Any scoop on the Isuzu Alterra?

[summer75]

Hi guys...obviously a newbie around here. browsing over, the posts have been more than informative if not entertaining

anyways, i've been trying to find reviews and information on the recently launched Isuzu SRV-- the Alterra (did I even get the spelling right?), but I couldn't seem to find anything yet on the web. Just curious really....esp that the hype about the Toyota Fortuner is so full blown and we've got ourselves frustratingly queued as well on their long list..sigh

hope you can share what you can...

thanks....

[IPSG_babe!]

Prices depends on the colors..or wneter it has 2 channels stereo or the 5.1 SES

[av8or5]

IPSG_babe: are you working for Isuzu Pasig? if you are...give us more info on this car. Is it here in the Phils? I read in the forum that they saw it in one of the dealers already.

[Innova_Boy]

Mga how much kaya ito? the one with 5.1 Sounds system??

WBR,

[Monseratto]

Just checked out the Alterra. After seeing the Fortuner, first impression is the seats, they are small. There is a third row, which the exact copy to the CRV seat, next to useless. No headrest and no foot well. Your knees are on your chest when you seat there. There is a cup holder on the rear passenger doors which looks very fragile. Instrumentation is plain, no optitron here. Aircon is manual dial type, but there are vents for the back and rear seats. Anthenna is pillar telescopic type. Dash looks simple and cheap. Overall parang worlds apart yung Alterra compared the Fortuner. Only part I like is the engine. I felt a little pity for Isuzu, with a SRV (ayaw daw tawagan ng SUV) that is only a tad cheaper than the Diesel Fortuner and 300k more than the Gas Fortuner. No wonder the Fortuner owns 70% of the SUV market in Thailand.

[RedHorse]

bakit pa kasi inilabas yan!

sana, ginawa na lang 4x4 ang trooper

[zechs]

bka dinaan lang nila sa 5.1 sound system nila? hahaha havent seen it though

[Monseratto]

Mas maganda pa iyung third row seat ng sportivo compared to the alterra. Only M/T and A/T 4 x 2 are available. All the models are above the 1.4 million bracket. The differences in pricing are in the pearlescent paint used. Expect the 4 x 4 model to cost way out, it is due by July. 20T are difference sa 2 channel and 5.1 channel models. I think they are available for viewing in all Isuzu outlets.

[katsudon_ph]

alterra interior is basic and the seats are small.. space is also a bit cramped.. the front looks is also tad ugly. side view is like a funeral parlor car. back is bit ok naman

[benny]

Wanted pa naman to check the Alterra out in Isuzu Makati tomorrow. Funny what a few comments can do. Especially the one from katsudon ph..side like a funeral car.. di na lang he he... will wait na lang until the furor dies down on the Fortuner. By then, they will start giving freebies and who knows, in 6 months to a year, they'll throw in leather seats and a dvd as well..

[BoyFerrari]

I went to the Isuzu Showroom yesterday. At P1.4 million, the new Isuzu Alterra's price tag is way overblown. The only thing competitive about it is perhaps its engine. The marketing emphasis, however, is focused on the DTS 5.1 Surround Sound inside. Take note that 5.1 surround sound only makes sense when watching DVD movies. When you're on the road and listening to CDs/MP3s most of the time, music quality is Dolby Stereo at best. So the sound system hype on the Alterra is just that - hype - for an additional P20,000. The legroom on the 3rd row seat is always an issue for SUVs - nobody will ever be satisfied sitting on the 3rd row. However, i find the 3rd row seat in the Alterra a little crampier compared to Toyota Fortuner. And its ergonomic design is zero. You will surely get a back ache on long rides. It's like sitting on a bench at Luneta. The worst part of it all is that it has NO HEAD REST! This is definitely a safety issue. People sitting in the 3rd row are susceptible to serious neck injuries in the event of an accident. If you are concerned about passenger safety, you will definitely avoid buying this vehicle. Outward appearance is more family-oriented in design, compared to the macho-look of the Fortuner. In conclusion, if i have a budget of P1.4 million and i have to choose between Fortuner Diesel and Alterra Diesel (similarly priced), I'll definitely pay for the Fortuner.

Overall Rating:

[carlocaraddict]

mbt and I are planning to see the Alterra on thursday. Well, we really want to see it in flesh. Pero natawa ako sa comment na "funeral" car. hahahh

[Dinxx]

nakita ko sya kanina sa newspaper. yung front design same as D-max. yung rear design parang innova and subaru forester. para sakin mas maganda pa rin overall exterior design ng fortuner, para syang Hilux mixed with M-class and touareg.

[vicoyski]

The SUV sales in Thailand should be a clear indication of how the Alterra will be received here in RP. The Thai and Filipino taste doesn't differ that much.

