Continually plagued by reports that the company is not long for this world, Isuzu further aggravated such rumors by stating it would not expand its product lineup — no pickups, sport wagons or additional SUVs — until 2007. With production of the Axiom and the Rodeo scheduled to stop in July of this year, dealers will be left to peddle just the Ascender for the next three years.
Introduced in 2003 to replace the aged Trooper, the seven-passenger Ascender promises "full-size spaciousness and performance with midsize maneuverability and price," according to Isuzu. Those who decide they want something smaller that costs less may opt for the five-passenger version which arrived on the scene in January 2004.
Two lonely Ascenders seems a long way down from the heights of Isuzu's SUV-plenty lineup when the company sold the Amigo, Rodeo, Trooper and VehiCross. Isuzu has managed to stay afloat with its commercial trucks but flagging sales from its SUVs have dragged it down. But why would the company, once marketed as the truck company, choose to tough it out with a GMC Envoy XL clone as its savior? What about this Isuzu is expected to lure away SUV buyers from more popular competitors like the Dodge Durango, Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Toyota 4Runner and even its platform mates, the Envoy XL and Chevy TrailBlazer EXT?
For one, the Ascender's seven-year/75,000-mile drivetrain warranty is the best in its class. (The standard warranty among chief contenders is three years/36,000 miles.) This could be good news for those who intend to keep their car indefinitely because of its purported low resale value. And perhaps the base S model's 2004 MSRP of $27,999 — lower than that of the Pilot, Envoy XL and last year's entry-level Ascender — will be enough to attract bargain hunters to the Isuzu lots.
Edmunds hasn't had the opportunity to try out an Ascender until now, but has tested its mechanically similar cousins, the Chevy TrailBlazer EXT, GMC Envoy and Buick Rainier, giving the former a decent appraisal and the latter two less-than-stellar reviews. Still, coming from a line of unimpressive Isuzu SUV predecessors, this Ascender should be regarded as a step up.
The seven-passenger Ascender is offered in three trim levels — base S, midlevel LS and high-line Limited. Our Limited Timberline Green Metallic test vehicle came loaded up with the 5.3-liter V8, driver-adjustable foot pedals, a power driver seat, driver/passenger side airbags, remote keyless entry, a limited-slip differential, power moonroof, driver information center, roof rack, running boards, heated driver and passenger seats, driver-seat memory, Bose audio system and OnStar telematics.
We put our top-of-the-line tester through its paces up on the Lost Coast in Northern California, where men are men and SUVs are a necessity, not an accessory. Even though the Ascender felt imposing on Los Angeles streets, it was dwarfed by the Redwoods in NorCal and seemed in its element on the country roads.
Unhampered by its long 129-inch wheelbase, our test car was able to show off its four-wheel-drive dexterity on the winding dirt paths that lined the coastal cliffs. Further helped by its 17-inch all-terrain treads, the intrepid SUV clawed up and down the rocky terrain with nary a slip. Its plush suspension translated the jarring ruts and bumps of off-roading into muted bounces in the cabin. While the world jostled by, the driver and passenger enjoyed the heated Cashmere leather captain's chairs which offer eight-way power-adjustability and two-way lumbar support. An especially appreciated feature was the back-only option of the seat heaters, which proved a valuable ally on the 1,300-mile road trip.
For a top-line model, the interior materials quality seemed just OK. The plastics felt sturdy and the leather of good quality, but neither stood out as something befitting a nearly $40,000 vehicle. However, several editors were surprised by how much they liked the look of the plastic and wood grain trim, citing it as attractive and not cheap-looking.
Passenger room is about average for this class of SUV. Although the reclining second-row bench seats three, it might be best to keep it down to two, as the narrow space in the middle is made even more uncomfortable by the hard plastic seatbelt holder that is prone to sticking in the passenger's lower back.
The third row accommodates two and Isuzu claims that it can seat a couple of 6-foot-2, 190-pound men, but our 5-foot-5, 127-pound test driver felt that space back there was just adequate for her, with her head barely grazing the sueded roof.
Cargo space, on the other hand, is class-leading. The 40/60-split second and third rows easily fold over to reveal a maximum cargo capacity of 107 cubic feet, beating the seven-passenger Explorer's capacity by 25 cubic feet and the eight-passenger Pilot's by 18. Also, as on the Explorer, the rear glass window can flip up separately from the rear door for easier loading.
