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2000
Isuzu Amigo

Starts at:
$15,730
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 2dr Hard Top 2WD I4 Manual
    Starts at
    $15,730
    20 City / 23 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Convertible 2WD I4 Manual
    Starts at
    $15,730
    20 City / 23 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Hard Top 2WD V6 Auto
    Starts at
    $18,215
    16 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Convertible 2WD V6 Auto
    Starts at
    $18,215
    16 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Convertible 4WD V6 Manual
    Starts at
    $19,695
    17 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Hard Top 4WD V6 Auto
    Starts at
    $20,495
    16 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Convertible 4WD V6 Auto
    Starts at
    $20,495
    16 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

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Expert 2000 Isuzu Amigo review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

Isuzu’s Amigo is your friend if you want a two-door SUV with agile handling and the ability to tackle off-road trails.

Two-door SUVs have a dedicated, but rather small, customer base of active, outdoor types who have gear to haul around. The Amigo’s 96.9-inch wheelbase is 10 inches shorter than the four-door Rodeo, and that makes it more maneuverable both on and off road. It turns tighter, reacts quicker and fits into smaller spaces. Plus, it looks sporty, and I suspect that’s a major factor for young buyers who don’t want to drive a vehicle that looks like it could belong to their parents.

From a design perspective, the Amigo and Rodeo are identical from the windshield pillars forward. The Amigo’s roof extends only over the front seats, leaving the back seats to be covered by either a folding, soft cloth top or a fiberglass hard top, which is how our test vehicle was configured.

I remember from driving other Amigos that folding down the cloth top was not all that easy, and putting it up was even harder. Plus, for urban living, the cloth top is not nearly as secure. The hard top is quieter, as well, which is a benefit.

Amigos can be powered by one of two engines: a 130-horsepower, 2.2-liter, four-cylinder and the more popular 3.2-liter, 205-horsepower V6. The aluminum DOHC V6 is loaded with technology, such as a crankshaft that has six bolts for each main bearing and ignition-coil igniters mounted directly on each spark plug.

In order to give the engine power at both low and high speeds, Isuzu has employed variable-length intake ducts that change with engine speed.

On the road, this engine has a minimum of vibration and more than enough power for pulling up hills, passing slower vehicles or just scooting away from a stop.

Four-wheel drive is a shift-on-the-fly system, although the vehicle has to be stopped to engage low range. Brakes are four-wheel disc with anti-lock on four-wheel drive and a disc/drum setup on two-wheel drive.

Like the Rodeo, Amigo uses a body-on-frame construction more akin to a pickup than a carlike unibody SUV. It is built in Lafayette, Ind.

The suspension layout is fairly typical and trucklike: dual-wishbone layout in front and a solid rear axle in back. The solid axle is tough and dependable for off-road work, but, combined with the short wheelbase, the ride is pretty choppy over bad pavement.

To improve ride quality, coil springs are used at all four corners. This year Isuzu offers Intelligent Suspension Control (ISC). This system uses a computer and various sensors throughout the vehicle to make on-the-fly adjustments to the shock absorbers according to driving conditions, or the Sport setting can be selected manually with a button on the console. I found Sport to be a tad too firm for pavement work, but it might be fine off-road.

Because of ISC, the vehicle sits flatter in turns, doesn’t bounce as much ov er big bumps and generally rides more like a car than a truck. There is some tire noise on highway expansion joints, but in general, ISC smooths out the ride while enhancing maneuverability by subduing body roll in turns and front-end dive while braking. ISC is part of the Ironman option package ($962).

The cabin feels a tad small, even though there is room for two passengers in back. Getting into the back seat is a bit of a chore because there is no back door, and the short wheelbase robs space from behind the back seat for hauling junk. The side-opening tailgate also contains the spare tire, and it sticks up into the back window. Add to that the bulk of the rear-seat headrests and vision out the back was not very good.

The gauges have new graphics this year and a six-disc, in-dash CD player is optional. The sound quality was only average, however.

