This vehicle is extremely capable with it's TOD system. Plowed through 3' snow mounds and consistent 16" of snow this past weekend in NYC. It's been off roading in upstate ny here are some pics of it in action http://www.iace.com/ia/trooper . Every thing was included, no dealer nickle and diming you for LSD, 4 wheel ABS, 4 wheel discs, skid plates, power windows, heated seats, power folding mirrors, heated mirrors. The only option was the moon roof. And for less than 30K you get a HUGE vehcile as far as interior space that is usable (nice and boxy) instead of curvy like the durango which is almost useless unless you pack your stuff in shopping bags.

Overall excellent vehicle, no weaknesses, but there are about 3 or 4 items that could easily make it even better:

o Driver's seat could have more rearward movement on the track
o Larger center console to take advantage of the copious space there
o larger inbound armrests
o rear defroster wire on the 30% side of the split windows

I would reccomend it based on value, longevity. The TOD is outstanding in the rain, snow, and dry pavements. One of the best AWD systems out there. If you can't afford a Toyota Land Cruiser or Mitsubishi Montero, or are looking for an exceptional value, don't hesitate to get a Trooper. In the NY Area my dealer was Staten Island Subaru/Isuzu, Mark and Ira were outstanding sales people. You can reach em at 718-979-9595.

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Compared to the durango, similar price, durango nickle and dimes you on everything from LSD to ABS, to no available moonroof. Also durango's 3rd row of seats cause the 2nd row to be moved too close to the 1st row. Not an issue in the Trooper. Durango also has harsh riding rear leaf springs compared to the coils of the Trooper. Trooper has more interior volume despite a shorter more manunuverable length.
Mitsubishi Montero: Excellent Vehicle, but costs close to $10K more than an equivilent Trooper, so value goes to the trooper.

Warranty on the Trooper is 3/50K bumper to Bumper, 10/120K Powertrain, which is more than the 3/36 of the 2 mentioned above.

Excellent gearing, overdrive keeps engine at fast idle at highway speeds
Lots of legroom in rear, lots of cargo room too. Good acceleration! Excellent 4wd capabilities; I've pulled a tow truck out of mud! Good radio

Gas mileage. Mediocre heater. Body rust! Cost of repairs, thankfully they have been few.

Great vehicle if you trade in every few years but if you intend to keep it till it falls apart the repair costs (parts) will really hurt your bank account.

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Ford Bronco is much noisier, could feel comfortable driving Trooper all day.

Initial quality of workmanship is above average. We drove 5300 miles the first month that we owned our Trooper. We found the truck to be solid, quieter than expected, and surprisingly comfortable on long trips. The handling is more precise than our previous trucks, and remains nuetral with lots of torque applied to the front drive. The interior volume is amazing. We packed two bicycles and 10 days of "stuff" without feeling cramped or overloaded. Highway fuel consumption is better than our V-6 Ford Ranger P/U and the performance is better. I have not yet compared the two in "normal" driving. The CD changer is a must for long trips. Seven hours of music with no repeats, and nothing to change. No more 70+ tape juggle.

Have not found any weaknesses. There is an annoying noise caused by the bug deflector, but a few minutes in the machine shop will fix that. There have also been a couple rattles caused by a combination of speed and road surface, but these should be easy to find and fix.

Would recommend the Trooper to anyone who wants a capable go anywhere/anytime SUV. The vehicle is a bargain, when compared to equally equipped, equally capable trucks.

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Ford Ranger V-6 Club Cab. Ford uses more fuel, is noiser, and is more 'truckish'.
Dodge Caravan ES V-6 (short wb). Caravan is slightly longer (more cargo space) rides softer and smoother, and is more economical. With TOD and a larger engine the Caravan would be a great Trooper replacement.

