Skip to main content

1998
Isuzu Trooper

Starts at:
$26,616
Shop options
New 1998 Isuzu Trooper
See ratings
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Shop Cars.com
Browse cars & save your favorites
Dealers near you
Find & contact a dealership near you
no listings

We're not finding any listings in your area.
Change your location or search Cars.com to see more!

Change location

Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr S Manual
    Starts at
    $26,616
    16 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr S Auto w/Performance Pkg
    Starts at
    $27,869
    15 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr S Auto w/Luxury Pkg
    Starts at
    $27,869
    15 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr S Auto
    Starts at
    $27,869
    15 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

The good & the bad

This vehicle doesn't have any good or bad insights yet.

Use our comparison tool to look at this model side-by-side with other vehicles or view the full specifications list .

Start your comparison

Expert 1998 Isuzu Trooper review

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

The first time you wheel a 1998 Trooper off the road, you’ll know that what you’ve got isn’t just another of those sport-utilities with a tough look that can’t do much in the dirt.

The Trooper has been sort of like the Japanese Land Rover – boxy, beefy and capable of slogging through all sorts of nasty terrain. Isuzu has made some effort to soften the Trooper’s utilitarian looks and improve it mechanically. There’s a classy looking, chrome-trimmed grille out front and a quiet, ultra-smooth, high-tech engine under the hood.

But aim the Trooper’s nose where the pavement ends and you’ll find that it’s very capable of serving as pack mule for camping trips deep into the woods, as well as for the daily commute to work.

PERFORMANCE, HANDLING

Isuzu engineers reworked the Trooper’s engine and four-wheel drive system for the 1998 model year.

The engine still retains the dual overhead camshafts and 24-valve layout of previous years, but its size has been enlarged from 3.1 to 3.5 liters, and horsepower has been increased from 190 to 215.

Torque – the measurement of the force that actually spins the wheels – is up from 188 pound-feet to 230. Torque is important when the going gets rough off the road. The engine needs to be able to deliver plenty of power at low speeds in soft sand, mud and other types of bad terrain.

I found that the Trooper is a real trooper when it comes to off-road driving. First, you reach down and shift into low range, then you press a button on the dash to engage the Torque on Demand system. It provides traction to the front wheels based on the road surface. If the rear wheels begin to slip, for instance, the front wheels will get more power. The system works seamlessly.

Our test Trooper came with a four-speed, automatic transmission. The shifts were smooth and well-timed. A button on the console allows the driver to shift into “Power” and “Winter” modes. The Power mode lets the engine rev higher before the transmission shifts gear. This marginally improves low-speed acceleration. The Winter mode lets the Trooper start in second gear, which helps prevent the wheels from slipping on snowy roads – not much of a problem around these parts.

The suspension system is a bit too soft for my tastes. The body can lean a bit when you take a corner quickly. But the Trooper deftly handles bumps in the road. Off the road, the Trooper remains easy to control over small hills and through thick sand. The power-assisted steering has a tight, firm feel. And the four-wheel, anti-lock disc brakes stop the vehicle quickly.

FIT AND FINISH

There’s one thing I don’t like about the Trooper: its width. This vehicle is engineered for the Japanese market, where the roads are narrower than here and where parking is a good bit tougher.

Surprisingly, the Trooper isn’t as wide as the lower-priced Isuzu Rodeo, and it makes you feel a bit claustrophobic. The Trooper needs to be about four inches wide r.

The Trooper is aces in most other areas. The cloth-covered seats in our test vehicle were comfortable and offered plenty of support. You stay planted in them when the vehicle drives over big bumps.

The rear bench seat can be folded forward quickly and easily, almost doubling the amount of cargo room available. Because the spare tire is mounted on the tailgate, the cargo area is long and flat. A heavy rubber mat protects the carpet.

Up front, the Trooper gives the driver and front passenger an excellent view of the road. The gauges, though fairly plain, are easy on the eyes. The dash layout is conventional, except for the CD player. There is only one slot in which to insert a CD – as usual – but the player takes six CDs. It’s much more compact than any other six-disc player I’ve seen.

