The Isuzu Trooper is one of the Japanese brand’s most acclaimed nameplates. For over two decades, it was Isuzu’s main off-road SUV. Crossing three generations since its birth in 1981, the Trooper has become a staple choice among premium vehicles in its segment. While it is enveloped in luxury and comfort, it remains true to its practicality in terms of space and engineering. What made the Trooper stand out among its competition is the innovative 4JX1-TC engine that merges both gasoline and diesel engine calibers. It blends the speed, silence, and environmentally friendly emissions of gasoline engines with the fuel efficiency, off-road performance, and outstanding torque of diesel power trains. Offered in the Philippines is the Isuzu Trooper 4x2 powered by a 3.0-liter 16-valve DOHC diesel engine that is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.
Launch
The Isuzu Trooper began global production in 1981. It was re-introduced by Isuzu Motors Philippines to the country in 1996. Five years after, a facelifted version released in September 2004. Currently, Isuzu Philippines offers the mu-X, a seven-seater midsize SUV.
Exterior
The Isuzu Trooper comes in an elegant and classy stance with a dash of sportiness and masculinity. Its boxy shape embodies an athletic and dominant stance, further emphasized by its newly designed billet-type aluminum front grille stamped with a gold Isuzu badge. Chrome accents add a level of sophistication as it wraps the power-folding heated side mirrors and the chrome-finished 16-inch twelve-spoke wheels. On the rear is the trademark hard-type spare tire cover that nearly all SUV’s in the mid-2000s had.
The Japanese SUV can be had in five color variants-- Alpine White, Satin Silver, Foxfire Red, Red Dragon Green, and Ebony Black, all in two-tone versions.
Interior
Inside, the Isuzu Trooper boasts of a spacious cabin with generous legroom and headroom. It can seat five people in extreme comfort on the first two rows. Despite its expanse of the cabin, exquisite and premium details make the interior cozy and welcoming. The dashboard is decked with a wrap-around wood grain finish in which controls are in logical places and are easy to reach. Seats are wrapped in leather upholstery and are equipped with power adjustability.
The most iconic part of the Trooper’s interior is the Skyroof. Spanning the first two rows of the vehicle, it provides a panoramic view of the natural surroundings. It can be conveniently controlled through a power button.
Technology & Safety Features
The Isuzu Trooper’s entertainment system is advance for its time and built with long drives in mind. It comes with a JVC DVD head unit with MP3 capabilities. Audio comes out of a 6-speaker sound system.
In terms of safety, however, it comes with merely the bare facilities such as a 3-channel, 4-sensor anti-lock braking system.
Platform & Chassis
The Trooper is equipped with a Double Wishbone front suspension system and a 4-Link with Coil Spring system at the rear. The rigidity of Isuzu’s wishbone arm construction has been a commended feature of the vehicle that adds to its easy handling despite its large size. Stopping power comes from powerful four-wheel disc brakes.
Engine & Drivetrain
The Trooper 4x2 variant is powered by a 3.0 liter 16-valve DOHC diesel power train.
Isuzu’s renowned 4JX1-TC engine remains to provide class-leading power and torque figures of 160 hp and 333 Nm of torque via a four-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels.