Price as tested LS $23,350 © Base price XS $20,959 © Type 4 door, 5 pass. utility vehicle © Layout longtitudinal RWD/AAWD © Engine 2.81OHV V6 w/TBI © Horsepower 120 @ 4800 rpm © Transmission 5 spd man. (4 spd. auto) 2H, 4L, 4H © Tires P235/75 RIS all-terrain SBR @ Curb weight 1703 kg/3755 Ibs © Towing 1588 kg/35S00 Ibs © Length 4470 mm/176.0 in. © Wheelbase 2650 mm/ 104.3 in. © Width 1650 mm/65.0 in. © Height Ll, 1820 mm/71.7 in. _—- © Cargo space : 1288 1/45.5 cu.ft. ¢ Fuel economy avg. 141/100 km, 20 mpg. 2 Warranty Basic 3 yrs/80,000 km Powertrain 6 yrs/160,000 km front engines WHEN THE Isuzu Trooper was first introduced a few years ago, it was one of the few 4WD utility vehicles with four doors and an interior where five people could travel comfortably. Since then, a raft of new four- door 4X4s has come on to the market, and the Trooper doesn’t enjoy the exclusivity it once had. But it remains one of the lowest-priced 4WD vehicles in its size range, and it is a very prac- tical vehicle capable of on- or 44 Of the two engines available, the 2.8 litre V6 no engine is smoother and quieter than the JB standard four cylinder engine, but surprisingly. it doesn’t have much more power 99 i off-road excurions. po fis boxy styling looks somewhat outdated compared to newer 4WD vehicles, including the new Isuzu Rodeo. But 4WD trucks aren’t supposed to be winning any speed or styling contests. Its tall, square roofline con- tributes to more headroom and interior space, although I'm sure it has the aerodynamics of a f brick. : The Trooper, like most four- wheel-drive vehicles, is typically heavy (in this case, 3,755 Ibs.), . requiring some muscle to pull es STILL ONE of the 7 roomiest and least ex- / pensive vehicles in_ its , / class, the four-door Trooper 4WD utility vehi- cle comes with a 2.6 litre four cylinder engine or a 2.8 litre V6, both with 120 horsepower. Friday, November 30, 1990 — North Shore News - 29 around that weight. Two engines are available, a 2.6 litre, four- cylinder engine with 120 horse- power in the XS model, and a GM-built 2.8 litre V6 engine, also with 120 horsepower in the LS model. A new engine oil cooler is standard for 1991. Acceleration and fuel economy for both engines is similar but the V6 is a lot smoother and quieter. Neither engine is particularly powerful, though. Other utility vehicles in this class are offered with considerably bigger engines. I imagine it would be quite easy for General Motors io install one of their big V6 or V8 engines into the Trooper LS, say the 4.3 litre V6 now available in the GMC Jimmy S-158. Apart from the lack of a big- displacement engine, the Trooper is a well-equipped 4X4. Four-wheel-disc brakes are standard equipment, somewhat unusual in a utility vehicle. These offer better stopping power than the regular front disc/rear drum arrangement found on most utility vehicles. A five-speed manual transmis- sion or four-speed automatic is available. The manual transmis- sion is extremely easy to use and the engine-spceed-sensitive power steering is very light, making the Trooper an easy vehicle to drive in the city. The Trooper has a part-time four-wheel-drive system (not to be used on dry asphalt roads) with automatic Jocking front hubs (standard on the LS model and optional on the base XS with manual transmission). This is not a shift-on-the-fly system though, requiring the driver to stop to engage or disengage 4WD. When disengag- ing, the vehicle must be backed up a few feet. Sg — : a, NEWS photos ISUZU TROOPER Trooper is well-priced but could use bigger engine Greg Wilson teh) . AUTOMOTION Because of its tall, boxy design, the Trooper has loads of interior space for five passengers and 45 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. The split rear seats fold forward, and one of them even folds backwards for sleepy passengers. Sitting up tall and surrounded by windows, the driver and pas- sengers have excellent 360° visibility. The front reclining cap- tain’s chairs are standard equip- ment and offer a handy height ad- justment. The rear cargo doors open out- wards in a “A. % configuration allowing easy access to the wide cargo area. Sold through Passport dealers, a division of General Motors, the Trooper benefits from General Motors’ three year basic warranty and six year powertrain warranty. As it was when it was first in- troduced, the Trooper is priced well. it would be nice to see an even bigger engine under the hood, though.