Being a large vehicle, the Ascender wasn't exactly nimble on the streets. Most drivers commented that although it had good weighting, the steering generally felt numb and detached from the road. Still, our test driver was confident enough with the steering and steady brakes to take on downhill switchbacks and precarious mountain ridges along her route. With a decent stopping distance of 136.5 feet, our Ascender, equipped with four-wheel disc antilock brakes, was noted as being straight and sure with minimal ABS vibration. But under hard braking, this performance was offset with a sinking brake pedal.
Motivated by a V8 with 290 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 325 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm, the mean green machine powered up mountain passes with authority and cruised serenely on the open highway. At times, however, our driver felt as if she was asking for too much when stomping on the accelerator to overtake other vehicles, as the engine replied with a strident roar and a hiccup when it upshifted.
Back on the test track, Editor in Chief Karl Brauer noted that the Ascender has solid power with positive upshifts. But although it's blessed with a great powertrain, the 5,020-pound vehicle is just too heavy to furnish sprightly performance. In acceleration tests, it hit 60 mph in 9 seconds, slow considering the engine's power and when compared to rivals such as the Ford Explorer V8 (8.3 seconds) and even the V6-powered Honda Pilot (8.6 seconds).
With the V8 engine, fuel mileage wasn't much better than that of the Ascender's main rivals, but its 25-gallon tank does take you a little further. Against EPA estimates of 14 mpg city and 18 highway, we averaged 15 mpg in a mix of driving conditions that included freeways, mountain paths and dirt roads.
In the end, our test driver bonded with the seven-passenger Ascender. It saw her through some rough roads, after all. But did she consider it special enough to want one for herself? Well, no, since it is a clone and there are so many other feasible alternatives that stand out. However, those who like the Chevy TrailBlazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL may appreciate the similar Isuzu's longer warranty and better price. All others may want to take a look at the well-rounded Explorer or Pilot, which can seat eight and gets better fuel mileage.
Can the Ascender save a company in peril? Taking a safe bet by using an established platform may be able to sustain it for a little longer, but unless there's a third coming of Joe Isuzu, it seems unlikely.
Introduced in 2003 to replace the aged Trooper, the seven-passenger Ascender promises "full-size spaciousness and performance with midsize maneuverability and price," according to Isuzu. Those who decide they want something smaller that costs less may opt for the five-passenger version which arrived on the scene in January 2004.
Two lonely Ascenders seems a long way down from the heights of Isuzu's SUV-plenty lineup when the company sold the Amigo, Rodeo, Trooper and VehiCross. Isuzu has managed to stay afloat with its commercial trucks but flagging sales from its SUVs have dragged it down. But why would the company, once marketed as the truck company, choose to tough it out with a GMC Envoy XL clone as its savior? What about this Isuzu is expected to lure away SUV buyers from more popular competitors like the Dodge Durango, Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Toyota 4Runner and even its platform mates, the Envoy XL and Chevy TrailBlazer EXT?
For one, the Ascender's seven-year/75,000-mile drivetrain warranty is the best in its class. (The standard warranty among chief contenders is three years/36,000 miles.) This could be good news for those who intend to keep their car indefinitely because of its purported low resale value. And perhaps the base S model's 2004 MSRP of $27,999 — lower than that of the Pilot, Envoy XL and last year's entry-level Ascender — will be enough to attract bargain hunters to the Isuzu lots.
Edmunds hasn't had the opportunity to try out an Ascender until now, but has tested its mechanically similar cousins, the Chevy TrailBlazer EXT, GMC Envoy and Buick Rainier, giving the former a decent appraisal and the latter two less-than-stellar reviews. Still, coming from a line of unimpressive Isuzu SUV predecessors, this Ascender should be regarded as a step up.
The seven-passenger Ascender is offered in three trim levels — base S, midlevel LS and high-line Limited. Our Limited Timberline Green Metallic test vehicle came loaded up with the 5.3-liter V8, driver-adjustable foot pedals, a power driver seat, driver/passenger side airbags, remote keyless entry, a limited-slip differential, power moonroof, driver information center, roof rack, running boards, heated driver and passenger seats, driver-seat memory, Bose audio system and OnStar telematics.