To reduce engine and road noise, Isuzu uses two-sided panels filled with asphalt sheeting on the inner and out er da sh panels, inside wheel wells and in the cargo area. Body pillars are filled with foam, too. This attention to noise reduction was helpful, but a cloth-topped Amigo would still be fairly loud. The hard top is not.

In an impressive move, Isuzu has lengthened its powertrain warranty to 10 years or 120,000 miles, the longest in America.

Price
The Amigo’s base price is $18,215. Add air conditioning, power locks, power windows, power mirrors, remote keyless entry, cargo net, fog lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels and Intelligent Suspension Control and the sticker price is $22,312.

Warranty
Three years or 50,000 miles. The powertrain warranty is for 10 years or 120,000 miles.

Point: This Amigo’s strength is the short wheelbase that enhances maneuverability, especially on off-road trails. The computer-controlled suspension provides a smoother, flatter ride than before. The exterior has been freshened up to look the same as the Rodeo.

Counterpoint: The Amigo’s cabin feels snug, the spare tire and rear-seat headrests interfere with rear vision and cargo space is tight unless the second seat is folded down.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Engine: 3.2-liter V6
Transmission: automatic
Four-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 96.9 inches
Curb weight: 3,975 lbs.
Base price: $18,215
As driven: $22,312
Mpg rating: 16 city, 19 hwy.

2000 Isuzu Amigo review: Our expert's take
By

Isuzu’s Amigo is your friend if you want a two-door SUV with agile handling and the ability to tackle off-road trails.

Two-door SUVs have a dedicated, but rather small, customer base of active, outdoor types who have gear to haul around. The Amigo’s 96.9-inch wheelbase is 10 inches shorter than the four-door Rodeo, and that makes it more maneuverable both on and off road. It turns tighter, reacts quicker and fits into smaller spaces. Plus, it looks sporty, and I suspect that’s a major factor for young buyers who don’t want to drive a vehicle that looks like it could belong to their parents.

From a design perspective, the Amigo and Rodeo are identical from the windshield pillars forward. The Amigo’s roof extends only over the front seats, leaving the back seats to be covered by either a folding, soft cloth top or a fiberglass hard top, which is how our test vehicle was configured.

I remember from driving other Amigos that folding down the cloth top was not all that easy, and putting it up was even harder. Plus, for urban living, the cloth top is not nearly as secure. The hard top is quieter, as well, which is a benefit.

Amigos can be powered by one of two engines: a 130-horsepower, 2.2-liter, four-cylinder and the more popular 3.2-liter, 205-horsepower V6. The aluminum DOHC V6 is loaded with technology, such as a crankshaft that has six bolts for each main bearing and ignition-coil igniters mounted directly on each spark plug.

In order to give the engine power at both low and high speeds, Isuzu has employed variable-length intake ducts that change with engine speed.

On the road, this engine has a minimum of vibration and more than enough power for pulling up hills, passing slower vehicles or just scooting away from a stop.

Four-wheel drive is a shift-on-the-fly system, although the vehicle has to be stopped to engage low range. Brakes are four-wheel disc with anti-lock on four-wheel drive and a disc/drum setup on two-wheel drive.

Like the Rodeo, Amigo uses a body-on-frame construction more akin to a pickup than a carlike unibody SUV. It is built in Lafayette, Ind.

The suspension layout is fairly typical and trucklike: dual-wishbone layout in front and a solid rear axle in back. The solid axle is tough and dependable for off-road work, but, combined with the short wheelbase, the ride is pretty choppy over bad pavement.

To improve ride quality, coil springs are used at all four corners. This year Isuzu offers Intelligent Suspension Control (ISC). This system uses a computer and various sensors throughout the vehicle to make on-the-fly adjustments to the shock absorbers according to driving conditions, or the Sport setting can be selected manually with a button on the console. I found Sport to be a tad too firm for pavement work, but it might be fine off-road.

Because of ISC, the vehicle sits flatter in turns, doesn’t bounce as much ov er big bumps and generally rides more like a car than a truck. There is some tire noise on highway expansion joints, but in general, ISC smooths out the ride while enhancing maneuverability by subduing body roll in turns and front-end dive while braking. ISC is part of the Ironman option package ($962).