Everything but the sound system is great. The 3.5 litre gas engine has tons of torque and power. Visibility is unsurpassed for any vehicle. Interior is the roomiest for it's class and handles 2 adults, 2 children, the dog, and luggage with comfort for all. Fold down the back seat and it's Home Depot time! The TOC (Torque-on-Command) 4WD system is the best automatic 4WD on the market. It performs as well as the Quattro system on my Audi A6 on wet roads and snow. Except for strong cross winds, this SUV handles extremely well on the highway with very good stability, braking and power for a mid-size SUV. The 100k factory drivetrain warranty is hard to beat.

For a "premium" sound system, this is the cheapest I have ever heard or had in any vehicle of any kind. The factory speakers were cheap and had the same tone quality of those found in the front center dashboard of a 1962 Chevy. After 2 failures with the 6CD in-dash player, I replaced the entire sound system with a Nakamichi TD-45z, MB-70, and Infinity speakers. This is better than what is now offered on the Limited Trooper for 2001. With this new sound system, I can hear my CD's in nearly the same quality as with the Bose Premium system in my 1997 Audi. No rear A/C available.

Highly recommended. This is not only a family "station wagon", but it's a rough and ready 4WD. I get comments on the looks all the time. Most can hardly believe it's a Trooper! I test drove every SUV on the market before settling on the Trooper Limited based on quality, ride, power, comfort, room and price.

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Except for the sound system and no rear A/C, this is just as good if not slightly better than my previous 1998 Mitsubishi Montero TD2.

I currently drive a 2000 Trooper LS. Prior to that I had a 1993 Trooper S which I purchased new in 93. Overall I have been very satisfied with the vehicles. Very solid feeling, comfortable ride and great cargo space.
Very good steering feel compared to most SUV's.

As with all vehicles there are positives and negatives. On the negative side I must admit that my 93 Trooper had more than its share of problems and work done by the dealers not covered by warranty is not cheap. It was delivered with a bad muffler and had some drive train problems that were all covered under warranty. I did have to switch dealerships in order to have all the drive train problems correctly identified and corrected. I had some valve work done and needed a new air conditioner compressor at 50,000 miles. I also needed a new clutch at 65,000 miles. I have driven manual transmission vehicles my whole life and this was the first time I ever had problems with a clutch going out so soon so I don’t think driver abuse was the problem. The clutch action was never real smooth and made for a jerky ride in stop and go traffic. I recommend an automatic for the Trooper. The vehicle also developed an annoying rattle in the rear cargo doors after several years that was noticeable during cold weather. While disappointed in the number of mechanical problems I experienced, I know that Troopers have a reputation of being very reliable and I think most Trooper owners have had better luck. If I didn’t feel that way I would not have purchased a 2000 model. The new Troopers have a 10 year / 120.000 mile warranty which goes a long way in alleviating any fears about mechanical problems.
Troopers have been criticized for their top-heavy handling. Yes, when you have a heavy vehicle with high ground clearance and you drive it like a sports car yes you might reach that conclusion. To those critics I say go buy a Miata. I can tell you that the 2000 Trooper does not have as much body lean as the 93 model. The steering is accurate with good feel, much better than the typical numb over assisted steering that you will find on most SUV’s.
I would like to see Isuzu add another inch or two of leg room in the front. It can be a little tight for the driver if you are much over 6-ft. The LS model has power front seats which can be tilted and this helps in this area. This was probably the main reason I selected the LS over the S model. The cargo area is great but it would be even better if the rear seat would fold completely flat (are you listening Isuzu?).

Now, here comes the #1 reason for buying a Trooper. The dealers in my area are taking $8,000 off 2000 Troopers and $5000 off 2001 Troopers. For those buyers that have been struggling with the high cost of most SUV’s this makes for a terrific bargain. You can buy a 2000 Trooper S for around $21,000. This is not a stripped down model either; you get 4-wheel drive, 215 HP V6, anti-lock brakes, automatic transmission, power windows and locks, cruise control, air conditioning, etc. And did I mention the 10-year warranty. Compare that to any other SUV and you would have to be an idiot to pass up on this deal. Yea, you could buy a Honda CRV or a Toyota RAV 4 for about the same money but do you want a toy or a real SUV with genuine off road capabilities.

