MotorWeek | Retro Review: '84 Isuzu Trooper II

I'd take one over a Rover any day.

[@robneville5728]

I had a 4 door '86. Slower than a constipated turd with oversized tires and the A/C on, but for some reason, I loved it! So cool looking.

[@Liberace1177]

Really cool vehicle

[@mikethemike6406]

I put a 2.6 in my 86 and some other upgrades and it is not slow at all. Love it!

[@TWX1138]

My parents bought one when I was a small child and had it through my graduating high school, I learned to drive on it and took it all over the place, both running around in town with friends and four wheeling. I drove it on my first date. Ours was beige with black around the windows and a black rear spoiler thing. Two-door of course. I do miss it even if anything I have today is much more powerful and capable.

[@Tuneman1984]

I can't get over the metallic KER-THUNK at 2:23 when he folds the passenger seat forward

[@MrZoo223]

THUNK, yes. Don't know if I agree with you on the KER.

[@TheItsmegp46]

A buddy of mine owned a 1986 model Trooper. Had lots of room, 5 passenger comfort, good mileage. Very reliable too, 145,000 miles with very little spent on repairs. But damn, was it slow! All noise but no go.

[@ronsmith9251]

It wouldn't be a Motorweek review without John Davis complaining about an oil pressure gauge.

[@shapiroshekelberg604]

Or a volt gauge.

[@mannymotta2174]

I had one. Very simple. I loved it

[@creamwarrior]

Those rear windows, holy shit I would kill for that kind of visibility in today's suvs.

[@إنسان-ك4و]

We buy one in 1984 and we sell it in 2014. Beautiful child memories.

[@archersden]

favorite trooper. always preferred the round headlights.

[@slowstang88]

My 85 Montero with 2.6 and 4.63:1 gears was a beast

[@Foxbat1155]

this is a great off roader. no fuss. the extra space is for carrying tools and winches in case you get stuck because of its low power.

[@yaris2012]

People of Motorweek,thanks for posting this retro reviews.

[@breckstreasures7128]

Awesome, I love these old Troopers

[@Juanknes]

Ah, the 80s, the time when SUVs were as they should be: simple and slow.

[@skiduplightup6962]

Juan Carlos Damonte iv got one but where I come from it came with a 2.8 turbo diesel with 115whp

[@Samspianopage]

Should've made more Turbodiesel's over there in the US but I suppose the Olds 350 diesel even though it did eventually evolved into somewhat the engine it should've been prob dented the viability of offeriing diesel's in America.

[@xnopyt13]

I'm not against fast tho

[@Samspianopage]

@@xnopyt13 I'm not against fast either LOL, But there are certain bodystyles ye really shouldn't be going much faster than say 80mph in, a boxy jeep style vehicle like this is one of em, as their aerodynamic qualities don't lend themselves to fast cornering, though modern SUV's have certainly got alot better in that respect.

[@xnopyt13]

Samthebam4044 that's very true, but having that extra power can help with off-roading and stuff, and I'm not saying like a amg g wagon or something, that's too much

[@billdeco08]

My aunt bought a silver 84-86 Trooper II, just like the one shown at the beginning, then gave it to my uncle in 1988, and drove it until spring 1999.

[@johnlee2540]

My favorite childhood ride ,

[@godfatherNYC]

Notice we weren't even calling them "SUVs" yet. Trooper II was a cool car. My mom actually had a much more recent Trooper that they just replaced due to a wreck, but it was a darn good vehicle for quite a while.

[@davidp8627]

This Isuzu Trooper was a lot more utility than sport. Most SUV's have leather seats, alloy wheels, full gauges, carpet, power everything, and more. This was basically a long Japanese Jeep Wrangler hardtop.

[@corbelius6]

I Love the 2 door and those sliding glass windows, I had 2. They're so hard to find now.

[@hermantinoherman5319]

C M they dont make a vehicle this simple and lightweight nowadays.i also like this particular isuzu...stright to the point and no trillion of electronics to dizzy about.

[@rfaradiofreeamerica8392]

Japanese Range Rover Knockoff. I had a 86 that would backfire, making a loud gun like sound while goin thru my neighborhood lol. But it was a tough little turd! Good off road and they look great with bigger wheels and tires.

[@picotincriollo2368]

I had one these, a 1989 model for my first car. It was flawless with its bulletproof 4cyl and 5 speed manual, the clutch was soft and easy operate it had 220k plus miles with no major drawbacks. Unfortunately it was stolen in my dorm 5 years ago, still miss it to this day. They don’t make cars like these anymore you don’t feel connected to the machine and the road.

