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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  Truth - 2000 Isuzu VehiCROSS
  By Unique2C - March 16 - 10:00 am

  The Vehicross needs help in the 4 wheel drive department. Not very useful on-road. Off road, it has been great.

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  awesome lil monster - 2001 Isuzu VehiCROSS
  By rick - March 11 - 7:13 pm

  VehiCROSS is fun to drive and awesomely reliable. Of the three years, total repair cost was only for a fuel pump. Very impressed with workmanship and engine. Plan to keep it no matter the gas mileage.

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  Its Cheap & You get what you pay for - 2000 Isuzu Rodeo
  By dan - February 15 - 2:00 am

  I have about 52,000 miles on my 2000 Rodeo. The ride has grown increasingly bouncy; its now feels similar to a carnival ride. This is particularly bad, because it aggravates this vehicles rattle quotient - everything rattles. Isuzu dealers are few and far between and they act like it. My dealer was never able to identify problems (or even agree there was a problem) on the first visit making each repair a multi visit battle (I did eventually win many, but not all of the battles). Unless you absolutely can’t afford something else – I’d look elsewhere. Most any other vehicle out there is superior to this one. Run; dont walk, out of your Isuzu dealer.

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  Its Cheap & You get what you pay for - 2000 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Dan - February 15 - 2:00 am

  I have about 52,000 miles on my 2000 Rodeo. The ride has grown increasingly bouncy; its now feels similar to a carnival ride. This is particularly bad, because it aggravates this vehicles rattle quotient - everything rattles. Isuzu dealers are few and far between and they act like it. My dealer was never able to identify problems (or even agree there was a problem) on the first visit making each repair a multi visit battle (I did eventually win many, but not all of the battles). Unless you absolutely can’t afford something else – I’d look elsewhere. Most any other vehicle out there is superior to this one. Run; dont walk, out of your Isuzu dealer.

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  Cant beat it for your money! - 2002 Isuzu Axiom
  By Neil Boden - February 15 - 2:00 am

  My fiance and I went into looking for an SUV with the Jeep Grand Cherokee in mind. We live in MN and need something for the weather we get. We test drove the Jeep and a couple others (explorer, liberty, Xterra, Axiom) for comparison. Although we liked the Grand Cherokee and Xterra (we hated the liberty and exploder) the Axiom was perfect!

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  Very Good SUV - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Jerrico - February 12 - 8:06 pm

  So far no problem. Excellent service at dealership - done for the schedule service maintenance only

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  THE FIRST AND ORIGINAL SUV - 1999 Isuzu Trooper
  By UPYDOIN - February 12 - 2:00 am

  ALL AROUND GREAT FUN

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  Happy Owner - 2002 Isuzu Axiom
  By Chris - February 6 - 1:13 pm

  This is a SUV that drives and rides like a car. I love it and all who drive it love it.

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  Isuzu rules the world of real trucks! - 2000 Isuzu Amigo
  By Mike - January 31 - 9:23 am

  I have owned the truck for 5.5 years and I still love it. No problems to date (75K); it still has the original brake pads. I have the factory hard top which is easy to remove and replace with the factory soft-top in the summer.

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  2000: Original owner. - 2000 Isuzu Trooper
  By DN - January 29 - 6:30 pm

  Ive had mine since it was new. I too had the problem with losing oil (1qt/1000mi) which the dealer claimed was "normal". At about 48,000 it threw a rod so the engine was replaced under warranty though I had to fight with Isuzu over some minor charges. The new engine does not have a problem losing oil like the original. The driver side window got stuck and cost $300 to fix. The CD changer only lasted about 3-4 years before it broke.