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More interior room and more comfortable than Blazer or Explorer.

Great truck, like everything, sits high nice ride one tough truck.

Some body roll in the corners makes it feel top heavy. Gas miliage is a little low.

I purchased the third seat from littlepassengerseats.com. This was a great decission. We use it much more that we thought. We really like this SUV.

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Ford explorer (quality not there).

Price, TOD, huge sunroof, 6 Disc in dash changer.

Oh where do I start...I have had so many problems with this truck. It broke down on me on the freeway (engine just cut out, lost all power!) Dealership had to replace: timing belt, all the valves and springs, cams, left head and a few other things, basically 80% of the engine. And Isuzu or the dealership wouldn't replace the whole engine and since I didn't buy the extended warranty I had to fight just to get a rental. The driver seat squeaks. The brakes pulsates and they can't find anything wrong with it and it is not the ABS "bumping". Driver side wind shield wiper, when drive, it doesn't work smoothly, but when at a stop light it is fine (I think it is a design flaw with the wind shield angle). Windy conditions knocks this tall SUV around. No roof rack, go figure, I had to go buy it from an aftermarket place. Depreciation... worse out of all the cars I have owned.

Never again. In this day and age of automotive technology, no car should break down on you on the road.

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All SUVs on the market in 1999, bought it for value and research indicated a good vehicle.

This is perhaps one of the most capable all terraine vehicles on the planet. It is seemingly indestructible. I have over 335,000 miles on the origional 2.8 V6. It's never been re-built or had any major overhauls. The motor keeps holding pressure. I've had to replace the clutch once about a week after I got it (137,000 miles). The interior is cheap but practical. The only electronic component in the car to fail was the radio which I replaced myself.

FUEL ECONOMY. Each month, I spend enough on gas for the trooper that I could be driving around in a 1996-1997 Mitsubishi Montero or newer Trooper. The ride is really bumby and wind raises havoc on the toaster like body. Avoid the 4-banger models because they are prone to valve problems and head gasket problems. Both are costly to repair.

When Isuzu went to the drawing tables in 1985 to design the 4-door Isuzu Trooper, they had all of the right ideas. They may not of applied them to the right principles, but the Isuzu Trooper contains all the qualities a tuff truck should. Knowing that the truck would out-last the lightbulbs in the dashboard, the engineers made it possible to change the lights with an ALAN wrench and a phillips head screw-driver in about 10 minutes. I have so much faith in my Trooper that if I had the money, I would take it on a journey around the world. Imagine the headlines "10 Year Old Truck traverses the planet with over 335,000 miles on it".

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1986 Dodge Raider. The Trooper has more power, better build quality and a heck of a lot more reliable.

Tough, reliable, well-designed, well-engineered, practical, capable utility truck. Inexpensive. Long-lasting. Bought mine new and now has 271,000 miles on it. Had the original GM 2.8 liter V6 rebuilt at 184k miles (it was getting tired) and NOTHING broke on the truck before that. Since 200,000 miles, a lot of repair work was necessary, but no surprise there; things eventually wear out. The last year has been trouble-free. Bigger on the inside than it is on the outside! Huge cargo space, excellent driver visibility (except rearwards over the spare tire). Very heavy duty axles, suspension, drivetrain, etc., and decent gearing. Very capable off-road. I've only done moderate 4-wheeling but I've never failed to accomplish what I set out to do. Had the truck on four NJ-to-Colorado/Utah vacation trips, plus one solo trip from Colorado to Alaska that lasted a month. Zero problems, total reliability, and you can carry half your house inside it before resorting to the roof rack. You can fit up to 33" tires without needing a suspension/body lift. Small enough to maneuver in tight parking spots or between trees and rocks, big enough to fit 4-5 people and a ton of gear. The GM 2.8 V6 can be replaced fairly easily with a GM Camaro 3.4 (same block) for a major power boost ('89 thru '91 V6 Troopers only). Lockers and reduced low range gears (3.07:1, stock is 2.28:1) are available. Isuzu also makes 4.77:1 axle gearsets (stock is 4.55:1). Mine has been so tough, capable and reliable that I am planning the Camaro engine swap, new lowrange gears, a better rear suspension, and possibly a locker and re-gearing over the next 2 or 3 years. I would not be considering thousands of dollars worth of upgrades on a battered 10-year old truck with 271,000 miles on it if I didn't think it would go at least another 100k miles (actually I'm expecting to reach 500,000). This truck is no longer my daily driver (bought a 15-year old Toyota to save wear on the Troop) so it'll probably last long enough for me to be buried in it.

