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The redesigned isuzu Trooper 4WD wegon offers a roomy new interior, a choice of two powerfu! 3.2 titre V6 engines, standard four-wheel disc brakes, and standard
luxury features such as power windows and dual. power-heated outside mirrors.

Greg
Wilson

AUTOMOTION

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THE BOXY four-wheel-
drive Isuzu Trocper had a
lot going for it when it was
introduced a few years ago.
A four-door body style, seating
for five passengers, lots of cargo
space and a low price were its best
attributes. But a plain appearance
and utilitarian character gave it a
reputation as the usly duckling of
tility vehicles.
sPrike the proverbial duckling,
the new Trooper has surprised
everyone by evolving into a hand-
some and refined 4X4. Improved
aerodynamics, more power, more
interior room, and more standard
features elevate the new Trooper
into a different class, leaving the

Restyled 4X4 goes upscale in price and refinement

bounce-free

less-expensive Rodeo to serve as
Isuzu’s entry-level sports-utility. .

Compared to last year’s model,
the new Trooper is six centimetres
(2.4 inches) longer, three cen-
timetres (1.1 inches) wider, and
180 kilograms (400 pounds)
heavier.

The clean, contemporary styling
is refreshingly uncomplicated. Its
smooth curves not only look good
but help to reduce wind noise in-
side the cabin. A cleveriy in-
tegrated rear roof-mounted
spoiler helps to smooth airflow
over the tail rear end.

Two new 3.2 litre V6 engines
are offered this year.

The first is a 175-horsepower
single overhead cam unit offered
in the base Trooper S model. The
other is a 1%-horsepower dual
overhead cam engine standard in
the more luxurious Troozer LS.

These two engines replace the
120-horsepower 2.6 litre four-
cylinder and 120-horsepower 3.1
litre V6 engines offered last year.
The increase in horsepower and
mid-range performance gives the
new Trooper impressive accelera-
tion, despite the fact that it is
heavier. This is particularly
noticeable at higher speeds, such
as when passing on the freeway.

The high rev limits of these two
rnulti-valve, overhead cam engines
give them extra power at speeds
that would tax the limits of con-

ventional overhead valve engines.

Surprisingly, these engines are
amazingly quiet at cruising speeds.
Along with an absence of wind
noise and tire noise, the new
Trooper has one of the quietest
passenger cabins in the sports util-
ity class,

Gas mileage, however, is typi-
cally poor. The Trooper averages
14.1 litres per 100 kilometres (21!
mpg) in combined city and high-
way use.

A standard five-speed manual
or optional four-speed automatic
transmission is available on both S
and LS models. The automatic
transmission with floor-mounted
shifter offers three shifting modes:
Normal for economical driving;
Power for quick downshifts; and

Winter, a second-gear start, for

starting on icy surfaces.

Price as tested: $30,640
Base price: $25,345

Type: five-passenger,
door sports utility wagon:
Layout: longitudinal
engine/RWD/4WD
Engine: 3.2 litre V6, DOHC,

four-

front

A limited slip rear differential
(LS only) also helps traction when
one rear wheel begins to spin-on a
slippery surface.

To complement the high-speed
ability of the new engines, a revis-
ed suspension offers significant
improvements in stability and
ride. The Trooper retains a
truck-like box section ladder
frame, but additional cross
members have improved its rigidi-
ty.

The independent front suspen-
sion remains the same, but the
Tear suspension now uses coil
springs (instead of traditional leaf
springs) and four links to improve
stiffness and reduce vibration. The
strategy seems to have worked.
Both the ride and vibration level
are much improved, and rear pas-
sengers. in particular will appreci-

Horsepower: 190 @ 5,600 rpm

Torque: 195 lb-ft @ 3,800 rpm

Transmission: four-speed

automatic (std. five-speed

manual)

Transfer case: two-speed,

auto-locking front hubs

Carb weight: 1,884 kg/4,155
s

Wheelbase: 2,760 mm/108.7 in.

Leagth: 4,545 mm/178.9 in.

Width: 1,745 mm/68.7 in.

Height: 1,850 mm/72.8 in.

+ 1 eee

ate the smoother,
ride.

The new Trooper is also one of
the few sports-utilities to offer
standard disc brakes on all four
wheels. Rear anti-lock brakes are
standard on the base S model and
a four-wheel anti-lock system is
standard on the LS.

The interior has also been
upgraded. The old, square
dashboard has been replaced by 2
modern car-like dash with conve-
nient controls and clearly visible
instruments.

Cloth-covered reclining front
bucket seats are standard equip-
ment, but a front three-person
bench is not ‘offered. A standard
60/40 split rear bench seat folds

See Trooper page 43

Trunk capacity: (seat up) 1,311
L/46.3 cu.ft.; (seat down)
2,549 L/90 cu.ft.

Fuel mileage: City 16:1 L/100
km, 18 mpg; Hwy 12.1 L/100
km, 23 mpg
Warranty:
km

three years/60,000

Check out the Trooper at Mor-
rey Saturn, Saab, Isuzu, at
Lougheed and Wilingdon in
Burnaby.