The cabin feels a tad small, even though there is room for two passengers in back. Getting into the back seat is a bit of a chore because there is no back door, and the short wheelbase robs space from behind the back seat for hauling junk. The side-opening tailgate also contains the spare tire, and it sticks up into the back window. Add to that the bulk of the rear-seat headrests and vision out the back was not very good.

The gauges have new graphics this year and a six-disc, in-dash CD player is optional. The sound quality was only average, however.

To reduce engine and road noise, Isuzu uses two-sided panels filled with asphalt sheeting on the inner and out er da sh panels, inside wheel wells and in the cargo area. Body pillars are filled with foam, too. This attention to noise reduction was helpful, but a cloth-topped Amigo would still be fairly loud. The hard top is not.

In an impressive move, Isuzu has lengthened its powertrain warranty to 10 years or 120,000 miles, the longest in America.

Price
The Amigo’s base price is $18,215. Add air conditioning, power locks, power windows, power mirrors, remote keyless entry, cargo net, fog lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels and Intelligent Suspension Control and the sticker price is $22,312.

Warranty
Three years or 50,000 miles. The powertrain warranty is for 10 years or 120,000 miles.

Point: This Amigo’s strength is the short wheelbase that enhances maneuverability, especially on off-road trails. The computer-controlled suspension provides a smoother, flatter ride than before. The exterior has been freshened up to look the same as the Rodeo.

Counterpoint: The Amigo’s cabin feels snug, the spare tire and rear-seat headrests interfere with rear vision and cargo space is tight unless the second seat is folded down.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Engine: 3.2-liter V6
Transmission: automatic
Four-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 96.9 inches
Curb weight: 3,975 lbs.
Base price: $18,215
As driven: $22,312
Mpg rating: 16 city, 19 hwy.

Factory warranties

Basic
3 years / 50,000 miles
Corrosion
6 years / 100,000 miles
Powertrain
10 years / 120,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
5 years / 60,000 miles

Consumer reviews

4.6 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.0
Interior 3.3
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 4.6
Reliability 5.0

Most recent

  • 200 Amigo 4WD loaded

    I am 35 and owned an Isuzu pickup from 1990 till 2005 when I got the amigo used with 117,000. I also have an Axiom and an Eclipse. The 2000 cosmetic updates to the Amigo/Rodeo were great. the car rides nice for such a short wheelbase and the V6 has plenty of power. Replacing/fussing with the soft top and plastic windows gets annoying, but riding with it down is amazing!! Over the years I have found Isuzu's to be VERY VERY reliabe. I have over 500,000 miles on Isuzu's with no real issues to speak of. I have had to replace the front bearings in my Amigo and Axiom. Did I say this Wagon..haha (helps w/ insurance)is fun!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • 140K and still going STRONG!

    Bought it second hand at about 80k, and almost double that and no big repairs. Normal wear-tear..extreme power and realy good miles in the city for a big car..
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 2.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • 160K drives like new, no major repairs

    This is the most economical, reliable and durable vehicle I have ever owned, I am over 50 and have owned more than 30 vehicles in my lifetime, from BMW, Lexus to Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, Plymouth, Oldmobile, Buick. Great in snow, 4x4 trails, except for oil changes, normal brakes, tires and required 90K timing belt, no repairs. This vehicle also has unbelievable power.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No

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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2000 Isuzu Amigo?

The 2000 Isuzu Amigo is available in 1 trim level:

  • (7 styles)

What is the MPG of the 2000 Isuzu Amigo?

The 2000 Isuzu Amigo offers up to 20 MPG in city driving and 23 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 2000 Isuzu Amigo reliable?

The 2000 Isuzu Amigo has an average reliability rating of 5.0 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2000 Isuzu Amigo owners.

Is the 2000 Isuzu Amigo a good SUV?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2000 Isuzu Amigo. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.6 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.0
  • Interior: 3.3
  • Performance: 5.0
  • Value: 5.0
  • Exterior: 4.6
  • Reliability: 5.0
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