Isuzu’s latest sport utility vehicle (SUV) went on sale for the 2003 model year and replaced the company’s long-lived Trooper. The Ascender shares its platform with General Motors’ midsize SUVs . Even though the original seven-passenger Ascender is larger than a midsize model, it’s smaller than typical full-size SUVs. In 2005, Isuzu dropped its other two SUVs: the Axiom and Rodeo. The Ascender’s V-8 gained GM’s Displacement on Demand technology, which automatically deactivates four cylinders when feasible to reduce fuel usage. A shorter five-passenger version joined the lineup for 2004 and was powered by a 275-horsepower inline-six-cylinder engine. Seven-passenger models can [...]
