Isuzu Trooper

In Indonesia, where it was locally assembled by PT Garmak Motors, it was sold as the Chevrolet Trooper.[6][7] Around 1987, a two-wheel-drive version called the Chevrolet Stallion was developed there; it has the Trooper's body on the chassis of a rear-wheel-drive Chevrolet LUV. It also has a rigid front axle instead of the Trooper's independent design. There was also a locally developed SUV model of the Isuzu Pickups built in the early 1980s called the Holden Lincah and Holden Raider. While similar to a Trooper in many ways it was a simpler vehicle and has bodywork partially made of fibreglass.

The Chevrolet Trooper name was also used in South America, except for Venezuela.[8]

The Trooper was sold in Australia and New Zealand as the Holden Jackaroo,[9] named after the Australian term for a young man working on a sheep or cattle station. The standard Trooper was also sold under the Isuzu nameplate in New Zealand only.

In November 1988, sales started for the Subaru Bighorn, which was only available with an Irmscher finish.[10][11] It was only offered with Isuzu's 2.8-liter, inline four-cylinder turbodiesel engine with a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission and part-time 4WD.[10] Sales were stopped in February 1992.[11]

In November 1988, SsangYong Motors started licensed production of the Isuzu Trooper with their own bodywork and sold it as the Korando Family (Korean: 코란도 훼미리; RR: Kolando Hwemili).[12][13] A concept model known as the KR-600 had first been shown in public at the Seoul International Trade Fair in 1984, after Keohwa Motors began plans to develop it in 1982. In 1984, Keohwa was taken over by Dong-A Motors who continued development until SsangYong took over in 1987 and went on to market the Korando Family under their own name.[13] Korando means Korea Can Do or Korea Can Do It.[14] Other meanings given include Korea Land Over and Korean Land Dominator.[14]

It was only marketed in South Korea, Scandinavia, Southeast Asia, and to a lesser degree South America.

Initially, it used the Trooper's 2.2-liter diesel engine (Korean-built units being called "DC23" rather than C223), but in September 1991 the Peugeot 2.5-liter XD3P diesel engine became available.[13] Isuzu's fuel injected 2.6-liter petrol engine was also installed, beginning in July 1991.[13] Other changes included the addition of a translucent headlamps and chrome radiator grille.[13] The KF had a 5-speed manual transmission.[13]

The New Korando Family (Korean: 뉴 코란도는 훼미리; RR: Nyu Kolando Hwemili) was launched in August 1994.[15] All previous engine options were replaced by a 2.3-liter Mercedes-Benz OM601 diesel engine.

The SsangYong Korando ("New Korando") was launched in July 1996, replacing the KF[15] after it debuted at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show.[16]

The Mekong Star 4WD, sometimes known as Mekong Stars-4WD,[17] was the first vehicle made by Mekong Auto in 1992, with diesel engine and drivetrain provided by Ssangyong.[2][18] Assembly was done at the Cuu Long Factory in Ho Chi Minh City.[19] Exports were supposedly made in 1993 to China and Japan.[18]

By 1997, around 30,000 Mekong Stars had been produced. Production ended that year as the supply of necessary parts dried up after Ssangyong changed over to producing the New Korando.[18]

• 
  1998–1999 Isuzu Trooper
• 
  2001–2003 Holden Jackaroo (UBS) SE 5-door (Australia)
• 
  1992–1998 Opel Monterey RS 3-door (Germany)
• 
  1999 Isuzu Bighorn (JDM)
• 
  1998–2001 Holden Jackaroo SE 5-door

MY1998–1999 Acura SLX

The Acura SLX was a lightly upgraded and rebadged Isuzu Trooper sold by the Acura division of Honda from 1995 to 1999, as 1996 to 1999 year models.[33][34] Sold only in the United States, the SLX was later replaced by the Acura MDX in 2001.[33]

The SLX omitted some of the options available on Troopers from concurrent model years, including the manual transmission and certain engines. From 1996 to 1997 the SLX was only available with the 3.2-liter SOHC or DOHC V6 engine,[35] switching to the new 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine in 1998.[36] The SLX received a restyled front end for the 1998 model year, but continued to sell poorly and was ultimately discontinued after 1999. It is said that sales were affected by bad press when the 1996 to 1997 models were rated "Not Acceptable" by Consumer Reports for their tendency to roll over during testing (see Rollover Controversy, below).[37] Autotrader says it has a 3-star safety rating (Front and Passenger) and the base entry price was $36,300.

