The Trooper, which I recently tested, is second only to theToyota Land Cruiser in interior space, although its four-wheel-drivesystem doesn't measure up to those found in rival "sport; utes."
Still, few sport; utility owners do off-road driving, and Isuzuhas made quite a name for itself in the sport; utility field.Honda's Passport sport; utility is just a slightly disguised IsuzuRodeo, and industry insiders say Isuzu also might build a sport;utility for Toyota's luxury Lexus auto division. That's likely,considering that Mercedes is set to make a sport; utility, andCadillac and BMW are rumored to be joining the sport; utility crowd.
The two-door Trooper has been dropped for 1995 because Troopersare made in Japan, and two-door sport; utilities sent to America aresubjected to a stiff, 25 percent tariff - compared with 2.5 percentfor a four-door.
But most sport; utility buyers want a four-door model, anyway,and Isuzu gives them a broad Trooper four-door-model lineup.
The three Trooper S models cost from $22,450 to $24,950, and thetwo higher-line, better-equipped LS models are priced from $28,830 to$29,980. All are quiet, tightly built, nicely painted and have thesingle-overhead-camshaft, 175-horsepower V-6 that is also found inthe Rodeo and Passport.
New for 1995 is the $36,800 Trooper Limited, which gets adouble-overhead-camshaft, 190-horsepower version of the175-horsepower Trooper V-6 - besides a four-speed automatictransmission, leather upholstery, power front seats, sunroof andfour-wheel, anti-lock brakes.
Both silky engines provide lively performance, even thoughthey're fairly small, at 3.2 liters, and the Trooper is heavy, atabout 4,100 pounds.
Except for the Limited, four-wheel anti-lock brakes are an$1,100 option for most other Troopers, which come only with standardanti-lock rear brakes. Also, other Troopers have a standardfive-speed manual transmission; the crisp-shifting automatic - notoffered for the $22,450 entry-level Trooper - raises the price. Forinstance, I drove the $29,980 LS automatic-transmission model; withthe manual, the LS costs $28,830.
But all 1995 Troopers get new dual air bags, side-impact doorbeams that meet 1997 federal standards and a high-mounted rear stoplight.
The air bags have been integrated into a sleek new instrumentpanel, which has convenient new stalk controls for turn signals,headlights and wipers.
Even the entry-level Trooper is pretty well equipped, withreclining front bucket seats, folding rear seat, AM; FM; cassette,console, outside mirrors, rear defogger, tilt steering column,intermittent wipers, rear wiper; washer, sports car instrumentationand variable-assist power steering.
Also new for all Troopers is a revamped suspension, with revisedspring rates, larger stabilizer bars and revalved shock absorbers.The result is that the Trooper has an exceptionally smooth ride andexcellent handling.
The power steering feels vague near the steering wheel'son-center position, but that's the price paid for having tires thatcontribute to a smooth ride. Different tires would result in sharpersteering near the on-center position, but the Trooper would benoisier and ride harder, Isuzu says.
One major Trooper drawback is that it has just a part-timefour-wheel-drive system, which only can be engaged at speeds up to 5m.p.h. Thus, if roads suddenly become slick, you must almost stop toget into four-wheel-drive.
And, with no center differential, the Trooper can't be driven ondry roads with its four-wheel-drive system engaged without sufferingexcessive wear.
All Trooper U.S. rivals, and most of its imported competitors,have four-wheel-drive systems that can be engaged at any speed - orpermanently engaged systems.
The Trooper, which offers a high seating position and greatvisibility, provides comfortable room for five adults - and lots ofcargo space. Isuzu says it sold 30,000 Troopers last year and has nodoubts that it will sell at least the same number this year.
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