Isuzu D-Max

The design and styling of the Hi-Lander echos that of the V-Cross though it misses out on lot of the latter’s more upmarket cosmetic elements. The front sports a large black grille with simple halogen headlights. The nose lacks any notable use of chrome. The side profile showcases 16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers and tall-profile tires, lacking any footstep or side cladding. The rear sports a spacious deck capable of accommodating loads of up to 225 kg. The Hi-Lander also misses out on bits such as foof rails, fog lamps, and body-colored door handles and mirror covers.

The Hi-Lander's interior mirrors its no-frills ethos with minimalistic features and comfort elements. The dashboard follows a straightforward design with manual AC controls, and there's no stereo system or touchscreen infotainment. While the instrument cluster is the same as the V-Cross, it lacks steering-mounted controls and cruise control. The seats are fabric-upholstered and manually adjustable, with no armrest or cup holders for rear passengers. The limited features available on the Hi-Lander include power windows for all doors, dual airbags, ABS with EBD, and rear parking sensors.

The Hi-Lander's safety features are quite basic compared to the V-Cross or other rivals in the segment. It lacks advanced driver assistance systems, including traction control, hill start assist, hill descent control, electronic stability control, brake assist, or lane departure warning. Passive safety features like side or curtain airbags, seat belt pretensioners, or ISOFIX child seat anchors are also missing. The sole safety features of the Hi-Lander encompass dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, and an engine immobilizer.

The Hi-Lander's engine and performance align with the V-Cross, as they share the same 1.9-liter four-cylinder diesel engine, producing 161 bhp at 3600 rpm and 360 Nm of torque at 2000-2500 rpm. The engine pairs with a six-speed manual gearbox that drives power to the rear wheels. The engine offers refined and responsive performance, particularly with strong low-end torque and mid-range capability. However, it loses some steam at higher revs and lacks a punchy top-end. The gearbox is well-spaced and smooth, but the clutch feels heavy with a long travel.

The Hi-Lander's ride and handling characteristics mirror those of the V-Cross due to the shared ladder-frame chassis and suspension setup. The Hi-Lander features a double wishbone front suspension and leaf spring rear suspension, resulting in a decent ride quality on rough roads and potholes. However, the suspension tends to be stiff and bouncy, making the ride uncomfortable when encountering sharp bumps and speed breakers. Handling, too, lacks agility and precision due to heavy and vague steering, noticeable body roll, and understeer during cornering.

Pricing stands out as one of the major drawbacks for the Hi-Lander. With an ex-showroom price of Rs 19.50 lakh, translating to around Rs 23 lakh on-road, it is relatively expensive for a base variant offering minimal features and equipment. The Hi-Lander doesn't fully justify its price tag with its performance or utility either, as it lacks a four-wheel-drive system or a differential lock, limiting its off-road capabilities. Additionally, it faces strong competition from other pick-up trucks and SUVs that deliver better value for money.

The Hi-Lander is not a recommended choice for those seeking a pick-up truck or an SUV in this price range. It doesn't offer any particular advantages over the V-Cross or other competitors in terms of features, equipment, performance, utility, or off-road capability. It leans too much towards basic and rudimentary for a lifestyle SUV and comes off as too expensive for a utilitarian vehicle. The only reason to opt for the Hi-Lander might be if you specifically need a stripped-down pick-up truck to carry heavy loads on smooth roads.

The Hi-Lander faces competition from other pick-up trucks and SUVs that are either more affordable or better equipped. Here are some of the key competitors:

Isuzu D-Max V-Cross: The V-Cross, a higher-end model within the D-Max lineup, offers a wide array of features and equipment compared to the Isuzu D-Max Hi-Lander. It boasts a four-wheel-drive system, a differential lock, LED headlights, fog lamps, roof rails, alloy wheels, side steps, a rear bumper, a tailgate handle, touchscreen infotainment, steering-mounted controls, cruise control, leather seats, armrests, cup holders, traction control, hill start assist, hill descent control, electronic stability control, brake assist, and more. It shares the same engine and performance as the Hi-Lander but delivers superior off-road capabilities. The V-Cross is priced at Rs 20.98 lakh (ex-showroom), just Rs 4 lakh more than the Hi-Lander.

Mahindra Bolero Camper Gold: The Bolero Camper Gold, a double-cab pick-up truck, offers a more budget-friendly and practical alternative to the Hi-Lander. It houses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder diesel engine generating 62 bhp at 3200 rpm and 195 Nm of torque at 1400-2200 rpm. Equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel-drive, it has a substantial payload capacity of 1000 kg, more than four times that of the Hi-Lander. While offering basic features like power steering, power windows, central locking, AC, a music system, and dual airbags, the Bolero Camper Gold is priced at Rs 8.99 lakh (ex-showroom), roughly half the cost of the Hi-Lander.

Also, check out our in-depth Review: Isuzu D-max Hi-Lander.