We put our top-of-the-line tester through its paces up on the Lost Coast in Northern California, where men are men and SUVs are a necessity, not an accessory. Even though the Ascender felt imposing on Los Angeles streets, it was dwarfed by the Redwoods in NorCal and seemed in its element on the country roads.
Unhampered by its long 129-inch wheelbase, our test car was able to show off its four-wheel-drive dexterity on the winding dirt paths that lined the coastal cliffs. Further helped by its 17-inch all-terrain treads, the intrepid SUV clawed up and down the rocky terrain with nary a slip. Its plush suspension translated the jarring ruts and bumps of off-roading into muted bounces in the cabin. While the world jostled by, the driver and passenger enjoyed the heated Cashmere leather captain's chairs which offer eight-way power-adjustability and two-way lumbar support. An especially appreciated feature was the back-only option of the seat heaters, which proved a valuable ally on the 1,300-mile road trip.
For a top-line model, the interior materials quality seemed just OK. The plastics felt sturdy and the leather of good quality, but neither stood out as something befitting a nearly $40,000 vehicle. However, several editors were surprised by how much they liked the look of the plastic and wood grain trim, citing it as attractive and not cheap-looking.
Passenger room is about average for this class of SUV. Although the reclining second-row bench seats three, it might be best to keep it down to two, as the narrow space in the middle is made even more uncomfortable by the hard plastic seatbelt holder that is prone to sticking in the passenger's lower back.
The third row accommodates two and Isuzu claims that it can seat a couple of 6-foot-2, 190-pound men, but our 5-foot-5, 127-pound test driver felt that space back there was just adequate for her, with her head barely grazing the sueded roof.
Cargo space, on the other hand, is class-leading. The 40/60-split second and third rows easily fold over to reveal a maximum cargo capacity of 107 cubic feet, beating the seven-passenger Explorer's capacity by 25 cubic feet and the eight-passenger Pilot's by 18. Also, as on the Explorer, the rear glass window can flip up separately from the rear door for easier loading.
Being a large vehicle, the Ascender wasn't exactly nimble on the streets. Most drivers commented that although it had good weighting, the steering generally felt numb and detached from the road. Still, our test driver was confident enough with the steering and steady brakes to take on downhill switchbacks and precarious mountain ridges along her route. With a decent stopping distance of 136.5 feet, our Ascender, equipped with four-wheel disc antilock brakes, was noted as being straight and sure with minimal ABS vibration. But under hard braking, this performance was offset with a sinking brake pedal.
Motivated by a V8 with 290 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 325 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm, the mean green machine powered up mountain passes with authority and cruised serenely on the open highway. At times, however, our driver felt as if she was asking for too much when stomping on the accelerator to overtake other vehicles, as the engine replied with a strident roar and a hiccup when it upshifted.
Back on the test track, Editor in Chief Karl Brauer noted that the Ascender has solid power with positive upshifts. But although it's blessed with a great powertrain, the 5,020-pound vehicle is just too heavy to furnish sprightly performance. In acceleration tests, it hit 60 mph in 9 seconds, slow considering the engine's power and when compared to rivals such as the Ford Explorer V8 (8.3 seconds) and even the V6-powered Honda Pilot (8.6 seconds).
With the V8 engine, fuel mileage wasn't much better than that of the Ascender's main rivals, but its 25-gallon tank does take you a little further. Against EPA estimates of 14 mpg city and 18 highway, we averaged 15 mpg in a mix of driving conditions that included freeways, mountain paths and dirt roads.
In the end, our test driver bonded with the seven-passenger Ascender. It saw her through some rough roads, after all. But did she consider it special enough to want one for herself? Well, no, since it is a clone and there are so many other feasible alternatives that stand out. However, those who like the Chevy TrailBlazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL may appreciate the similar Isuzu's longer warranty and better price. All others may want to take a look at the well-rounded Explorer or Pilot, which can seat eight and gets better fuel mileage.
Can the Ascender save a company in peril? Taking a safe bet by using an established platform may be able to sustain it for a little longer, but unless there's a third coming of Joe Isuzu, it seems unlikely.
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