Isuzu should have learned their lesson from the Thai market. Their vehicle is obviously aesthetically inferior to the Toyota Fortuner. Isuzu Philippines should've come up with an out-of-the-box offer that would turn the tide against the Fortuner. But, what did they do? They decided to price it at P1.4M... Then Isuzu's marketing made the wrong assumptions as to what the Pinoy will think is worth a P1.4M+ price tag! Pearl paintjobs and 5.1 channel stereos just won't cut it...

[sikuya]

it will probably take years before this SUV finds its way to the American market after passing US environmental and safety standards. isuzu USA needs this vehicle i guess to come out from the red....right now it only has a 1-vehicle lineup: the Ascender with a choice of 5 or 7 passenger. oh yeah,isuzu is also getting a clone of the Chevy Colorado.

[Monseratto]

:flush:

[bilog]

If i have a budget of 1.5 million given the choice between the Alterra and the fortuner i will easily pick the Fortuner. Powerful engine with totally new look and superb exterior design. Di kagaya ng alterra mukha talagang d max na nilagyan ng likuran.

[DacoTyan]

I, for one, think Fortuners 3rd row seat to be quite habitable... and I'm on the healthy side too boot.

[danbuzz]

Here's the vehicle sales results in Thailand. Take note of the SUV sales. 70% Fortuner sales!!! Now what will we pick here in the Philippines? Fortuner or Alterra?

http://www.bangkokpost.com/200505_Mo...05_motor59.php

The pickup segment cooled off in April, as did sales of new vehicles, as a semblance of normalcy returned to the market following a record-breaking performance in March sparked by new product launches by the Toyota Hilux Vigo and Isuzu D-Max.

Even so the automobile industry posted sales of 55,920 units last month, the start of the second quarter, for the third highest monthly turnover since November last year when it recorded sales of 58,578 units, according to data compiled by Isuzu and Toyota.

With 222,000 units sold in the first four months, the industry is well on its way to meeting its sales forecast of 680,000 units for the whole year.

High oil prices have not deterred consumers from shifting their purchase decisions from petrol-powered passenger cars to oil-burners such as pickups as the passenger car segment reported sales of 16,004 units in April _ the only segment to register growth over the previous month (March 15,095 units).

That said, pickups and sport-utilities dropped 7,860 and 125 units respectively from March but the overall growth of 11.8% was a positive sign and a measure of stability in the local automobile market.

PICKUPS

The race for leadership in the pickup segment continued to intensify between Isuzu and Toyota with both brands recording five-digit sales.

While Isuzu sold 12,809 units, Toyota was only slightly behind selling 11,730 units. The figures supplied by Tri Petch Isuzu Sales don't include SUVs based on pickups.

Their domination of the market has left rivals _ combined sales 3,000 units in April _ far behind. In third slot was Nissan selling 2,321 units.

Chevrolet came in fourth with 2,037, ahead of Mitsubishi 1,464 units. However, the American brand's success over its Japanese competitor may be short-lived as the all-new L200 is due to be launched in the third quarter of this year (see page M1).

But Chevrolet's hopes of finishing the year in fifth place is likely to materialise due to the Colorado's fresh product range that includes Isuzu-sourced engines with common-rail fuel injection.

PASSENGER CARS

Toyota stamped its authority by taking more than 50% of the passenger car market despite seeing April sales slipping to 7,537 units. Even so, the Soluna, Corolla and Camry continued to be the hit models despite being in the market for quite some time already.

Honda is hoping to emulate Toyota's success in the fleet market with the help of a new entry-level Accord. Thailand is the only country in the world to get a 2.0-litre engine for the Accord which could prove vital in cornering the Camry 2.0.

While Honda and Toyota enjoyed sales of over 5,000 units in April, other brands couldn't manage a thousand. Nissan, for instance, was in a distant third with sales of just 821 units.

Although not a threat to big-time players, Mazda continued to make strides with the 3 compact saloon and hatchback. Some 455 of the 3 were sold last month, representing a six-fold increase over the same period last year. Mazda Sales (Thailand) is now contemplating adding the 1.6-litre engine to the hatchback to boost sales.

SUVs

The Fortuner is still selling like hot cakes, despite a waiting period of three months for the diesel version that accounts for almost 90% of Fortuner sales. Last month, 2,331 units were sold representing 70% share of the SUV market.

Other players only managed to gape at the Fortuner juggernaut. Ford sold 253 units, Isuzu 250, Honda 118, and Mazda 115.

[summer75]

thanks guys...that clears up the cloud totally...1.5M to foot the bill for a hearse-like suv/srv? hehehe...so overboard!!!

so true because i passed by the showroom at pasong tamo yesterday and from the outside pa lang, kakawalang gana na pumasok.

grabe lang kasi the pila for the Fortuner...one toyota agent even told us that the number you supposedly have for the queue doesn't matter anymore now. kesyo they give priority to those who have fully paid and next priority to those who did the purchase thru their TFS - Toyota Financial Services.


for all in the wait...drool meantime...

thanks..