Overview & Reviews

For now, Isuzu SUVs and trucks are all that you'll see at your local Isuzu dealer; it's been quite a few years since there's been an Isuzu car. The company's specialized lineup is more a function of circumstance than choice. In recent years, Isuzu has seen its share of hard times; a lack of funding for both new product investment and marketing has forced the company to rely heavily on its partnership with GM. Both of the models in its line are derived from existing GM products.

Isuzu, which means "50 bells," is the name of a river that flows through a province dotted with ancient Shinto shrines in Japan. The company's roots date back to 1916, when Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Company first decided to broaden its business to include automobile manufacturing. The company forged a technical union with the U.K.-based Wolseley Motor Company in 1918. Its debut licensed offering, the A9 car, soon followed, as did its first truck, the CP. By 1949, the company's name had been changed to the more succinct Isuzu.

In the postwar years, production of Isuzu trucks boomed. The company's vehicles played a significant role in Japan's reconstruction effort, and were used to ferry clothes, food and other essentials. In 1953, Isuzu rolled out the Hillman Minx passenger car, the product of a technical union with Rootes, a U.K. outfit.

The 1960s saw the launch of passenger cars like the Florian, the Bellett and the 117 Coupe, as well as trucks like the WASP. In 1971, Isuzu entered into a partnership with General Motors. The Gemini, released a couple of years later, was the first Isuzu vehicle to be produced from the pairing.

By the 1980s, Isuzu had landed on American shores. The Pup was the first Isuzu sold in the U.S. market. The Trooper, an SUV available in two- or four-door form, was introduced in 1983 and quickly became popular in that new market segment. The company entered into a joint venture with Subaru in 1987, a union that spawned the Isuzu Rodeo and the Isuzu Pickup. Less popular than the trucks were the cars, such as the dated I-Mark sedan and the handsome, Italian-designed Impulse sport coupe.

The company's sales were relatively strong in the 1990s, thanks in part to the increasing success of the Trooper, which by that time had grown in size and luxury. The Trooper was one of the models responsible for the massive popularity of the SUV vehicle category during that decade. In 1999, GM upped its stake in Isuzu to assume the role of majority shareholder.

The new millennium brought bad news, however. Previous bestsellers like the Rodeo and the Trooper were outclassed by newer, fresher competition, and sales plummeted. The Rodeo and the Axiom (a crossover SUV) were dropped from the lineup in 2004. Currently, Isuzu's lineup comprises just two vehicles — a truck and an SUV, both of which are based on GM products.

User Reviews:

• 

  Stay Away! - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Reallymad - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Wow! What an impressively unreliable vehicle! Since the intake manifold gasket failed (under warrenty) the vehicle has been nothing but problems. Two fried computers, bad throttle body, MAF sensor, wiring harness short(!!!), makes me wonder whats next. Weve parted with over $10,000 in payments over the course of the loan. The vehicle is now only worth $8000 (if it were running right, that is.) We just going to take our beating and get away from this flaming POS!

• 

  junk - 2002 Isuzu Axiom
  By jvp - July 27 - 10:00 am

  junk, like ride loud ouside noises poor power. dont take it off road unless you like the way undercarriage sounds when it scraps off the rocks.

• 

  Never will I buy another isuzu - 2003 Isuzu Axiom
  By NeverAgainIsuzu - May 9 - 10:00 am

  This SUV is a death trap. I am convinced that one day it will get me into an accident. Trying to stop my 2002 Isuzu Axiom is like trying to stop a freight train. The "abs" kicks in on dry pavement. The vehicle continues to move an extra 3 to 5 terrifying feet when stopping on on dry pavement with the brakes fully engaged from a speed of no more than 20 mph, and of course the "abs" kicks in for no apparent reason. Three attempts to contact dealers have been to no avail ... what can the dealer do ? ... this appears to be a mechanical flaw with the suv ... Japanese engineering at its WORST.

• 

  Do Not Buy ! - 1998 Isuzu Rodeo
  By RodeoOwner - March 7 - 10:00 am

  In 1998 it was the only SUV with 204 HP, and it beat all the Mid-side SUVs out there. For the Price it was great BUT ever since I purchased the car Ive had problems. To mention a few (under warrenty): Cd-changer replaced 5 times (lost 6 cds), All 4 wheels, Temperature sensors, Transmition, clutch, Alternator )almost killed myself when it was cutting of by itself losing power steering and braking AND NOW OUT of Warranty The Engine. What else can go wrong? !

• 

  Big Mistake! - 2002 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Remorsed - February 27 - 2:33 am

  Overpriced for little value. Bad resale value. Rattles and air noise is awful. Moonroof very cheap, dealer says not worth fixing. Passenger door needed fixing 3 times. Plastic parts all over the place. Car will nickel and dime you. Gas guzzler. Oh, most important, the car surges forward on its own in snowy cold weather! Dealer cant find problem, so they blew me off, 3 times! Very dangerous. Cant wait to get rid of it, but Im upside down, big time. My daughter bought a used 2001 in 2003 and it didnt even last a year before it dropped its engine from a broken bolt, fixed that, then it blew a gasket, threw out oil, and blew the engine. We put in another engine just to unload it.

• 

  Isuzu has TERRIBLE customer service - 2002 Isuzu Rodeo
  By nomoreisuzu - July 19 - 2:00 am

  Called Isuzu owner relations 3 times. They are no help. Car brike down twice where we had to wait almost a week for parts. WILL NEVER BUY ONE AGAIN..

• 

  WHAT, NOT UNDER WARRANTY? - 2004 Isuzu Rodeo
  By greg masinelli - November 14 - 10:00 am

  they will not fix warranty work. they tell me at 25000 miles that it is all maintenance work. ignition sticks,idles at 1600rpms all the time, it clunks in the rear end when you leave a stop light. I took it in two other times for ignition sticking and they said nothing then about thats the way it is designed. very poor quality and will never buy another one ,ever!

• 

  Worst auto purchase of my life - 2002 Isuzu Axiom
  By JustTheFacts - May 5 - 10:03 am

  This SUV is a death trap with frequent mechanical and other problems. (Dont worry I do have one good thing to say (see below): Bad: 1. Brakes = ABS kicks in on dry pavement 2. Stability - slipping & sliding regardless of 2WD or TOD or 4WD selection (I mean slipping and sliding!) 3. Mechanical defects (jerky drive, shuts down while driving!, try starting a shut-down vehicle on a highway going at 55 mph) 6. They LIE about the mileage (mine gives 15mpg on the highway (and I am a slooow driver) 7. To lower back seats requires lifting the bench (seats), removing the neck support, finally lower the back 8. Removing and returning the spare tire - tow driver couldnt! Good: 1. Electric seat adju

• 

  Worst Brand on the Road - 1998 Isuzu Rodeo
  By unchunter - February 19 - 10:00 am

  Problem vehicle, never will purchase another. Rebuilt engine at 70K because of timing belt break (a recalled item), new engine at 145K because of egr/check engine light problem. WILL not pass emissions inspection; very costly vehicle to keep, but too much invested to get rid of it based on lousy value of it, despite new engine. NEVER, NEVER Again will I use this brand.

• 

  Lemon - 2002 Isuzu Rodeo
  By parkert - December 30 - 10:00 am

  In the shop twice for 10 days each in the first 10500 miles. Isuzu wiggled out of its warranty with the greatest of sleaze.