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Japan's specialist commercial and 4x4 vehicle maker is Isuzu, controlled by General Motors. A few years ago, its car division ran up enormous losses and had to be bailed out and finally closed down. This left the company to concentrate on off-roaders, trucks and commercials, which still includes the second of the two generations of Troopers examined here.
The Trooper has been a moderate success in the UK. It has a loyal following, as does that other Isuzu-designed GM car, Vauxhall's Frontera. Whilst neither of the two generations of Trooper are a match for a Range Rover, the prices asked are a lot less than those of many more prestigious competitors, whilst on and off-road abilities are not that much poorer.
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Detailed ratings
Large-Sized Family Hatch-Based SUVs
What you get
A bit of a compromise vehicle. The earlier shape cars is not really very good at being on-road cars. On the motorway, they're noisy and slow and off-road the independent front suspension is less than ideal when the going gets tough.
The newer shape cars are much better, but still no Range Rover rival. You don't get that strongman-in-a-dinner-suit image and ability which comes standard with the British car. What you do get is a wealth of Japanese gadgetry as well as excellent build quality and legendary reliability. It's not surprising, then, that some of the roadside rescue companies use Troopers as recovery vehicles.
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What to look for
A few niggles to report, but nothing too serious. The trim quality of many cars is suspect, so have a good look and don't be afraid to haggle for a better price if you find saggy seats and tatty headlining. Look also for faulty handbrakes and notchy gear changing.
The diesel engine is very rough and ready but make sure all that black soot is normal and not a blown turbo. They cost a lot to replace, so get an expert to check it if you're worried.
Check the differentials, gearbox and engine for oil-leaks and don't forget to engage the front-hubs to test the transmission in 4x4 mode. While you're underneath look for signs of off-road damage.
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Replacement parts
(approx based on a 97 3.1 turbodiesel) Isuzu are keen to keep their parts prices competitive to promote the use of genuine components on the large numbers of Troopers that are still going strong. A water pump can be yours for around £100 and an exhaust pipe is available for a similar amount. A fuel filter is a tenner and most of the other consumables are similarly cheap.
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On the road
You get lots of body roll and slow progress in every model bar the more car-like V6. Seven-seat versions are about but you'd have to be sure you could cope with a heavy load and a noisy, strained engine up hills. If you really need seven seats and don't need to go off road, an MPV might be more appropriate.
So, the Trooper is not really at its best as a family car. It's probably good enough for most people's needs in the mud, however. Most owners buy the car for its butch looks and maybe the occasional off-road day out - there's nothing like this to remind you just why you bought one in the first place. Like any big 4x4, try before you buy as it may be a bit too uncivilised for your everyday needs.
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Overall
The Isuzu Trooper is a good-looking vehicle (at least in newer-shape guise) without the pretence, the price or the hefty running costs of a Range Rover. Bear that in mind and you'll enjoy almost the same all-round ability for half the price.
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