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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  our new ride - 2004 Isuzu Axiom
  By kent paulson - September 23 - 10:00 am

  great handling, powerful and stylish wagon, the all wheel drive is great, including in the rain. Interior leather is handsome, the 6 disc cd changer sound is powerful, and the bells and whistles, driver info center all work great.Love the compass and the atomic clock is accurate to the second. Fun to drive, a GPS would be great. gas mileage has been in the 20s, great crusing range.

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  Best Car So Far - 2004 Isuzu Ascender
  By berndogsurfer - September 23 - 10:00 am

  Much better looking than a GMC Envoy. Has style to it. A real touch of Class. I have the preferred equipment package and that is just right for me. I highly recommend it. Looks great in gold.

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  I really wanted to keep liking - 1999 Isuzu Trooper
  By rkmii - September 23 - 5:00 am

  I bought it new but within 5 years it was sucking down a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. This is a well-maintained vehicle. We are talking about a defective engine here and Isuzu has refused and/or failed to do anything about it unless somebodys Trooper was under warranty while it was doing the same thing. Also has developed problems with transfer case, TOD system - pretty much the entire drive train. I dont abuse my vehicles. For these reasons I rate my Trooper as having poor reliability because without the motor its nothing. This is my second Trooper and my second Isuzu. Both have been let-downs. I wont buy another Isuzu. Ever.

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  99 Trooper Exceeded Expectation - 1999 Isuzu Trooper
  By trooperfan - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Got a great deal on it at the end of the 99 model year. Its got over 70K miles on it and Ive had no problems with it. Just regular maintenance and a set of tires over the past three years. Drives great, very comfortable, great brakes. I drive it approx. 80 miles every day and I never tire of driving it. Not much off-road experience. A couple of trips to the snow and some dirt roads while camping. Handled both well. Great highway manners even along the California coast. A great bargain as far as I am concerned.

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  Perfecto! - 2002 Isuzu Axiom
  By Happy in Kansas City - September 20 - 2:00 am

  A Hot Rod in Wolfs clothing. Smooth awesome power and great handling. Feels like a shot of Nitrous when that dual induction kicks in at 3800 RPM. Drives like a sports car with a total in control feeling all of the time. Just turned 12,500 miles and I know the next 107,500 miles of the drive train warranty period will be just as trouble free. It just feels right! Many compliments on the tan cloth interior and the instrumentation is great. I drive in the Sport mode most of the time but the Soft ride on the highway is almost Lincoln like. I ask my Lady Friend if she had anything to add and she said "Just a cool car, thats all."

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  Dont trust analyst, trust yourself - 2002 Isuzu Axiom
  By GoAxiom - September 20 - 2:00 am

  I dont care what Car Magazines pick, and what Editors Rating is. I already trusted analysts ratings once on a stock market - guess what happened... The Isuzu Axiom is one of the best, when comparing what you pay and what you get. Ive been looking for an SUV for several months and test-drove many. None would come close in comparison with Axiom. It is time to stop listening to these liers! Trust your own opinion and test drive a car, even if it has been rated as "piece of junk". Dont just go and buy a "#1 by Editors Choice". Check the previous page: Editors Rating on Axiom - 5.2, Consumer Rating - 8.9. What a difference...

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  Not that impressed... - 2002 Isuzu Axiom
  By Disappointed inKC - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Has been in the shop 3 times in 6 weeks with defects that "cannot be replicated" once at the dealer. Rubber "boot" around front doors which is supposed to keep air out keeps coming off (has been fixed twice in 6 weeks). Strong gas smell after running for about 15 mins. Makes bad noise when backing up. Wipers quit working within 1 week of owning. Less than 10,000 miles on this vehicle. Last time I buy foreign. Give me a Ford any day!

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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.

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  Stuck with a headache - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Eric_V - September 15 - 2:00 am

  My experience with this vehicle has not been very positive. Since the first day that I purchased it, it hesitates when the engine is cold (had it checked numerous times and the problem cannot be resolved. The depreciation is astronomical! I paid $28,965 less than 1 year ago. It is currently worth $15,000 - 11K miles. I did not even have this vehicle for a year and lost nearly $14000. It consumes too much fuel. I would not recommend an Isuzu to anyone unless you have money to throw away.

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  95 limited and 02 S - 2002 Isuzu Trooper
  By conrac - September 9 - 9:10 pm

  bought a 95 limited right outta high school in 01 and it was indestructible!! traded it in on a tacoma. MISTAKE!! NOT HALF THE VEHICLE. just bought a 02 cause i have kids now,(still have lifted F 150 though,haha) love my 02 with 60000 miles. these suvs were made to abuse. style meets utility all the way around. cant believe that isuzu makes nothing but 4-door GM knock-offs now.