Isuzu reaps awards

WHAT does the Isuzu Crosswind have in common with wine, cheese and denim jeans? The answer: It gets better with age. The proven and tested AUV continues to defy auto-industry convention by keeping its status as a consumer favorite today—seven years after it was first introduced to the Philippine market in 2002. It is the perfect illustration of the adage, “An excellent thing doesn’t need change.”

The Crosswind once again is the recipient of a couple of awards that came directly from consumers. Just how important are these awards? Very significant because consumer awards are decided by the very people who buy and use the vehicles. In other words, these citations are given by individuals who actually put their money where their mouth is.

In October, the Crosswind received the Hall of Fame award from the Consumers Union of the Philippines. The award was presented during the 19th Annual National Consumers Award.

Thanks to the Crosswind, Isuzu has consistently been given the Outstanding Manufacturer award by the consumers group since 2002. The group’s objective in handing out the yearly awards is to guide consumers in purchasing the best products available in the market which offer the best bang for their hard-earned buck.

Art Balmadrid, Isuzu Philippines Corp.’s senior vice president, accepted the award and noted that “the Crosswind’s unmatched value-for-money features make it a perennial choice of consumers in the AUV class in spite of the presence of newer competition.”

In December, the Crosswind was also proclaimed the winner in the AUV category of the 2008 Petron Auto Focus People’s Choice awards. The Crosswind has repeatedly been chosen by consumers in the AUV segment since the awards’ inception in 2005. In fact, in 2006, the Crosswind was named the overall Automobile of the Year—besting even sedans, sport utility vehicles, pick-ups and vans.

In accepting the award, IPC president Keiji Takeda said, “We know of no other vehicle in the market right now that has won the confidence and loyalty of consumers as much as the Crosswind has. The fact that this award is decided directly by vehicle buyers clearly proves that the Crosswind is the most trusted vehicle in its class by virtue of its quality, performance, dependability, fuel-efficiency and environment-friendliness.”

Incidentally, the Crosswind’s stablemate, the Alterra, was the runner-up in the large SUV category. The Alterra was also adjudged as having the best onboard entertainment system, thanks to its class-leading 32-inch JVC LCD monitor. The D-MAX likewise got runner-up honors in the pick-up category, further cementing Isuzu’s reputation as a trusted manufacturer of world-class diesel commercial vehicles.

“For us, the best awards are those given by the actual consumers, so these awards are very special to us,” added Takeda. “The Crosswind is our bread-and-butter vehicle, and we would like to thank its buyers for voicing out their appreciation of their vehicle so that other Filipino consumers may also benefit from its many advantages. Indeed, these consumer awards only confirm what we’ve been saying all these years—that the Crosswind is the perfect vehicle partner whether for business or for leisure.”