Isuzu Ascender

Isuzu Ascender
Overview
Manufacturer	General Motors
Production	2003–2008
Assembly	Moraine, Ohio, United States (SWB) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States (LWB)
Body and chassis
Class	mid-size SUV
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Platform	GMT360 GMT370 (EXT)
Related	GMC Envoy Chevrolet TrailBlazer Buick Rainier Oldsmobile Bravada Saab 9-7X Chevrolet SSR
Powertrain
Engine	4.2 L Vortec Inline 6
Transmission	4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	113 in (2,870 mm) (SWB) 129 in (3,277 mm) (LWB)
Length	191.6 in (4,867 mm) (SWB) 207.6 in (5,273 mm) (LWB)
Width	76.1 in (1,933 mm)
Height	71.9 in (1,826 mm) (SWB) 75.5 in (1,918 mm) (LWB)
Chronology
Predecessor	Isuzu Axiom (For 5-Passenger Version) Isuzu Rodeo (For 5-Passenger Version) Isuzu Trooper (For 7-Passenger Version)
Successor	GMC Terrain (For 5-Passenger Version) GMC Acadia (For 7-Passenger Version)

The Isuzu Ascender was a mid-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 trucks, 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.

Rear view of five passenger Ascender

Overview

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.

Five-passenger Ascender

The Ascender ended production on June 6, 2008, as part of Isuzu's withdrawal from the United States market.^[1] 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:

• 2003–2008 LL8 4.2 L (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

Recall

In 2012, General Motors and Isuzu recalled more than 258,000 SUVs in the U.S. and Canada to fix short-circuits in power window and door lock switches that could cause fires. The recall covered Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Isuzu Ascender and Saab 9-7X SUVs from the 2006 and 2007 model years. The SUVs were sold or registered in 20 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and Canada, where salt and other chemicals are used to clear roads in the winter.^[2]

General Motors announced the recall of 316,357 vehicles in late 2014, primarily in North America, to fix malfunctioning headlights. According to the company, a problem in the headlamp driver module could have lead to temporary or permanent malfunctioning of the low-beam headlamps and daytime running lamps. This increased the possibility of an accident. However, the high-beam headlamps, marker lamps, turn signals and fog lamps are not affected by the issue. The vehicles that were covered under the recall are the 2006–2009 Buick LaCrosse sedans; 2006–2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy and Buick Rainier SUVs; and 2006–2008 Saab 9-7X and Isuzu Ascender SUVs.^[3]

References

Media related to Isuzu Ascender at Wikimedia Commons