Aerodynamic as a cinderblock. Its big upright flat windshield collects about 1,000 bugs per mile, and hates headwinds. The Isuzu 2.6 I4/GM 2.8 V6 are both underpowered and get poor mileage. This vehicle does poorly in high headwinds or crosswinds, and is slow up hills. Driver requires patience (it will, however, get you there). Aftermarket accessories have been nearly non-existent but that is rapidly improving with new low-range gears, lockers, and other odds and ends becoming available.
The independent front suspension has limited travel for you rock-crawlers (the 92 and newer has enormous front wheel travel for IFS).
The Isuzu 2.6 4-banger motor had a run of head castings that would crack if the truck overheated. These were mostly the earlier models. If the head casting has a '5' at the extreme rear end it is the improved model. This engine, however, is quite capable of 200,000 miles before needing a bottom end rebuild.
This truck has a somewhat Spartan interior. The LS models are a bit more upscale. Less sport, more utility.
Isuzu parts can get VERY expensive. They are not needed often though.

The old box-style Troopers can be had for chump change with about 100k to 135k miles. Considering that this is a 250k mile vehicle at least (I expect mine to go 500k) they are a fantastic bargain in a semi-sporty, totally utilitarian, heavy-duty 4x4 truck. I'd buy another v6 one with half the miles of mine in a heartbeat, then stuff in a 3.4 motor, 33" tires, and lower gears, and still have a fantastic value, and still have half or two-thirds of the truck's life ahead of it! Just watch out for rust on vehicles this old. Bottom edges of the doors (back as well as side) is where you may find it.
This is NOT A CAR. It is a truck, and drives like one (tank is a better term). Going from my '84 Celica GTS zero-body-roll sports coupe to the Trooper was a bit of a shock. If you don't need 4 wheel drive, get a minivan. If you want to carry a ton of gear anywhere, rain or shine, snow or mud, dirt roads or jeep trails, and want a simple, reliable, tough, capable, inexpensive vehicle, nothing else comes close.

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This is my first 4x4 SUV, so I can't compare. The truck's obvious shortcoming by comparison is in its lack of power (pre '92 models). When shopping around I decided the big trunk was worth more than a big motor. Good decision on my part.

Lots of cargo room for its size. (Good for moving and hauling around go karts etc.) Back seat is fairly comfortable (especially since it's a 2 door) Ride is great for a truck. Excellent through snow and ice.

Windshield is a bullseye for stones and gravel. In the 4 months I've had it, I have been hit by stones twice, both cracked the windshield a little bit. The heater sucks too!

I would reccomend it for a winter car because it goes through snow and slush extremely well. It was also very cheap compared to the other cars and trucks I looked at (Bronco II's, Blazers etc. were normally AT LEAST $1000 more), but runs well and gets decent milage for an SUV (about 20-23 mpg) Handling is about what you'd expect for a truck, and it doen't have any real power to speak of (mine's a 4cyl) but for a reliable winter car you can't beat it.

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95 GMC Yukon. My parents had it when I started driving. It was a lot more luxurious (and expensive) than the Trooper, but the Trooper rides better (by far) and is a little better through snow and ice. I haven't gotten a chance to take the Trooper through any mud yet, but I'm pretty sure it will go through mud better than the Yukon too. Other than that there isn't a lot of other things to compare because the price gap is so big it's like comparing apples to greyhounds.