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Walkaround
Redesigned in 1992, the Trooper has rounded corners that soften the impression of SUV boxiness, lending an air of country club sophistication--but not to the point of compromising the rugged appearance that sport-utility buyers love so much. With a 108.7-inch wheelbase and 183.5-inch overall length, it still falls into the mid-size range, but at the heavy end--well into the middle of the 4000-pound realm with 4WD. The prime source of the Trooper's mass is a sturdy truck-style frame, to which the body is attached with rubber-isolated mounts. Although we expect to see more and more unitbody sport-utes in the years ahead, this is still the standard construction practice today, and the Trooper's traditional setup is well conceived to take punishment and keep on going. The suspension--independent in front, with upper and lower control arms, and live axle at the rear--is also conventional. The Trooper's on-demand 4WD system, though effective, is a bit behind the times. It still employs a separate transfer case lever while others in this class are moving to electronic push-button systems, although the system can be engaged at speeds up to 60 mph and a limited slip rear differential is available as an option. There's only one engine offering, a 3.2-liter overhead cam 24-valve V6, and one transmission, a four-speed electronically controlled automatic. While this engine is smooth and quiet at most operating speeds, it's a little short on torque harnessed to a vehicle in this weight class. On the other hand, the Trooper's 0-to-60 mph performance is better than the new Infiniti QX4, and acceleration isn't a strong suit in the sport-utility realm in any case. The brake system employs good-sized discs at both ends, which helps to reduce fade--a significant plus in vehicles this size. ABS is optional ($1200) on the S and LS models, standard on the uplevel ES and Limited editions.
Interior Features
As you'd expect in this price range, the Trooper is luxed up to a fare-thee-well within, and handsomely so. The dashboard has a smooth, contemporary appearance, even though it's been with us for five years now, and control locations are generally good, with good graphics. We also liked our tester's huge power moonroof, an $1100 option, which allows rear-seat passengers to participate in the open air experience, when weather permits. There are a few weak points. The audio controls are at the bottom of the center stack, and the adjustment buttons are a little undersized, making them awkward to use when the vehicle is moving. We were also surprised at the absence of automatic climate control feature, which is now almost universal among luxury sport-utes. However, the Trooper more than makes up for any small interior demerits with one big plus: space. Front and rear, this is one of the roomiest sport-utility vehicles on the market, with real move-around space for three adults in the back seat and plenty of space up front as well. The Trooper also scores better-than-average marks for its cargo capacity. All in all, an excellent job of space engineering by the Isuzu designers. Roominess will cover for a lot of seating deficiencies, but even if the Trooper wasn't so spacious, its seats would still score good marks for long-haul comfort. And of course the optional high-quality leather upholstery doesn't hurt on this score, either. Like most sport-utilities, the Trooper has a fairly high step-in, and we give it average marks on this issue. Safety features--dual airbags and side impact protection--are also included.
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