Isuzu is known for producing fun, reliable, and sometimes quirky pickups and SUVs. The Isuzu Trooper was a roomy family size SUV, great for getting the kids to soccer practice and navigating treacherous grass parking at weekend tournaments. The Rodeo was like the more agile off-roading cousin. Later, the 1999-2001 Isuzu VehiCROSS was like a concept car that never was compromised on the cutting room floor and somehow made it to market. This thing is quickly becoming a modern collectible for its sabre tooth front grill and RC truck design. Low-mileage VehiCROSS trucks are already selling for more than their original sticker price. Off-road enthusiasts put some oversized tires and aftermarket lift kits on them and it becomes a real head turner if not head scratcher.

Sadly, Isuzu withdrew from the US market in 2009, but that doesn’t mean they don’t still make awesome, sporty pickups and SUVs elsewhere in the world. For example, the Isuzu D-Max and its SUV variant, Isuzu MU-X, are popular utility and family trucks in the Asian market. The latest iterations of the Isuzu trucks are available with a 2.5-liter engine and the new 3.0 VGS Turbo variant that delivers up to 163 horsepower and up to 380 newton meters of torque. The Variable Geometry System (VGS) turbocharger responds quickly without the turbo lag you might get from older turbochargers. This torque has made it a favorite among the industrial and business workforce as it can be modified with custom canopies. There are also a lot of customizations enthusiasts can have applied to their ute, such as liners, roof racks, LED lights, and drawer units. As for Isuzu D-max ute canopies, try to find it on the website. The i-GRIP (Isuzu Gravity Responsive Intelligent Platform) provides a more rigid ride and better stability for towing loads. Not only can these Isuzus tear up the asphalt, but they can also switch to off road 4×4 mode seamlessly. The Terrain command system uses a spin system to allow for instant switches of drive modes from 4-Wheel to 2-Wheel Drive.

The Isuzu brand may not be in North American dealerships anymore, but the fun, sporty, and reliable spirit of Isuzu is still alive and well in the Isuzu D-Max and MU-X around the world. These sport utility trucks are very efficient, but I would like to see Isuzu develop and electric or hybrid SUV in the future to go along with their low pollution alternative fuel heavy duty trucks and their clean diesel technology vehicles.