Isuzu Ascender

Impressions: One of only two Isuzu vehicles offered this year is the Ascender sport-utility vehicle that's based on the rear-/four-wheel-drive Chevrolet Trailblazer platform. (General Motors owns a small percentage of Isuzu.) For 2007, this Isuzu is basically the same as it was last year except that since it falls in line with siblings from GMC and Chevrolet, which lose their seven-passenger extended-length offshoots, there's now only a five-passenger version of the Ascender. That also means the 300-horsepower 5.3-liter V8, which powered the long-wheelbase Ascender, is also history, which leaves the 291-horsepower 4.2-liter inline six-cylinder to pick up the slack. The standard-content list includes 17-inch wheels, dual-zone air conditioning, CD stereo and power windows/locks/mirrors. Select from one of many packages that bundle together common features: leather seats (heated in front); premium Bose sound system with six-disc in-dash CD player, etc. There are also four option packages that combine popular features and take you from loaded up to, well, really loaded up. Isuzu's ace up its sleeve might be a basic warranty that extends the mileage to 50,000 from the usual 36,000, handy for you highway drivers out there in Ascender-land. There's also a seven-year, 75,000-mile powertrain warranty. Base price: $26,000 Type: Four-door sport-utility vehicle Base engine (hp): 4.2-liter DOHC I6 (291) Optional engine: None Layout: Front engine, rear- /four-wheel drive Transmission: Four-speed automatic Mileage (city/hwy): 16/22 Safety: Front airbags; side-impact airbags; anti-lock brakes; traction control (RWD only) Weight (lb.): 4,900 Roadside assistance: Yes Web: isuzu.com