[@robsrandomness7824]

I loved my round headlight silver '86 4 door. Slower than shit, and many other faults, I still loved that damn thing.

[@jeffpittel6926]

Funny how all four wheels stayed on the ground in the slalom test, where the Consumer Reports slalom test showed it about to roll over with the outboard riggers,,,LOL.

[@mikethemike6406]

The consumer report was rigged.

[@frankburns8871]

I know speed was not this thing's...thing, but wow, 21 seconds 1/4 mile, at 61 mph! Still love it, though.

[@gamagoat6758]

Great SUV. And Joe Isuzu.

[@danmccarthy4700]

"A German Opel, soon to be made in Korea, for the US market." Pontiac LeMans?

[@syxepop]

+Dan McCarthy, yup... Daewoo's first dip into the US market. In '15, now a wholly-owned (as GM Korea) part of GM (the Americans were the ones who brought Daewoo into car manufacturing, anyway...) brings us cars like the Chevy Spark and Buick Encore, and co-develops cars like the Chevy Cruze.

[@ce9345]

Yep, pontiac lemans. Unfortunately, that car was a pile of Junk!

[@danmccarthy4700]

@@ce9345 I can't remember the last time I saw one.

[@ianclaudio777]

Put a turbo in this 1.9 and will perform better. By the way is good for off-road, because is simple and robust

[@ronaldderooij1774]

unfortunately the rust prevention was very bad.

[@KnightsAndRooks]

I remember that. Even in Southern California.

[@Mr_Chris77]

That's a hell of a picture window on the side!!!

[@daison96]

0-60??? Same as its quarter mile time of course! Great review, keep 'em coming!

[@robvilletto3146]

They were well built suvs

[@JPTHRICE]

my first car, i miss it alot...

[@Joe-cu4hi]

I LOVED my 1980’s Trooper, Sssooo reliable! American made could never compare to its dependableness😅😊

[@adamtrombino106]

Wow, that thing was dangerously slow!

[@GothKid1996]

We have a 1986 Isuzu trooper 4x4 5 speed it looks just like that

[@daverunner3397]

I drove the piss out of a trooper,,,, great vehicle

[@Intel_8]

While we're talking about the Vehicross and the Axiom, may I also suggest the Suzuki X90?

[@CaptHollister]

"I'd take one over a Rover any day." No, no, and again no. I owned an '87, 2.3L 5-speed. It was so bad, not even the paint wanted to stick around. No, really, the paint around the windshield kept peeling off. Thanks to the bullet proof warranty, the dealer kept repainting it, but since silver is hard to match, within a couple of years it was several different shades of that colour. The black bumpers quickly turned to iron oxide red, the rear doors were rusting away within two years, antifreeze kept disappearing, so did engine oil. In fact, the only vehicle I've ever owned that was worse than the Isuzu Trooper was the Isuzu Rodeo that followed it (what can I say, I'm a slow learner).

[@mikethemike6406]

I drive an 89 with 350K miles on it. Rock solid and reliable vehicle. I would not drive anything else.

[@armando9293]

@@mikethemike6406 hey, I have one with the 2.6 engine, 1989 as well. 215k, the exhaust manifold in the engine is cracked and I was thinking if you knew a place here in USA or anywhere in the internet I could get one new?

[@hermanman8235]

I really miss that LIGHT EASY feeling when driving a vehicle.with no sophistications what so ever.

[@hermantinoherman5319]

so simple of a car and lightweight.whats more impressive is lack of gizzilion of electronico to dizzy oneself out.4speed manual in a vehicle like this is a THING nowadays.

[@scottmcleish9896]

I still have my 1986 Trooper 4 dr. I can pass VW Vans andsome heavy haul semi trucks. Women love it. OMG! So ugly it is cute! It is tough and has run over taliban, viet cong, Isis Terrorusts, water buffalo, cockroaches and cute bunny rabbits!

[@hendo337]

I can't even imagine what that 1.9 must have been like A girl I knew in HS had a later 4 door trooper like this with the 2.6 and a 5 speed and we thought it was painfully slow... these things would be great with a 4.8 and a 5 speed out of a GM 1/2t pickup though...and maybe some nicer front seats and more guages.

[@fahrmboy]

Under-powered, but yes, an otherwise bullet-proof truck. Toyota's early aluminum V8 will bolt up to the existing trans without much trouble.

[@archechme]

Very cool but it was lacking in power even for 1984. 110bhp would make it so much better. But, 91 isn't completely terrible I suppose.

[@shizzy_Snorlax]

I know this is not a Retro but can you put up your review of the Isuzu Axiom?

