1998 Isuzu Trooper 3 Doors 3.1L TDI 5MT AWD (126 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Isuzu introduced the second generation of the Trooper in 1991 for the 1992 model year, and seven years later, in 1998, it refreshed the entire lineup to keep the car attractive to its customers.

The Trooper was a respected nameplate in the off-road communities due to its rugged chassis and low-end torque engines. In addition, reliability was one of the brand’s key advantages over many of its competitors. In addition, winning the Marathon Class of the Paris-Dakar Rally confirmed that the second generation of the Trooper was a worthy vehicle. The Marathon Class required no repairs to be made during the event by a team of mechanics, and the cars had to be mostly stock, with just the safety modifications. That, along with the advanced safety technologies of those times, made the Trooper a respectable nameplate on the market. Furthermore, this vehicle was sold on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in a wide engine range according to the market’s requirements.

Since the era of rough edges for SUVs was almost gone, the Japanese automaker smoothened up the front fascia of the 1998 Isuzu Trooper three-door. The rectangular headlights had rounded corners and flanked a trapezoidal-shaped redesigned grille. This had a body-colored horizontal slat where the brand’s badge took center stage and was emphasized by the upper and lower chromed bars. On the lower side, the body-keyed wrapped-around plastic bumper sported two prominent vertical extensions that flanked the license plate.

From its profile, the 1998 Isuzu Trooper three-door had a shorter wheelbase than its five-door brother. The automaker kept the doors’ grab handles with unpaineted hard plastic elements to withstand better scratches. They were large enough so customers could operate them with gloved hands, a practical advantage, especially during off-road situations. Between the B- and the C-posts, Isuzu installed a set of fixed side windows for those seated in the back and another glass area next to the trunk space. At the back, the Trooper featured two unequally-length doors, with the spare wheel attached to the wider section on a cradle.

Climbing inside an off-road vehicle was never easy, especially for those who were used with sedans and unibody cars. However, the body-on-frame Isuzu Trooper required some muscles to climb aboard, especially for those seated in the back who had to squeeze behind the tilt-forward front seats. Fronting the driver was a plastic dashboard with a complete instrument panel. Its design wasn’t far from a light commercial vehicle, but the materials’ quality was above average. Furthermore, customers could get the 1998 Isuzu Trooper with a choice of fabric or leather upholstery. In the back, the 60/40 split-folding bench seat could increase the trunk’s space.

Some of the most significant changes happened under the skin. Isuzu installed its latest 3.5-liter V6 engine for most customers. The new powerhouse developed 230 hp (233 PS) and was paired with a five-speed manual gearbox or, as an option, with a four-speed automatic one. For the European market, Isuzu also installed a fresh inline-four turbodiesel with a three-liter displacement. Its common rail injection system helped the automaker pass the Euro 2 emission standards and provided excellent low-end torque needed for off-road situations.