The Isuzu Trooper is a mid-size SUV that Isuzu made from September 1981 to September 2002 over two generations, the first built from 1981 to 1991 and the second from 1991 to 2002 with a facelift in 1998. Early Troopers were based on the first-generation Isuzu Faster and Chevrolet LUV pickup, and the car was sold at home as the Isuzu Bighorn.
Isuzu Trooper at a glance
| Maker | Isuzu Motors, Japan |
|---|---|
| Production | September 1981–September 2002 |
| Class | mid-size SUV |
| Japanese name | Isuzu Bighorn |
| First generation | 1981–1991, three-door and soft top, five-door from 1983 |
| Second generation | 1991–2002, UBS |
| Based on | first-generation Isuzu Faster / Chevrolet LUV |
| Engines | 1.95 and 2.3 petrol, 2.6 injected, 2.2 and 2.8 diesels, 2.8 GM V6 |
| Other names | Acura SLX, Chevrolet Trooper, Subaru Bighorn, Holden Jackaroo, Opel and Vauxhall Monterey |
| American name | Trooper II for the two-door |
based on one source (English Wikipedia)
History of the Isuzu Trooper
First generation (1981)
The first Trooper arrived in September 1981 as a three-door wagon or a soft top, with independent front suspension; the soft top sold slowly and did not last. In Japan it was first called the Isuzu Rodeo Bighorn, and the Rodeo part was dropped in January 1984. Early engines were a 1.95-litre petrol and a 73 PS 2.2-litre diesel, both underpowered for a vehicle weighing 1,678 kg. Four-wheel drive was engaged with a three-position lever beside the gear lever, and both Aisin manual-locking and Isuzu automatic-locking hubs were used. In 1983 the five-door body and the 2.3-litre 4ZD1 petrol engine of 97 PS arrived, and for 1986 only the United States received the 2.2-litre C223T turbo diesel of 87 PS, which proved unpopular. Rectangular headlights came in 1987 with LS trim on the five-door, the 4ZD1 was raised to 110 hp for 1988 and a 2.6-litre I-TEC engine of 120 hp joined the American range. In 1989 an optional 2.8-litre General Motors V6 from the Chevrolet S-10 was offered, and later cars could have a four-speed automatic. From 1988 to 1991 the Trooper had live rear axles and four-wheel disc brakes.
Special versions
Japan received a run of 100 Bighorn Irmscher R models with cosmetic and interior work by the German tuner Irmscher, and for 1989 only the United States imported a short-wheelbase two-door as the Trooper RS, with a fuel-injected 2.6-litre four, 4.77:1 differential gears and 15-inch alloy wheels. In Central America Troopers came with removable roofs and extra ground clearance, and in Venezuela the car was assembled locally as the Caribe 442 to meet import rules, with 35 per cent local content by weight. In Indonesia it was assembled by PT Garmak Motors and sold as the Chevrolet Trooper; a two-wheel-drive version called the Chevrolet Stallion used the Trooper body on a rear-wheel-drive LUV chassis with a rigid front axle.
Badge-engineered family
The Trooper was sold internationally under many names: the Acura SLX in the United States, the Chevrolet Trooper, the Subaru Bighorn, the SsangYong Korando Family, the Honda Horizon, the Opel and Vauxhall Monterey, and the Holden Jackaroo and Holden Monterey. In the United States the two-door was marketed as the Trooper II to meet the 25 per cent tax on imported two-door trucks, and the name was kept when the four-door arrived; Isuzu never sold a Trooper I. The second generation of 1991 was available with two- or four-wheel drive and stayed in production until 2002, competing with the Toyota Hilux Surf, Mitsubishi Pajero and Nissan Terrano.
Design and features
- Many names: Bighorn, Trooper II, Acura SLX, Jackaroo, Monterey and more.
- Pickup roots: the first generation used the Faster’s chassis.
- Long run: two generations and twenty-one years of production.
- Irmscher R: a 100-car special for Japan.
Isuzu Trooper versions
- Three-door and soft top (1981): the original bodies.
- Five-door (1983): the longer estate body.
- C223T turbo diesel (1986): a one-year American option.
- Trooper RS (1989): short-wheelbase American model.
- Bighorn Irmscher R: 100 cars for Japan.
- Second generation (1991–2002): two- or four-wheel drive.
The Trooper shared its early chassis with the Faster, and its short-wheelbase platform later carried the VehiCROSS; the MU and Ascender followed it. More models are in the Isuzu collection.
Video: Isuzu Trooper Working Hard in the Ozark Mountain Winter
Video by Johnny5ive on YouTube.
Sources
- Isuzu Trooper, English Wikipedia: generations, engines, badge-engineered versions
