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:

• 

  Gone too soon - 1999 Isuzu Trooper
  By yaboiaj1 - July 30 - 9:55 pm

  I had just bought my trooper automatic wasnt an option up there neway it was used 135k + mi. and I was paying for a little over a year I had I believe 3 more payments left and it threw a rod or whatever to me it wasnt worth the fix. We had a love hate relationship. Ill never forget driving away from it looking through the rearview for the last time. I never saw it again there was a terrible ticking noise in the engine everywhere I went I constantly had people saying you need oil took it to the shop they said I didnt but something was obviously wrong Ive been car less for a year I truely miss my trooper but I honestly wouldnt recommend it to anyone

• 

  Wish I never would have bought it - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By ansauer - May 24 - 8:20 am

  Its been nothing but trouble since the day after i purchased it. All transmission problems, lots of jerking when i try to speed up, things fall apart easily on it, made very cheaply

• 

  Good times some of the times... - 1999 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Ishoozuu - May 23 - 8:03 am

  Bought the Rodeo used with 70,000 miles on it in 02. I put on 70,000 in 6 years -- I had to take the car in a couple of times to the Isuzu mechanic for factory recalls, which is cool because its free and the fluctuating gas gauge and broken gas pedal were starting to get to me. Other than that nothing major. A/C needs recharging every 3 years ($40 a pop -- not bad). And as for the squeaking this car notoriously does, I just took mine in to get every bolt tightened and the squeaks are gone. Should only cost you about $50 if the mechanic is as honest as mine. Ha!

• 

  1998 Rodeo V-6 4 Dr Wagon - 1998 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Larry Brewer - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I leased my 1998 Rodeo over three years ago. Overall performance has been good. The V-6 is peppy enough to allow for rapid acceleration when needed and the storage room is adequate. On the negative side, I find the lumbar system inadequate on trips over 4 hours -- lower back pain and tired legs. The paint is fading on the drivers side. Paint on the wheels is also peeling off. The vehicle had six thousand miles on it when leased.

• 

  Lots of little problems - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By 2001 rodeo driver - May 15 - 5:53 am

  Good size. Drives well to Tahoe. Lots of passenger room. Lots of mechanical prblems. Check engine light comes mostly with low gas (got it checked, cant be fixed). When its cold, the engine is a little picky to start. Ride is a bit rough. Wheel has a shake at freeway speeds. Gas mileage is definitly that of an SUV. The most bothersome problem I am having now is with the transmission. Which is definitly no good.

• 

  Unhappy with quality, performance - 1999 Isuzu Trooper
  By TahoeNextTime - March 30 - 10:00 am

  At 50000 miles it needed a new engine. Something expensive breaks every 3000- 4000 miles. Slow. Crappy off-road. Ok on the street. Isuzu Motors corp. is unresponsive and unhelpful

• 

  To many problems - 1999 Isuzu Rodeo
  By steve1survey - March 12 - 10:00 am

  I use to love this truck till it hit 2 years old and 50000 miles. The Fuel gage died. "I think this needs to be a recall" My CD changer broke 2 times the second not under warrenty so im stuck. My starter and battery died and had to be replaced. My right speaker blew I dont play loud music! It idols high sometimes when stopped and after I drive on the highway for more than an hour my truck idols high and low for about 30 seconds when I stop and none of this under warrenty

• 

  Watch out for timing problems - 1999 Isuzu Trooper
  By dawelch_in_AK - January 29 - 10:00 am

  The Trooper is great up here in Alaska off roading, or whatever. Good to drive in all weather conditions; love the Torque on Demand. HOWEVER, I recently had the timing belt changed, and a week later, the bolt that connects the timing belt to the engine sheered in half. This royally hosed my engine. Bent 6 valves out of 24. This bolt supposedly should not break, but it did.

• 

  Its no Rodeo Drive - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By say no to isuzu - January 11 - 2:00 am

  Got the SUV new back in late 2000. Within 30,000 miles the car needed new engine seals, trans. sensors/ knocks, fuel sensor and other electrical work. It was all covered under warranty...but new engine seals on a car with less than 30k mile (driven with care and serviced)? Oh, here is the sad part, after the dealer fixed and replace all of the above, half a mile down the road after leaving the dealer the car started up again with the transmission problems. Its a lease, it will be turned in but I would never buy or lease another Isuzu.

• 

  zero resale value - 2002 Isuzu Axiom
  By 0resalevalue - December 12 - 10:00 am

  If you are 6ft tall & have big feet, DONT BUY IT. hit my head on tailgate, rear doors dont open far enough to easily get in and out. gas pedal and brake are so close together you hit them both with big feet. the steering wheel is too far away No room to stretch out when using cruise on the highway. I was offered $14,000 in trade today for a vehicle that sold for $29k less than two years ago. I think all these reviews are input by dealers and salesman or reviews like mine are deleted. good news, my 15 yr old daughter likes it, i hope she desrves it when I give it to her