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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  up to 88k miles since new - 1999 Isuzu Trooper
  By shawn - September 18 - 7:13 pm

  I have owned this truck since new and am still have not had any issues besides normal wear items like brakes, wiper, tires & shocks. My wife gets a different car each year and it amazes me that this old Trooper just keeps kicking without a hitch. Excellent power to weight ratio. Ill probably buy something new this year and keep the Trooper just because it is so reliable.

• 

  Satisfied - 1998 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Another Mike - August 22 - 2:00 am

  Bought this because it was one of very few SUVs with V6 2WD & Manual tranny. After 6 years and almost 120K miles, no major complaints, no mechanical problems. Even w/ 2WD, handles rocky, rutty winding mountain dirt roads nicely. Downsides: Too many recalls. (Dont ignore the recalls. The most recent one regarded reprogramming the ABS, and it made a noticeable difference.) Paint on wheels started peeling early on.

• 

  Surprise - 1999 Isuzu Trooper
  By I-5 Bandit - August 12 - 10:00 am

  I am pleased with our choice . We needed a family rig that could with stand our life-style. Trips to the Washington mountains loging roads, snow, camping trips and keeping up with 04 Rangers, Tacomas, Jeeps and Z71s. We have been able to go where all others go, and we are usually leading the pack. I put on some BF All terrains...Great move. Am planning to put on some rancho this summer. Yes I do have to add oil every 1500 miles...It just makes me stay on top of oil changes. Has excellent off road ability, have climbed some pucker upper hills, have not rolled or have even been close. Have fun

• 

  Very Good SUV - 1999 Isuzu Rodeo
  By rcopa1 - August 3 - 2:00 am

  Have had this SUV for about 3& half years, with 41,000 miles. Has been very, very reliable. Noticed someone else wrote their fuel sensor is bad, mine also is borken and always reads "E". Other than that not one problem, nothing. Love the pick-up and the transmission shifts very smoothly. Want to get another Isuzu but hate to let this one go. Its still under power train warranty and has been so good to me.

• 

  This SUV has been trouble-free for me - 2000 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Bob R. - July 29 - 10:00 am

  Even though the Rodeo gets an overall bad rap by reviewers, its given me little trouble after 39,000 miles and almost 34 months of driving. I had to have my noisy front door hinges repaired (service bulletin and quickly fixed) and Ive just noticed a little tear in the front drivers cloth seat with a metal pin in view. Thats it!

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  A l m o s t perfect... - 1999 Isuzu Trooper
  By easychair - July 16 - 2:00 am

  My 3rd Trooper, this is the best one yet. Near-V8 power, great blend of comfort, sensibility, and utility. Nice manners on road, but does everything right in sand, steep hills, big rocks, whatever. Needs a little more grunt for towing my trailer in the AZ mountains. I added LT tires and Rancho shocks. At 57k, reliabilty has been exceptional.

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  I wouldnt drive anything else - 1999 Isuzu Rodeo
  By TacosforTaku - July 6 - 8:40 am

  I got it when my base model 96 rodeo was dying (almost 300000 miles), and it was everything I wanted in a vehicle. I love how it still feels like a truck instead of a car and it gets up and goes in a pinch. The 5 speed is greatly welcome. My gas gage is one of the few that still works, but it burns oil and its fuel pump is dying. But its got great room and is fun on long road trips with my friend.

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  Nice SUV for the price - 2000 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Shar - June 16 - 10:00 am

  I think the rodeo is very good for its price, even though it has a few drawbacks, every vehicle does. The seatback latch cover fell off, the plastic peice that covers the door light came off, I do get a squeak somewhere (dont know where). The ride is a little rough, but compared to an expedition where my head hit the ceiling when i went over a pothole...its not too bad. The power is good, but not excellent. Kinda sluggish on the highway. The breaks are efficient enough, even though I get the anti lock shake, as i call it every now and again. The handling is a little on the looser side, but not enough to really make a difference.

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  Watch Out For Resale - 2003 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Previous Owner - June 11 - 10:00 am

  I loved my rodeo but when i decided to get a Toyota 4Runner I didnt get alot back paid-$22,000 got-$8,700 back. miles-36,000 in 3and 1\2 years. p.s. WATCH OUT!!!

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  Not many in Alaska - 2002 Isuzu Axiom
  By mariannek - May 24 - 10:00 am

  This car is not common in AK but it is the right car for driving conditions here. The front panel is a bit distracting. Love to have both CD and disk player. Wish there was more room to put "stuff". Why the 17" wheels??