Isuzu Ascender
Encyclopedia
The Isuzu Ascender was a mid-size/full-size SUV built by General Motors
for Isuzu
. Introduced for the 2003 model year, the 7-passenger Ascender was a re-badged GMC Envoy
. It replaced the Japanese built mid-size Isuzu Trooper
. A shorter 5-passenger model was made available for the 2005 model year as a replacement for the Rodeo
and the Axiom
. A Displacement on Demand V8 was introduced in 2005. Isuzu once offered a wide line of trucks, cars, and SUVs but the Ascender was Isuzu's last and only passenger vehicle until the introduction of the also slow-selling Isuzu i-Series
pickup truck
s, which were also built by GM in North America. The Ascender was never sold in Canada
as Isuzu
had announced, at the time, its withdrawal from there.
The Ascender is the only one of the six mid-size SUVs that was not actually a GM branded product (Isuzu was partially owned by GM until spring 2006). The 7-passenger Ascender was dropped after the 2006 model year. Reviews warned of a thin dealer network for warranty repairs, and the Kelley Blue Book projected a relatively low resale value similar to the Trailblazer. However, Isuzu offers a seven-year/75,000-mile powertrain warranty, and substantial factory incentives.
The Ascender ended production on June 6, 2008 as part of Isuzu's withdrawal from the United States
market. The Ascender (along with the related GMC Envoy
) were both replaced by the 2010 GMC Terrain
, based on the GM Theta platform
. 7-passenger versions of both SUVs were indirectly replaced by the GMC Acadia
in 2007, based on the GM Lambda platform
. A 2005-2008 Ascender was recalled by a crash test which received a Poor safety rating.
Engines:
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
for Isuzu
Isuzu
, is a Japanese car, commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturing company, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures...
. Introduced for the 2003 model year, the 7-passenger Ascender was a re-badged GMC Envoy
GMC Envoy
The GMC Envoy is an SUV from the GMC marque of General Motors. It was introduced as a high-end version of the Jimmy for the 1998 model year, the same year the Jimmy was restyled...
. It replaced the Japanese built mid-size Isuzu Trooper
Isuzu Trooper
The Isuzu Trooper was a mid-size SUV produced by the Japanese automaker Isuzu between 1981 and 2005. It was exported worldwide as the Isuzu Bighorn, Isuzu Trooper, Isuzu Trooper II , Caribe 442, Acura SLX, Chevrolet Trooper, Subaru Bighorn, Honda Horizon, Opel/Vauxhall Monterey, Holden Jackaroo,...
. A shorter 5-passenger model was made available for the 2005 model year as a replacement for the Rodeo
Isuzu MU Wizard
The Isuzu Wizard is a mid-size SUV that was produced by the Japan-based manufacturer Isuzu. The five-door Wizard was introduced in 1990 after the three-door Isuzu MU from 1989, both of which ceased production in 2004...
and the Axiom
Isuzu Axiom
The Isuzu Axiom is an SUV designed in Japan using a "knife blade" theme for its car-like styling. Built in Lafayette, Indiana, U.S. at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. plant on the Rodeo platform. It jointly replaced the Trooper, but was itself replaced by the Isuzu Ascender for the 2005...
. A Displacement on Demand V8 was introduced in 2005. Isuzu once offered a wide line of trucks, cars, and SUVs but the Ascender was Isuzu's last and only passenger vehicle until the introduction of the also slow-selling Isuzu i-Series
Isuzu i-Series
The Isuzu i-Series mid-size pickup truck line was launched at the 2005 New York International Auto Show. The i-Series replaces the Isuzu Hombre, which has been out of production since 2000....
pickup truck
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
s, which were also built by GM in North America. The Ascender was never sold in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
as Isuzu
Isuzu
, is a Japanese car, commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturing company, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures...
had announced, at the time, its withdrawal from there.
The Ascender is the only one of the six mid-size SUVs that was not actually a GM branded product (Isuzu was partially owned by GM until spring 2006). The 7-passenger Ascender was dropped after the 2006 model year. Reviews warned of a thin dealer network for warranty repairs, and the Kelley Blue Book projected a relatively low resale value similar to the Trailblazer. However, Isuzu offers a seven-year/75,000-mile powertrain warranty, and substantial factory incentives.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
market. The Ascender (along with the related GMC Envoy
GMC Envoy
The GMC Envoy is an SUV from the GMC marque of General Motors. It was introduced as a high-end version of the Jimmy for the 1998 model year, the same year the Jimmy was restyled...
) were both replaced by the 2010 GMC Terrain
GMC Terrain
The GMC Terrain is a mid-size crossover SUV. According to GM, it replaced the GMC Envoy, the Isuzu Ascender, which was discontinued after Isuzu stopped selling their automobiles in America, and Pontiac Torrent, which was sold in the same dealerships prior to GM dropping the Pontiac brand.. Like the...
, based on the GM Theta platform
GM Theta platform
Theta is General Motors' compact and mid-size crossover SUV automobile platform. The architecture debuted in 2002 with the Saturn Vue and was later used for the Chevrolet Equinox and Captiva and similar models.-Development:...
. 7-passenger versions of both SUVs were indirectly replaced by the GMC Acadia
GMC Acadia
The GMC Acadia is a full-size crossover SUV from GM. The GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave and Saturn Outlook share the new GM Lambda platform. The Acadia went on sale in the United States in December 2006, and in Canada in January, 2007...
in 2007, based on the GM Lambda platform
GM Lambda platform
Lambda is General Motors' full-size crossover SUV automobile platform. It is largely derived from the GM Epsilon platform, which underlies the Chevrolet Malibu sedan and similar models....
. A 2005-2008 Ascender was recalled by a crash test which received a Poor safety rating.
Engines:
- 2003–2008 LL8 4.2 LLitér- External links :*...
(256 in³) I6 - 2003–2004 5300 5.3 L (323 in³) V8
- 2005–2007 5300 5.3 L (323 in³) V8 with Displacement on Demand