On December 5, 2019, Acura presented a 1997 SLX outfitted with a modern turbo, four-cylinder engine, 10-speed automatic transmission and an SH-AWD system used by the RDX.[33][38] It was placed on display at the Radwood show in Orange County, California.[38]

The Australian version of the UBS-series was sold as the Holden Jackaroo/Monterey. Originally known as the Jackaroo, Holden introduced the "Monterey" as the top equipment level (V6 only) in 1994.[39] Later, Holden Monterey became a standalone name for the more luxurious part of the range. In July 1993, Holden Special Vehicles also launched 79 HSV Jackaroo models, followed by a second run of 234 by HSV under the Jackaroo SE badge. Both were cosmetic upgrades to the Holden donor and powered by the same 3.2-liter 177 PS (130 kW; 175 hp) (SOHC) petrol engine. The Jackaroo SE had the HSV badging optional.[39]

Holden issued recall orders for the Jackaroo and Monterey due to bad earthing connections within the main engine wiring harness, which would lead to an unintentional increase in speed if the engine was left idle.[40]

The Honda Horizon was retailed in Japan with either a 3.2-liter V6 gasoline engine or a 3.1-liter turbo diesel engine.[41] On March 19, 1998, the Horizon (and the Bighorn/Trooper) was updated to a direct-injection 3.0-liter engine with 160 PS (118 kW), equipped for low noise and cleaner exhaust.[42]

2001–2003 Holden Monterey (Australia)

In Europe, the Trooper/Big Horn was sold as the Opel Monterey from 1992 to 1999.[43] It received a light facelift for 1996, now with a honeycomb grille rather than the original design with vertical elements. Twin airbags were also new. The Monterey underwent a more thorough facelift and diesel engine changes for 1998, same as for the Trooper/Bighorn elsewhere. The Monterey nameplate lasted until 1999, after which sales were picked up by Isuzu's dealership network as the Trooper.[43][44] The Trooper remained on sale in Europe until 2003.

From 1994 to 1998, the Trooper/Big Horn was sold in the UK with as the Vauxhall Monterey, but no other changes.[45] However, it was not a strong seller and was withdrawn from sale a year before the Opel version.[45]

In 1992, Subaru sold the Subaru Bighorn with a 3.2-liter V6 gasoline engine and a 3.1-liter, inline-four cylinder turbodiesel engine made available with a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission.[10][46] In mid-1994, Subaru discontinued further sales since the OEM contract signed by Subaru and Isuzu was expiring.[10] The only model available was the "Handling by Lotus", with either a four-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual (turbodiesel only).[46] Subaru reported the transmission was worked on with the assistance of Lotus.[47]

The second-generation Trooper received negative press in the United States when the 1995–1997 models were rated "Not Acceptable" by Consumer Reports for an alleged tendency to roll over under testing.[48]

In response to a petition from the publication's publisher, Consumers Union, the National Highway Traffic Administration conducted its own tests and found no issue that could lead to a need for a recall.[48][49] However, Isuzu suggested that the magazine's claims had hurt sales of the vehicle.[50]

After the release of the NHTSA report, Isuzu filed a lawsuit against Consumers Union seeking $242 million in damages, claiming that during Consumer Reports's tests the steering wheel had been twisted more sharply than "a driver is willing or able to make in response to an unexpected event.[49]

The judge in the suit, Richard Paez, determined that because Isuzu had engaged in an extensive public relations campaign to refute the claims prior to filing suit, it was considered a public figure, raising the standard for defamation from a simple preponderance of evidence that the report was false to "clear and convincing evidence" that Consumer Reports published the article knowing it was false or with reckless disregard for whether it was true or false.[51]

The defamation suit went to a jury, which found that eight of the 17 statements in the report questioned by Isuzu were false, with one displaying "reckless disregard" for the truth on the part of Consumer Reports magazine, but that Isuzu was not damaged by that statement.[52][53] Two of the ten jurors on the panel did not believe the magazine believed that the other seven statements were untruthful when they published them.[52] Consequently, the full jury panel did not award Isuzu monetary damages for the alleged damage to its reputation and lost sales.[52]

Isuzu calculated the total cost of the Consumer Reports claims at $244 million.[54] As Isuzu was denied damages on all counts, the formal court judgement in favor of Consumers Union entered by Paez required Isuzu to pay CU's "reasonable costs" of defending itself against the suit, not including attorney's fees.[55]

• Fourie, Louis F. (2016). On a Global Mission: The Automobiles of General Motors International. Volume 3. Friesen Press. ISBN 978-1460296905.

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