-V, and Escape. All cheaper and two sold so well they are still around

[@Josh-er6oz]

I LOVE this car so much

[@gregmg79]

Favorite trick I ever owned.

[@Noah_E]

A couple years ago I had a neighbor with one and he really liked it, but had the plastic trim painted satin black and reinstalled because it would fade to grey no matter how often he treated it to try to maintain the color. If you think it looks bad with the black trim it looks worse faded.

[@cadillacdevile]

So ahead of it’s time along with its brother the Axium ( hope I spelled it correct)

[@mattdoe04]

3:19 if you listen very closely, you can hear someone in the recording studio sneeze.

[@jeffzekas]

a guy brought one of these to work: awesome interior!

[@roadmaster935]

Back when you called them "Sport Utes" xD

[@johndong7524]

Utes?

[@Alex-ko1xr]

Coolest SUV ever build.

[@hairman943]

The vehicross looks kinda cool, sorta modern mercedes style.

[@brilliantsilvr6495]

You have any N body reviews 1990 cutlass calais etc

[@Kevin-ps9yf]

0:56 design looks like straight out at 2030's

[@AmraphelofShinar]

A Pontiac Aztek and Isuzu Amigo love child.

[@jaerbenjamin]

I actually like the way this looks

[@tslaytonic8196]

I just picked up My 99 Ironman and I F'n love it! I got it for cheep!

[@admalt9317]

How much you pick it up for ? Got my eyes on a 97 RHD and they are asking 9000$ CAD / 6700$ US

[@tslaytonic8196]

@@admalt9317 5g

[@nunyabusiness896]

1:38 "industrial looking tore-ex screws" Torx. One word, one syllable, pronounced "torks"

[@carwhiz90]

I remember playing test drive off road 3 and this vehicle was in it

[@GuyIntermediate]

I know it dude! That game was amazing back in the day

[@nathankoroush7918]

This was 20 years ahead of its time.

[@pc248m]

Toni Braxton!!!

[@asphaltmemories4597]

Im a Huge fan of anything Isuzu from this time, it was just refreshing to have a tertiary importer bring in something unusual but a niche part of the market would still buy. The Vehicross, similar to the Pontiac Aztek, felt like a experiment to appeal to the extreme sports, outdoorsy segment. Its a shame they failed I think it would sell well in today's market. I never noticed those weird horns on the lights, at least its prettier than a juke! Still for my money id rather prefer a Rodeo or a Half-ton with the 4x4 package.

[@louisbabycos106]

"Cyberpunk body style " im impressed with his grasp of the vernacular.

[@HoosierDaddy_]

Incredible car

[@mikebryant8122]

I have one in 'Dragon Mica Green.' Cool trivia... Isuzu made 5000, as they had always planned. They wanted to get them to market fast. So, rather than take the normal route of ordering steel presses for the body panels (long - 1.5 yr.? - lead time), they ordered CERAMIC presses/molds, which are much cheaper and a fraction of the lead time. These are only good for about 5000 fenders/doors/hoods/roofs etc. It was a concept vehicle or halo car from the start, and didn't stop at the 5000 number due to waning demand. It was just the original plan by Isuzu. Oh... I don't have the numbers in my head, but while the later FJ Cruiser had a pretty short wheelbase, the VX is a few inches shorter still.

[@goclunker]

Tor-ex screws? You mean TORX there, John?

[@Ithinkiwill66]

Where's that "4×4 Guide" of mine? Lol...I had it ever since 1999!

[@jGRite]

Every time I see one of those "wide body kits" on cars now 'n days I think of this.

[@frankburns8871]

It's a car that can also handle off-road duties. Slight compromises on both ends because obviously, but extremely well done.

[@jbturk]

"Torex screws"

[@chrisgnonya]

😂 yeah but we knew what he meant

[@patrickmichaellangan576]

If you ask me what my FAV Isuzu is (with or without Joe Isuzu and those silly TV ads), it’s this VehiCROSS.

[@93sundance]

from an outside appearance it paved the way for..........the Aztek

[@atvbass10]

In a sense it kind of reminds me of the new Cherokee’s!

[@frankb4199]

That v6 is Legendary

[@francocagayat7272]

The Isuzu VehiCross is what RX-7 is to Mazda...... unique timeless fast and powerful hand-made in small numbers rare radical and will always have a place in to every modern day Isuzu lineup

[@ruzzelladrian907]

That shape is so ahead.

[@SpikeRazzor]

Still want one.