Our Trooper came well equipped. Standard items included air conditioning, power windows, mirrors and door locks, cruise control, rear windshield wiper and washer and more.

To me the Troo per has more of a trucklike feel than many other sport-utilities. But that’s not a bad thing. Frankly, I like the fact that the Trooper has remained tough under the skin. Our dark red test vehicle was screwed together well, and everything worked perfectly.

If you want to be a poseur, you’d drive a Lexus RX300 or a Subaru Forester – sharp-looking vehicles that look like sport-utilities but really have no business off the road. The Trooper offers the fancy looks and the rugged performance for a reasonable price.

1998 Isuzu Trooper

Base price: $27,800.

Safety: Dual air bags, anti-lock brakes and side-impact protection.

Price as tested: $31,075.

EPA rating: 15 mpg city/19 mpg highway.

Incentives: None.

Truett’s tip: The 1998 Trooper may look a bit snazzier than previous models, but under the skin it remains true to its original mission. This is a rough, tough, off-road vehicle, not some gussied-up pretender.

1998 Isuzu Trooper review: Our expert's take
By

The first time you wheel a 1998 Trooper off the road, you’ll know that what you’ve got isn’t just another of those sport-utilities with a tough look that can’t do much in the dirt.

The Trooper has been sort of like the Japanese Land Rover – boxy, beefy and capable of slogging through all sorts of nasty terrain. Isuzu has made some effort to soften the Trooper’s utilitarian looks and improve it mechanically. There’s a classy looking, chrome-trimmed grille out front and a quiet, ultra-smooth, high-tech engine under the hood.

But aim the Trooper’s nose where the pavement ends and you’ll find that it’s very capable of serving as pack mule for camping trips deep into the woods, as well as for the daily commute to work.

PERFORMANCE, HANDLING

Isuzu engineers reworked the Trooper’s engine and four-wheel drive system for the 1998 model year.

The engine still retains the dual overhead camshafts and 24-valve layout of previous years, but its size has been enlarged from 3.1 to 3.5 liters, and horsepower has been increased from 190 to 215.

Torque – the measurement of the force that actually spins the wheels – is up from 188 pound-feet to 230. Torque is important when the going gets rough off the road. The engine needs to be able to deliver plenty of power at low speeds in soft sand, mud and other types of bad terrain.

I found that the Trooper is a real trooper when it comes to off-road driving. First, you reach down and shift into low range, then you press a button on the dash to engage the Torque on Demand system. It provides traction to the front wheels based on the road surface. If the rear wheels begin to slip, for instance, the front wheels will get more power. The system works seamlessly.

Our test Trooper came with a four-speed, automatic transmission. The shifts were smooth and well-timed. A button on the console allows the driver to shift into “Power” and “Winter” modes. The Power mode lets the engine rev higher before the transmission shifts gear. This marginally improves low-speed acceleration. The Winter mode lets the Trooper start in second gear, which helps prevent the wheels from slipping on snowy roads – not much of a problem around these parts.

The suspension system is a bit too soft for my tastes. The body can lean a bit when you take a corner quickly. But the Trooper deftly handles bumps in the road. Off the road, the Trooper remains easy to control over small hills and through thick sand. The power-assisted steering has a tight, firm feel. And the four-wheel, anti-lock disc brakes stop the vehicle quickly.

FIT AND FINISH

There’s one thing I don’t like about the Trooper: its width. This vehicle is engineered for the Japanese market, where the roads are narrower than here and where parking is a good bit tougher.

Surprisingly, the Trooper isn’t as wide as the lower-priced Isuzu Rodeo, and it makes you feel a bit claustrophobic. The Trooper needs to be about four inches wide r.

The Trooper is aces in most other areas. The cloth-covered seats in our test vehicle were comfortable and offered plenty of support. You stay planted in them when the vehicle drives over big bumps.

The rear bench seat can be folded forward quickly and easily, almost doubling the amount of cargo room available. Because the spare tire is mounted on the tailgate, the cargo area is long and flat. A heavy rubber mat protects the carpet.