[@Motorweek]

Whoa! Axiom! Yessir, we'll get it uploaded soon

[@GT6SuzukaTimeTrials]

Remember the Vehicross? There's one in my neighborhood, and it's the only one I've ever seen lol Don't think I've ever seen a single Axiom. Crazy!

[@incyphe]

GT6SuzukaTimeTrials holy cow, Vehicross. Isuzu was completely duped by the public and press, because people loved the concept, but nobody bought it when Isuzu actually built it that was pretty dang close to the concept!

[@blubayou2551]

+GT6SuzukaTimeTrials The Vehicross came when Isuzu/GM worked togetther,and they limited Isuzu to make too many,they were too good

[@6.thedollar415]

It would be considered retro to them. A couple years sgo they did a "retro" review of a 2009 nissan gtr

[@ralphlouismendoza1977]

Voltmeter and oil gauges again!

[@carsareepic123]

Great video

[@donpollard4994]

Beautiful trooper!

[@stevejenks8892]

I rolled mine...... Sigh... right after I paid it off

[@nilsutt]

we need some volvo retro videos!

[@Motorweek]

I've got a nice ugly brown 240 wagon test...

[@bobwalsh3751]

Does John (or is it Jon) still go to the Chicago Auto Show? I think I saw him in person this year.

[@FelNoobs]

my father car but 1982 sold 2000 only 1 time change engine every weekend from 1982 to 2000 we go to hunting using this car

[@mumwifeteacher]

As long as you consider striving fighting all change, making flawed car models ,having no quality control and eventually going bankrupt then Gm did a great job.

[@hendo337]

Ummm, the right rear door is shorter to offset the center pillar and reduce rearview mirrior obstruction...

[@hondajohn6948]

Can you do a Mazda Navajo

[@johndeere8594]

Whose the young man in the tweed jacket and sensible shoes.

[@briannavarrete49]

0-60= Yes

[@Tbolt1000TForLife]

Do you have a review of the 1984 Dodge Caravan and or Plymouth Voyager, as well as the 1995 Chevy Tahoe and or GMC Yukon? If you do please upload them!!!

[@Tuneman1984]

+SUV Man 1995 Tahoe review is on the channel, and closest to the 1984 Caravan/Voyager would be a minivan comparison test from 1985: features the Voyager, Aerostar, Astro and Toyota Van. Cheers!

[@Tbolt1000TForLife]

Tuneman1984 I'm fully aware of those video's. That was an old comment you replied too.

[@Tuneman1984]

I had no way of knowing whether or not you knew they were posted. I was just trying to be courteous towards a fellow Retro Reviews fan.

[@Tbolt1000TForLife]

Tuneman1984 I wasn't trying to be rude, but I appoligze if I came across as such. Any reviews you wish they'ed upload? I'd like to see the review's of the Acclaim and Spirit as well as the 6000 STE which they haven't uploaded.

[@Tuneman1984]

No worries mate, not offended at all. Would love to see any of those. They make a brief mention of the 6000 STE in the '83 GM full line video but no proper full review.

[@wesnerbleus2666]

èske toujou genyen machin sa yo toujou

[@Vann1.8]

Wow it barley made 60 in the 1/4 mile.

[@davidvalenzuela4529]

Here's a MotorWeek Retro Review of the Isuzu Trooper II from 1984.

[@blubayou2551]

This truck reminds me of a Dodge Raider/Mitsubishi Pajero,or should I say Montero,,,,,I like the boxy style,but it is underpowered,,,,,and why 2 doors in the back?

[@fahrmboy]

Cut from the same cloth, for sure. The simplicity and durability of the two doors stand the test of time. The hinges are stoutly built and still hold up well after 30 years, even though holding extra weight of bike racks, fuel cans, hi-lift jacks, ladders, and whatever else people attach to them. Can't say the same for hatch backs.

[@scdevon]

Feedback carbureted smog engines should have never been a thing. Cars should have been multi-port fuel injected starting in 1972 when the EPA started really cracking down, and yes I'm from that era. If VW could do it starting in 1968, why couldn't every car company do it by the early 1970s? The muscle car era could have even somewhat continued well into the 1970s even.

[@mysock351C]

Yeah but they where mechanical injection or analog systems, not true computer based systems. Just as dirty, if not dirtier, than a carb. The processors were not fast enough until the late 70's, and nobody back then knew what an engine management system should look like software-wise. The nearest thing prior to the 80's were some analog fuel injection systems, but they were very crude. Even the first EFI systems were quite primitive with only about 12,000 lines or so of code to do everything. Even then they had a hard time competing with things like GM's computer controlled quadrajets, which were very good for their time when tuned properly.

