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2003 Isuzu Ascender Review
First look at Isuzu's new flagship.
2003 Ascender Review Summary & Specifications
Isuzu Ascender is among the best of the mid-size sport-utilities. Its standard inline six-cylinder engine is much more powerful than the Trooper's V6 (275 horsepower versus the Trooper's 215 hp). Ascender is a significantly larger vehicle that provides three rows of seats and room for two more people or nearly 20 more cubic feet of cargo. Yet the base price of the 2003 Ascender is less than $600 more than the 2002 Trooper's.So it would seem the choice between the Trooper and the Ascender should be an easy one. However, there is a more difficult choice that awaits potential buyers, though in this case we're talking about the potential buyers of the Chevy TrailBlazer or GMC Envoy. Do they go ahead and buy a TrailBlazer EXT or Envoy XL, or do they opt for the virtually identical Isuzu Ascender with its longer warranty?
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| Vehicle Category | Sport Utility Vehicles |
| Editor | Larry Edsall |
| Model Lineup | S 2WD ($28,649); S 4WD ($31,349) |
| Engines (standard) | 4.2-liter dohc in-line six |
| Transmissions (standard) | 4-speed automatic |
| Engines (optional) | 275-hp 4.2-liter dohc inline six; 290-hp 5.3-liter ohv V8 |
| Transmissions (optional) | 4-speed manual, automatic |
| Safety Equipment (standard) | front and side airbags, ABS |
| Safety Equipment (optional) | |
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/50,000 miles |
| Assembled In | Moraine, Ohio |
| Manufacturer Phone | 1-800-255-6767 |
| Manufacturer URL | www.isuzu.com |
| Base Price MSRP | 28649 |
| Model Tested MSRP | S 2WD ($28,649) |
| Standard Equipment | Three-row seating, fog lamps, tilt steering wheel, dual zone climate controls, power windows and locks, remote keyless entry, CD player, Homelink garage door transmitter, trailer hitch |
| Options as Tested (MSRP) | Preferred package ($500) includes illuminated vanity mirrors, heated outside mirrors, eight-way power driver's seat; LS package ($3,250) includes limited-slip differential, traction control, power moon roof, alloy wheels, six-speaker audio system with controls on steering wheel and rear-seat headphone jacks, OnStar communications with one-year subscription, automatic climate controls, electrochromic rearview mirror with compass, driver info center and TravelNote voice recording device |
| Destination Charge | 625 |
| Gas Guzzler Tax | |
| Price as Tested | 32956 |
| Layout | rear-wheel drive |
| Horse Power | 275 @ 6000 |
| Torque | 275 @ 3600 |
| Fuel Economy | 20/15 |
| Wheelbase | 129.0 |
| Length/Width/Height | 207.6/76.1/75.5 |
| Track Front/Rear | |
| Turning Radius | 41.3 |
| Seating Capacity | 7 |
| Front Head/Hip/Leg room | 40.2/55.5/43.1 |
| Middle Head/Hip/Leg room | |
| Rear Head/Hip/Leg room | 38.5/45.9/32.2 |
| Trunk Volume | 100.2 |
| Payload | |
| Towing Capacity | |
| Front Suspension | independent |
| Rear Suspension | solid rear axle |
| Ground Clearance | 8.0 |
| Curb Weight | |
| Stock Tires | P245/65R17 |
| Brakes Front/Rear | disc/disc with ABS |
| Fuel Capacity | 25 |
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