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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  Silver bullet - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By James Martin - June 8 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the truck for 4 months and so far it has been great: excellent power, good looks, and a good highway traveler.

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  Steady as rock - 1999 Isuzu Trooper
  By Brian in SoCal - June 2 - 1:40 pm

  Bought my Trooper new in 1999, and Ive never had a more reliable vehicle. Im now over 112K miles, and no repair issues whatsoever aside from routine maintenance. In fact, I only replaced my original brakes last month! And no, mine doesnt burn oil *at all*.

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  Great SUV - 2000 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Fernando - June 2 - 7:53 am

  Great mid-size SUV. No problems with the car after 5 years of owning it. Very smooth drive and very reliable. The only drawback is the fact that theres a lot of noise in the cabin and of course it consumes more fuel that I would like to but it is the price we pay for an SUV.

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  A Treasure - 2002 Isuzu Trooper
  By Itroop - May 30 - 2:00 am

  We can only hope the corporate remake will produce as nice a vehicle as this 93-2002 series has been. Best functional design in the industry and its classic smoothed boxiness will never go out of style (because it was never in style to begin with).

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  I love it - 2003 Isuzu Axiom
  By vlajkon - May 25 - 2:00 am

  I love my Axiom. Silky smooth driving, very fast and very powerfull engine. Good MPG, so far 21.1mpg (city). Looks different, with 10y/120k warranty simple is the best.

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  My 2002 Axiom - 2002 Isuzu Axiom
  By Bill McKinney - May 24 - 2:16 pm

  Car has been very reliable and is eye-catching in appearance. I still get people asking me, even after 5 years old and 3 years since last Axiom was made, what kind of car it is and where can they look at a new one. The styling obviously made it impossible to put in a third row seat but have to say that I have never needed to carry more than 5 people and sometimes go for months with the rear seats folded down. Its been a great car and although I plan on my next purchase being a sedan, I will keep the Axiom.

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  Got SUV, have snow, will ski ! - 2002 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Beta Carver - May 7 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this SUV for a year now and I only have good things to say about it. 4WD worked well during blizzard conditions in Vermont. Suspension control is excellent when you toggle on- the-fly between sport and normal mode to adjust to road conditions (highways and dirt roads or potholes). Power button worked well in crazy North Jersey traffic. Length is short enough for getting into tight parking spots in NYC. One final note: if you drive SUVs like trucks (not like sports cars), they are very safe.

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  Wallow ride - 2002 Isuzu Rodeo
  By DONNABAC - May 7 - 2:00 am

  I have loved this truck style for years. Have loved Isuzu forever. Have owned trucks/suvs (including Isuzu) for a long time. The ride is beyond any truck experience Ive ever had. I am absolutely bounced out of the seat on less than smooth roads. the sensation is front end wallowing...not just rough.

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  You get what you pay for. - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Iceman75 - May 6 - 12:03 am

  Good looking vehicle. Dings very easily. Exhaust rattles likes its coming loose. This happened when it was a year old. Windows fuse is blown, so the windows are stuck in the up position. Rear windshield wiper doesnt work any more either. No idea why. Looking forward to selling it and buying a Mercedes M Class. Got to admit, I got this at a great price with 0% financing.

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  I should have steered clear - 2002 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Lean_Rabbit - May 5 - 7:16 pm

  This Rodeo has more problems than any car Ive ever owned! Burning oil, bad trasmission, brake replacement often, bad electronic everything, including the moonroof, the 6 CD changer and the master door panel, which we had to replace after owning the SUV for only a month. I loved driving it for the comfort, when I COULD drive it! Warranty doesnt cover half of this stuff! Very comfortable and roomy though.