[@needleontherecord]

My friends dad had this isuzu

[@jbeddome1]

reminds me of an xj

[@syxepop]

+jbeddome1, guess what was shown for sizing besides the Trooper? A Jeep XJ Cherokee-based Wagoneer (the "woody" applique gives it up...). John mentioned it on a (Grand) Wagoneer MW Retro video as "coming soon".

[@jayyoutube8790]

Wow.. "80's" power plants were awful weren't they?

[@ScottaHemi440]

0:30 the Encore?

[@Morality124]

Pontiac Le Mans most likely.

[@Samspianopage]

German-made Opel for the US market, start of the Daewoo Lanos. LOL. Basically the Opel/Vauxhall Astra Mk2 here in Britain with a slightly different body and Daewoo badges.

[@ecymbura31]

82 HP? Lol my god how can you even take that seriously

[@syxepop]

+Eric Cymbura, at the time a lot of I4 cars in USDM had what today would be that dismal of an output. Say an 85hp NA 2.3L Ford engine, sold (in both FWD and RWD apps) as late as the early '90s. Or one of the last carbureted engines in USDM, the ~ 85hp NA 2.2L I4 used as base US-spec engine on Mazda's LAST pickup designed on their own (after that they have used Ford designs up to this day) the mid '90s (?) Mazda B2200 (the topline was a 120hp FI version of the Mitsubishi-designed NA 2.6L I4 [B2600] Mazda bought the machinery from Mitsu to make).

[@Ihateironyanddumbusernames]

+Eric Cymbura the willys jeep of the 40s had an 86 hp 4 cyl if i remember correctly

[@Juanknes]

This number (86 hp) is way too optimistic for the old Jeep.

[@Ihateironyanddumbusernames]

Juan Carlos Damonte with more research i found it had 60 horsepower

[@hermantinoherman5319]

Eric Simbuera no dont say THAT....😁

[@icegiant1000]

Trickey Japanese? Beach heads? Nothing Sacred? Perhaps I am having too much fun poking these old MotorWeeks, but I can detect just a tinge of un-PC commentary, at least for today.

[@jakestech28]

Scott Politically Corrected speech is cancer.

[@pratyushbiswas7582]

That time it was the era of real SUVs and trucks,with simple body design providing durability and simple ladder chassis and also simplicity in it's mechanism,but these days all we can find is one with very curvy designs ,who needs a lot of speed in an SUV,even a boxy Nissan patrol can beat the shit out of a sports car,and why many annoying electronics?the only SUV today with old school feature is the Toyota 4 runner and 70 series land cruiser and why not,the Mercedes Benz g class

[@TheVintagetamiya]

The flipping Isuzu trooper death trap

[@snakecold6755]

Shut up

[@mikethemike6406]

What do you know? These are the best offroad and very reliable vehicles.

[@stevenikazy2943]

Too tall for my garage back then.

[@Kingsoupturbo]

2.0 Carb 4cyl with 86hp in this thing! no wonder so slow! pretty standard engine for asia though, but not enough ummmph for north american highways

[@JASONHJEFFERSON]

id put a 2.2 isuzu diesel in it from the chevy luv

[@redneon06]

Lol I remember my first car...a red $300 Gemini

[@syxepop]

+Gary James, the Opel-designed (1st gen Kadett) RWD Isuzu I-mark. I remember those, even when they were sold as new. I don't know if the Diesel engine John mentioned (the awfully slow [~ 55hp] 1.8L NA I4) was ever put into a Trooper Stateside, but there were pickups and Imarks sold with that engine and would surely "need a calendar" to measure its "lack of speed" on those Troopers (at least the overseas ones) that were installed on.

[@藤野奨平]

国産SUVの先駆モデル

[@samshepherd26]

I still drive a 2002 trooper (Holden Jackaroo in Australia) It's a great car but drinks fuel like a mo fo

[@kyoakland]

Death mechanism lol they used to flip over

[@mikethemike6406]

That is BS. They do not flip over more than any other vehicle.

[@bradfromthevalley]

looks like it handles pretty well in the video, but you can flip most trucks if you really try.

[@joshbriggsDayZBeast]

hahahahaha what a crap copy of a Range Rover Mk.1 front end xDD

[@alexmagou1730]

Range rovers are shit compared to this..

[@ToranaA9X308]

This was a holden jackaroo in Australia and they sold THOUSANDS of them. Still plenty getting around on the road and on farms. They’re an old Bullet proof design and compared to that complete shit box jeep 100 percent reliable.