The badge on the front may say Isuzu, but this is really a GMC Envoy XL in a Japanese party dress. It is a very subtle frock, though, as only the badging, lights, grille, and bumpers differ between the Isuzu and the GMC.
In some ways, this isn't a bad thing (particularly if you're an Isuzu dealer and need new vehicles to sell). The Envoy XL seats seven comfortably, has GM's excellent 275-horsepower, 24-valve DOHC, 4.2-liter in-line six or 285-hp, 5.3-liter OHV V-8 engines mated to a syrupy four-speed automatic, and drives pretty nicely. The highway ride, in particular, is really good for a truck.
If you're into big trucks and don't mind the slightly gawky exterior, then the Ascender doesn't look a bad deal. Until, that is, you open the door and realize that you're plunking down a minimum of $28,000 for a vehicle that has the interior quality of my daughter's Barbie car. Aside from the questionably colored interior trim on our two-wheel-drive Ascender, the interior seems even more low rent than its GM equivalents. The Ascender LS we drove was $32,321, with some desirable items such as traction control, alloy wheels, power front seats, and a decent stereo, but without all-wheel-drive, remember.... Read full article