Isuzu's version of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL mid-size sport-utility vehicles remains with only minor changes for 2006 in a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive. The Ascender comes powered by the Chevy/GMC's 4.2-liter in-line six-cylinder engine that generates 275 horsepower and is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. A high-torque 5.3-liter 290-horsepower V-8 engine is also available for added muscle. This powerplant features "displacement on demand" technology that closes off half the engine's cylinders when not needed to maximize fuel economy without sacrificing power. Three rows of seats are on hand to accommodate as many as seven passengers. Available amenities include dual heated power mirrors, running boards, rain-sensing wipers, heated leather seats, a Bose audio array, and the OnStar communications/safety system.
i280/i350
Isuzu's new-for-2006 line of pickup trucks is based on the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. It's powered in its base i280 form by those models' standard 2.8-liter in-line four-cylinder engine that develops 175 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque. The i350, meanwhile, runs on the pickups' 3.5-liter in-line five-cylinder engine that generates 220 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard, with a four-speed automatic optional. The i280 is available only in an extended-cab rear-drive configuration, while the i350 is only offered as a four-wheel-drive four-door Club Cab model. Its 4WD system lets drivers shift on the fly from two-wheel drive to four-wheel-high and back at the touch of a button.
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