[@erecshun]

Just got one and it was a bidding war, damn this car is too rare now

[@harryballsacky]

WHAT YEAR, HOW MANY MILES, COLOR, AND WHAT DID YOU PAY....CURIOUS, I'M LOOKING AT ONE NOW

[@HowardDaduk]

I never understood Isuzu. I owned a '93 Isuzu pickup, and an '86 P'up in the past..great trucks. By '99, Isuzu had given up on a much successful pickup run (at the height of the small pickup craze), and went with rebadging the base model S10/Sonomas as Isuzu pickups, but for some reason, dedicated resources to come up with the VehiCROSS. Then they further went on with rebadging the Envoy as their own. Hell, I think they even traded their Rodeo with Honda in exchange for the early Odyssey. Quite a odd bunch of moves for a company that basically invented the small pickup (LUV) which Chevy sold as their own. Basically, from the mid 90's to the early 2000's, the VehiCROSS was the only original idea Isuzu came up with, as they whore'd everything else away. No wonder they had to pull out of the US market.

[@Jakek200]

1:38 I've never heard Torx pronounced that way. Sounded like Tourex

[@Jerrypintoswe]

I found out about this car when Doug Demuro reviewed it

[@Tool0GT92]

and now we know all about it's quirks and features.

[@ErnestHemingwayJr]

That's because you're lazy, and only discover things if toy're are spoon fed to you by annoying self-absorbed youtubers.

[@davidg4026]

If Isuzu made these with 4 doors, they might have had a success! Not to mention, it wouldn't have looked so much like an angry roller-skate!

[@louisbabycos106]

Maybe you are right but I can tell you it wouldn't be a classic .

[@noseefood1943]

i miss Joe Isuzu

[@chris92282]

Noseefood Haha...I too remember him. Those commercials were cheesy but funny.

[@mikesmerc2006]

But does it have ✨oil pressure gauges ✨

[@aky19832001]

This better than Any jeep wrangled that fiat makes. At least this doesn't fall apart due to poor quality control welding.

[@GyroPyro121212]

Not sure if anyone else noticed the engine looks very much like an Audi V6. At least the intake manifold and valve covers do anyhow.

[@infoversus8771]

what is the name of the Presenter?

[@unitedcity_mc4421]

John Davis.

[@Mac10Daddy]

That engine is gorgeous. Looks like an Audi V8

[@DJBiv788]

No stick shift?!

[@Ninerforlife1979]

@1:27 Cyberpunk 2077 missed an opportunity here.

[@JGProductions6581]

Aah, The car that gave me nightmares as a kid.

[@davidhbingham6812]

Must only have been available in limited markets, by 2004 all Isuzu dealers in Houston, TX had disappeared. Never saw a Vehicross here.

[@rodmunch69]

Wow, $29k for that? Damn, I thought it was gonna cost in the $16k range - no wonder it didn't sell, it just looks cheap. Cool, but cheap. Man is that priced way too high when it's meant to appeal to 20-somethings who were probably only making $29k a year at the time.

[@alexyoungberg5232]

What happened the first time motorweek?

[@Some_Person6]

New sponsor intro issues.

[@zhbvenkhoReload]

It was way too ahead of the game. Automatic transmission crossovers are the rage today.

[@tbr2109]

This little thing is actually body-on-frame so definitely not a "crossover."

[@84impalaguy]

I suppose you wouldn't have any retro reviews of any 80's Mitsubishi vehicles like the Tredia sedan would you???....

[@jdmjimmy]

Need one

[@angrygerman3286]

Got one...

[@francocagayat7272]

What if Isuzu bring this back? and turn it into a super SUV and be their halo model too to rival these: -Porsche Cayenne -Lamborghini Urus -Ferrari Purosangue -Mercedes-AMG GLE63 Coupe -BMW X6M -Audi RS-Q8

[@RyanEmeryLovesCars]

Looks like something from Monsters Inc.

[@jerryc6497]

YES!!!! Can you please do the Honda Element next?

[@xutxiamoua3455]

Still waiting for a Daihatsu Rocky review

[@Some_Person6]

Never had one in

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

My brother used to have one, it's small but really capable and the open top is great for sunny days

[@WhenItsHalfPastFive]

the Honda CRV essentially copied this design ever since 2007

[@qmto]

This thing had as much HP as a Mustang GT.

[@HALChArm]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@hypeboi676]

The Yesuzu

[@mariokart8054]

$42,000 today. Gee I wonder why these didn’t sell

[@777jones]

Mario Kart these were very expensive and considered quite a luxury vehicle. Kind of like Mazda Millennia, Subaru SVX.

[@mariokart8054]

There are so many other things i would rather buy if I had 28 Grand in 1999

[@walterarroyo5220]

Looks like this inspired the current Jeep Cherokee lol. Just kidding though

[@05gtdriver]

An Amigo in drag......

[@alexyoungberg5232]

*trooper but yea

[@05gtdriver]

@@alexyoungberg5232 Yeah, Trooper based, funny thing is that the reintroduced Amigo replaced it.... I guess the VehiCROSS' big price tag was a put off.

[@Rikko_Paw]

my dad own this machine