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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  10,000 miles with no problems - 2002 Isuzu Axiom
  By dcguy - March 22 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is under-rated. The styling will turn some people off, but styling is one the major reasons I chose it (I like being different). Its a great value compared to other SUVs (blows away Jeep and Pathfinder). The ride is tough, so make no mistake you are definitely buying a TRUCK, it just happens to look more car-like, with very car-like amenities. The interior is a bit cheap and plastiky for a $30k MSRP. Im a bit worried now about the resale value. But this truck has a lot going for it, and in 10,000 miles has given me no problems except a few minor squeaks and rattles.

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  Nice & Quiet - 1999 Isuzu Rodeo
  By walid - March 21 - 8:23 am

  I bought it September 2007 with 73,000 on it, currently I have 85,500. Its a reliable little suv, and I wouldnt give it up for any similar suvs. Ive only had two major things done on it, drivers side axle was cracked, was caught in time, and I had the engine flex pipe changed. Mine does eat up oil for some reason, I cant complain about this car, its pretty much perfect, if they still made them I would buy a new one.

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  My Experience - 2002 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Kerrie Cornett - March 8 - 3:10 am

  I love my Rodeo, but it doesnt love me. I have had it in the shop for warranty work 7 times since I bought it on November 28, 2003. It is going in this week for its eighth trip. I have had sensors go bad, the catalytic converter replaced, the transmission rebuilt, the exhaust manifold replaced, and this week its getting a new fuel pump. The clutch is tricky and there is still a knock in the rear end, but Ive gotten used to that noise and learned the secrets of the clutch. I may have just gotten a lemon, but based on the amount of time that Ive spent in the service lounge I wouldnt buy another Isuzu Rodeo.

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  stylish, fun but needs more power - 2003 Isuzu Axiom
  By 14power - February 16 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car 10,000 miles now -- if youre taller than 63" ask your dealer about where to go for a seat conversion -- more leg room is needed! The TOD is awesome. The V6, even though needs some help on hills, has more tourque than it appears. If youre in a hurry the TOD is a lifesaver on wet pavment. It engages at ease. the Sport mode will save your shocks and struts on pothole-filled roads. Dont be fooled by the size of the tires -- they could be wider for more grip around corners.

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  just like the Envoy - 2006 Isuzu Ascender
  By sign guy - February 14 - 9:13 pm

  Made by GM and looks just the GMC Envoy but has a better warranty.

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  Pretty good - 2002 Isuzu Axiom
  By axiomdude - February 14 - 10:00 am

  I owed a BMW 325 and I love it, but I wanted to buy a SUV after looking for 6 months I decided to buy an Axiom, the price was good and I like it a lot, the only problems is that if feels more like a truck than a car and at the pump is quite expensive, but I wanted an SUV... LOL

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  It has been a good few years. - 1999 Isuzu Trooper
  By oooper - February 13 - 10:43 am

  Bought this 99 black beauty OOPER back in 08. Had only 70,000 miles on it. After reading many bad reviews of people who had engines fail on them due to perhaps loss of oil I thought I had made a mistake buying this thing. However I have milked it for all it has and checked the oil whenever possible and adding it when needed...I recall reading one thread about the engines not having sufficient drain holes for the oil to settle back down into the pan and that is why you would get different dip stick readings every time...which I have It has been fun to drive and it holds all my gear. However my 4x8 utility trailer full of gear and the back of the trooper full of travel bags reallymadeitsag.

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  Acender review - 2003 Isuzu Ascender
  By bebe237i - February 7 - 11:36 am

  My Acender has been wonderful because of the size, we have taken it on many trips. I bought the third row Acender and the extra space is wonderful. The seats are easy to move. I have only had a few mecanical problems window motror, the ac doesnt work on the 5th setting and the clutch fan went out. But the clutch fan was kind of pricey but you can buy the gmc envoy clutch fan, its cheaper and its the same part. Other than that I love my Acender.

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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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  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?