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:

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  Drove it for 1 week! - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By MAJOR alarm problems - February 6 - 10:46 am

  We only had it for 1 week, when someone set the alarm off. Got in it next morning and it wouldnt stay cranked. Now it wont start at all. Weve taken it to 5 different shops/mechanics, including a dealership & no one can find anything wrong with it. After researching online, it seems like others have had same problem & it has to do with the alarm system-but no one seems to know how to shut the alarm off, bypass it, etc. I dont understand how no one knows how to fix it! Were running out of patience & money! And we bought it w/out a warranty, so its starting to look like a total loss, which we cant afford! Im so sick about this & wish wed never bought this vehicle!

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  luv my rodeo - 2002 Isuzu Rodeo
  By haroldg48 - February 4 - 3:06 pm

  It rides a little Truck-like, but compared to other similar sized SUVs we drove, it was the best (Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, Montero). Since buying it, love it!

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  Best Buy - 2004 Isuzu Ascender
  By Rich1mck7 - February 4 - 10:00 am

  We have had our Ascender for just over 2 months and WE LOVE IT! We compared it with the Pilot, Trailblazer, Durango and Murano. It was very clear to us that the Ascender was the best all around deal for the money! Our 7 passenger LS came with sunroof, 5 disc cd player, rear ac, onstar, pw, plocks, and top luggage rack. Our color is black & grey with greyish cloth interior. After the $3500 rebate we bought ours for $26500 plus ttt. We financed with for four years with 4.5% interest using Capitol One online auto finance which was easy, fast and worked out great!

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  Not a bad SUV, but awful resale value - 2000 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Firejay - February 2 - 10:00 am

  Fun drive, gd pwr. 19 mpg city instlld K&N air filter, 3 mpg imprvmnt. Seats are bad for pssngrs. Drvng position bad. Premium sound system gd. Engine gd pwr, hve had engine knck frm day 1, told to use prm gas, did, knck still there. Int cabin noisy on frwy, road/wind noise. Resale value bad. $27000 new, 2 years later value $13900. Worst resale value in class. Have Explorer a year older blue booked $6000 more than Rodeo. If you dont plan on keeping Rodeo long dont buy new, buy used let someone else take huge depreciation hit. Have researched used Rodeos, market filled with low mile Rodeos cheap. Does this say something about realiability of Rodeo?

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  Good SUV - 2002 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Diane C. - February 2 - 10:00 am

  When I test drove it, I knew that I really wanted this SUV. I love the confort, the smooth drive, I dont think it looks cheap inside...Xtera looks cheap inside. The warrinties are the best, price is good too.

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  Love my Axiom - 2002 Isuzu Axiom
  By dharleyp - January 26 - 2:00 am

  The Axiom is a wonderful car to drive. Very powerful and roomy for a smaller SUV. The dealership was also fantastic. The only automobile that I have ever owned where people stop me on the street and ask about it.

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  A Diamond in the rough! - 2003 Isuzu Ascender
  By J Bolen - January 16 - 10:00 am

  My son plays travel ice hockey and we put some serious miles on a vehicle. We drove several SUVs and were leaning torwards the Trail Blazer. A major factor in that desicion was that I am very close friends with the son of the owner of the dealership. My wife stumbled across the Isuzu on a fluke, and she was hooked. We test drove it and bought it the next day. Needless to say, I had some explainging to do to my friend at the Chevy dealership. If you dont at least try this vehicle...you are missing out!

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  VX Forever! - 2001 Isuzu VehiCROSS
  By curiouswords - January 10 - 6:30 am

  This is a wild, fun, and most interesting SUV; too kewl for school. I LOVE my VX! Outstanding reliability, futuristic styling, and an awesome 4x4 experience.

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  Unknown treasure - 2002 Isuzu Axiom
  By Axiomlover - January 2 - 10:00 am

  This is a great SUV for the money. You feel like you are driving a luxury vehicle, much better finish and ergonomics than Toyota Highlander or 4Runner. It gets plenty of looks and does not feel like a big truck.