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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  Just eh... - 2000 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Eric V - March 27 - 10:00 am

  This is one of the more attractive SUVs and I am pleased with its performance though it does have some issues. One happens to be the wind noise when driving on the highway. Another issue is the climate controls, they seem as though they belong in my old GEO. On an overall scale of 1 to 10, it gets a 5.

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  Great car, just the best - 1998 Isuzu Rodeo
  By luke702 - March 14 - 2:59 am

  Ive had over 20 cars including high end (such as MB S600, etc). This car has outlived every single one, and Im sure it will outlive military tanks! Recently I had to sell it, which I didnt want to do, at the time the car had about 280K miles and was still running strong. Loaned the vehicle to a friend who abused it for a couple of years, and still the car NEVER had ANY problems. The VERY FEW things that I had to fix were minor.

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  love the rodeo - 2000 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Connman27 - March 13 - 10:00 am

  i really enjoy the isuzu rodeo

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  Overall - 2000 Isuzu Rodeo
  By answerinstl - March 13 - 9:10 am

  I have put over 35K miles on my Rodeo in less than 2 years. I love this SUV. It is comfy, roomy, and economical. 95K miles currently and still going real strong with no signs of slipping. I would buy another no problems here.

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  musto gucho - 2002 Isuzu Rodeo Sport
  By msmorphine - March 13 - 2:00 am

  This is a really fun car to drive with the added comfort of 4x4 reliability during extreme conditons. Sharp features and easy to park with its compact size. Pretty generous warranty added as well.

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  Rodeo - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Ralf52 - March 13 - 2:00 am

  I havent had any problems. My service has been excellent and I drive every day 60 miles. The car has now 10000 miles.

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  A smooth and quiet ride with value - 2004 Isuzu Ascender
  By tom grunden - March 8 - 2:00 am

  We looked at most of the larger SUVs before buying last winter. We decided on the Ascender strictly on the basis of highway ride coupled with price. We found nothing in the market close in this combination without adding $6,000 to $10,000 to the purchase price.

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  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? !

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  RETIAL - 2002 Isuzu Rodeo
  By ROSENDO DIMAS - March 7 - 10:00 am

  LOVE IT ,BEST BUY FOR MY MONEY

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  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.