D R I V E N

Imagine you’ve been working for a multi-national company, and after sweating it out for a couple of years, you’re about to get promoted.  Great.  Of course, with the additional benefits and cash at hand, there’s no better way to show off than a new set of wheels.  Riding around in your sensible Japanese sedan is fine, but it just doesn’t that x-factor anymore.  Opting for a German sedan is still out of your budget, and the running costs of those gigantic American SUVs still sting the pocket.  So, without sacrificing image, is there a vehicle that could provide everyday practicality, exceptional performance and good comfort?  Luckily for you, there’s the Isuzu Trooper.

Although the basic shape and underpinnings haven’t changed for quite a while now, the Isuzu Trooper can still duke it out with the much newer competition.  The key to the Trooper’s success lies in the variety of upgrades done during its life.  The biggest change is of course, located under the hood.  Swapping the original gasoline gulping V6 for a direct-injection turbo-diesel, the Trooper has one big ace up its sleeve. 

The 160-bhp, 333 Newton-meter figures may just put it smack in the middle of the pack, but what counts here is that these numbers are available down low: 3,900 rpm and 2,000 rpm respectively.  In addition, since it’s a diesel you can expect some pretty dramatic mileage and range figures.  On a full tank, the Trooper can travel 450++ kilometers with an average city mileage of 7.5 km/L—that’s not bad, considering that a comparable gasoline engine will only give half that efficiency.  What’s more, the flat torque curve and well-mated four-speed automatic make the Trooper sprint to 100 km/h in a jiffy.  Sure, mechanical refinement still can’t compare to high-tech German diesels, but you have to remember that the Trooper costs just half as much.

NEXT PAGE >>>