Up front, the Trooper gives the driver and front passenger an excellent view of the road. The gauges, though fairly plain, are easy on the eyes. The dash layout is conventional, except for the CD player. There is only one slot in which to insert a CD – as usual – but the player takes six CDs. It’s much more compact than any other six-disc player I’ve seen.

Our Trooper came well equipped. Standard items included air conditioning, power windows, mirrors and door locks, cruise control, rear windshield wiper and washer and more.

To me the Troo per has more of a trucklike feel than many other sport-utilities. But that’s not a bad thing. Frankly, I like the fact that the Trooper has remained tough under the skin. Our dark red test vehicle was screwed together well, and everything worked perfectly.

If you want to be a poseur, you’d drive a Lexus RX300 or a Subaru Forester – sharp-looking vehicles that look like sport-utilities but really have no business off the road. The Trooper offers the fancy looks and the rugged performance for a reasonable price.

1998 Isuzu Trooper

Base price: $27,800.

Safety: Dual air bags, anti-lock brakes and side-impact protection.

Price as tested: $31,075.

EPA rating: 15 mpg city/19 mpg highway.

Incentives: None.

Truett’s tip: The 1998 Trooper may look a bit snazzier than previous models, but under the skin it remains true to its original mission. This is a rough, tough, off-road vehicle, not some gussied-up pretender.

Factory warranties

Basic
3 years / 50,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
5 years / 60,000 miles

Consumer reviews

4.8 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.0
Interior 3.8
Performance 4.6
Value 4.6
Exterior 4.2
Reliability 4.6

Most recent

  • My First Car

    You remember when you got your first car? How did it feel? Well for me it was exciting, not only was it my first car, but it was a truck it was mine. It was a truck that was able to get me and to where ever I was at, it was reliable and cheap. Although, it wasn?t the best looking car, it was mine and it made feel good.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 3.0
    Exterior 2.0
    Reliability 3.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Amazing SUV!

    Wish I could buy a 2014 model. Love this truck Amazing all around SUV. 5 stars. I have 170,000 miles and it's sill going strong.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Great SUV

    My Trooper is great! Has over 200,000 miles with out a lick of problems. Pull out vehicle in the snow all the time. I WISH they still made these!!!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Most Reliable Vehicle I ever had

    I bought the Trooper in 1998 and we had it until recently (1009) when we had a minor accident, but it was totaled becasue of cost of repair. It was the most economic SUV to get serviced, very raely needed anything but the regular services and in short is just an amazingly reliable vehicle. We were extremely upset when we had to let it go.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • The best car i have ever own

    I bought this car with 45K miles on it and drove it fine with out any major problems until it had 250K miles on it. The rear end was damage in a car accident and that's the only reason I am not still driving it to this day. the only problem with this car is there is no filter for the egr vale so you will have to change it out like every 2 or 3 years. it only take a sec to do and is not very expensive repair (about $150). Other than that this suv will last you forever!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No

Latest news from cars.com

See all news

FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 1998 Isuzu Trooper?

The 1998 Isuzu Trooper is available in 3 trim levels:

  • S (2 styles)
  • S Luxury (1 style)
  • S Performance (1 style)

What is the MPG of the 1998 Isuzu Trooper?

The 1998 Isuzu Trooper offers up to 16 MPG in city driving and 19 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 1998 Isuzu Trooper reliable?

The 1998 Isuzu Trooper has an average reliability rating of 4.6 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 1998 Isuzu Trooper owners.

Is the 1998 Isuzu Trooper a good SUV?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 1998 Isuzu Trooper. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.8 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.0
  • Interior: 3.8
  • Performance: 4.6
  • Value: 4.6
  • Exterior: 4.2
  • Reliability: 4.6
Your list was successfully saved.
 
 
 
 
Save list Compare
[{"cat":null,"stock_type":"used","bodystyle":"SUV","page_type":"research/make-model-year","oem_page":false,"search_fuel_types":["Gasoline Fuel"]}]