There's a certain utilitarian charm to the 1994
Isuzu Trooper LS. We pulled into a suburban park to begin our evaluation and the Trooper drew an appreciative crowd. It has many well-thought-out features that we'll cover. All very nice, but the 4WD system is one generation behind - no shift-on-the-fly.
Then it comes down to price. With all the options, including sunroof, leather seating and a premium sound system, the Trooper LS passes the magic sticker figure of $30,000, ranking right up there with Jeep's Grand Cherokee Limited and Ford Explorer Limited.
As we said, this is a handsome sport utility. It looks exactly like what it is-a very capable on- and off-road vehicle. The profile is erect, even boxy. But it looks good. You notice details such as wipers for the headlights (an option); skid plates underneath to protect the radiator, transfer case and fuel tank; and a sturdy mount for the spare-tire outside on the biggest of the 70/30 split rear doors.
That is right, doors. No big liftgate here. No rear window that disappears into a drop-down tailgate. The Isuzu Trooper has rear doors. They open wide and stay open to provide access to rear storage. But if you want a liftgate protecting you from the rain, or if you're looking for a drop-down gate for picnicking, you won't find it here. We got used to the doors, except for the rear window in the small door staying dirty because the wiper/washer is on the big door. Our test drive version was finished in the popular-for sport-utilities dark green, called Golden Green Mica. Fit and finish are excellent all around.
