Isuzu Hi-Lander: Bang For The Buck

5:45PM, BP Koirala Highway.We were on the return leg of our two-day journey. Dark clouds were cast across the evening sky and the remnants of the setting sun spilled over the hills and onto the road. Surprisingly, the BP Koirala highway was rather unoccupied and I was lucky enough to enjoy the freshly pitched tarmac in relative solidarity. The rest of the crew in the car was fast asleep which left me with some time to think in silence.Would I seriously consider buying Isuzu’s budget pick-up if it was money coming out of my own pocket?Exterior DesignWhile it isn’t bad to look at, the appearance of the Isuzu Hi-Lander isn’t something to write home about. It’s based on the popular Isuzu D-Max platform, so it’s no surprise that it looks a lot like it. Remove the roof rails, fog lights, chrome grille, and the step bars from the V-Cross and what you’re left with is pretty much what the Hi-Lander looks like.The front fascia gets a dark-grey grille which is flanked by a pair of halogen headlamps. Body-colored bumpers sit underneath. From the profile, the Isuzu Hi-Lander embodies the uncomplicated pickup silhouette. The body is propped onto 16-inch steel hubs shod with wheel covers. They do a good job of not looking too tiny in the wheel arches and look decent enough for a budget pickup. The ORVMs also get the dark-grey color scheme and the ‘Hi-Lander’ badging sits underneath them.Body contours are limited to those on the bonnet, above the wheel arches, and subtle body lines that run across the bottom of the doors and the shoulder line. While the Isuzu Hi-Lander does look like it runs low to the ground, it actually has a very good ground clearance of 220mm. It also gets a steel underbody skid plate for good measure.The rear gets a basic vertically stacked halogen taillight setup with integrated indicators. A HMSL (High Mounted Stop Lamp) finds its way above the large rear window on the rear panel. On the tailgate, you get the D-Max badge, chrome tailgate handle, and another badge that lets you know about the 2.5 Turbo Diesel Intercooler that’s under the hood. The cargo bed is massive, but it doesn’t get a bed liner.Interior and FeaturesInside, the cabin gets a grey and black color scheme. As you’d expect with a budget pickup, the use of hard, scratchy plastic is abundant. Nevertheless, the interior of the Isuzu Hi-Lander manages to include some practical and up-market features. On the center of the dashboard is a 7-inch infotainment system that gets no smartphone connectivity other than Bluetooth, or AUX. It is responsive but will take a little time to get used to.Connecting to the system also took a couple of tries, but once connected it worked flawlessly. The screen also works as a display for the reversing camera. The reverse parking sensor also comes in handy when you’re maneuvering the massive frame of the Hi-Lander into tight spaces.Both front and rear seats are large and comfortable. There are useful cabinets and cup holders throughout the cabin. On the dash, you’ll find a recess where you can store your phone. However, unless you’re willing to see your phone flying around, we recommend you avoid using that space when driving on tricky off-road sections. You get bottle holders on all doors that can accommodate a mineral water bottle and a few other snacks. The switch panel on the doors gets window controls. The driver-side window gets buttons that operate all the windows and buttons for locking the doors and windows. However, you will see that switches for the ORVMs are missing, which means you will have to adjust them manually.The manual air condition cools the cabin effectively, which will be useful when the summer begins. The rear window panel is large and makes rearward visibility easy. The ORVMs are also sufficiently large to help ensure you know what’s going on around you. This, coupled with the high vantage point makes it easy to see your surroundings when you’re driving this massive machine.All in all, the Isuzu Hi-Lander manages to include useful features and compartments to balance out the budgetary constraints of the interior components and design.Performance For the past two days, I had spent the majority of my waking hours driving the Isuzu Hi-Lander. And, to be honest, it wasn’t the way it looked that enraptured me. It wasn’t the interiors or the features that peaked my interest either.  What really made the entire journey worthwhile was the driving experience.Under the hood is a 2.5-liter turbo inter-cooled diesel engine that makes 134 BHP of maximum power and 320NM of peak torque. This engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Now, is it an engine that had me pinned to my seat, struggling to control a chaotic behemoth galloping up the highways? No. But, don’t be too quick to write off the Hi-Lander just yet.While it may not be winning any races, the Isuzu Hi-Lander does what a vehicle in the category is supposed to. There is a sense of maturity in the way the power is delivered. Off the line, the Hi-Lander gets off to a leisurely start. It’s in the mid rev ranges where the pickup finds its stride. Of course, that means finding the sweet spot in busy traffic can be difficult.On open roads, the Isuzu Hi-Lander responds to your right foot with eager enthusiasm. Clocking kilometers comes easy to the Hi-Lander and you’ll find yourself keen on doing the same when you’re behind the wheels. The power output inspires confidence when you’re making overtaking maneuvers. As expected from a vehicle in this segment, the Isuzu Hi-Lander isn’t made for carving corners, and twists and curves will bring on a lot of body roll.Where the Isuzu Hi-Lander comes into life is on roads that make you think twice. Because it is massive, the Hi-Lander has a significant presence on the roads. This also means that narrow spaces will be difficult to navigate. Does that mean there is a super-massive, high-performing engine under the hood that keeps me at the edge of my seat at all times? No. Well, there is nothing budget about it.Verdict The Isuzu Hi-Lander brings a lot to the field with a very aggressive price tag. The Isuzu moniker holds a respectable image in the Nepalese auto market and that in itself gives it a leg up on the competition. Additionally, the Hi-Lander ticks the right boxes as a pickup truck. It has the potential to take you places most other cars can’t and it can take on the role of a workhorse. There isn’t much to gawk at in terms of the appearance, but it is a solid performer.Deciding whether you’d invest in the Isuzu Hi-Lander depends on the type of person you are and the type of vehicle that you want. Do you want your vehicle to turn heads in traffic? Do you want people to admire your stylish ride? Do you want an opulent interior, plush and chockful of features? If you do, then the Isuzu Hi-Lander isn’t for you.However, if you like getting things done, don’t get hung up on outer beauty, enjoy driving long distances with little worry, and smiling and waving as you pass fancy cars struggling to make it up a rough hill, the Isuzu Hi-Lander should definitely be in your list. So, to answer the question: would I buy it with my own money? I think I would.