Our road test for the 1990-1992 Isuzu Impulse includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the
1990-1992 Isuzu Impulse and highlighted the vehicle's performance
with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation
1990-1992 Isuzu Impulse is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
Road and engine noise are the major drawbacks of the sporty Isuzu coupes. The early XS model also suffers from insufficient low-end engine torque. In fact, launching an XS smoothly can demand a lot of engine revs and clutch slippage until the car gets rolling fully. An early test XS also exhibited a lumpy idle and poor cold-start drivability, bucking even in mild weather. Exhaust noise at high rpm is a significant problem, too. Still, an XS managed to accelerate to 60 mph in 9.9 seconds, and yielded fuel economy of 22.3 mpg. The larger 1.8-liter engine introduced for 1992 offered the low- and mid-range torque that had been lacking in the 1.6-liter, so you don't have to rev above 4000 rpm to get at the Impulse's usable power. Better yet, the added horsepower was not accompanied by undue torque steer--an undesirable condition in which the front tires of some powerful front-drive cars are jerked to the side during hard acceleration. Stable handling makes the Impulse fun to drive in a spirited manner--though the steering is so quick as to make the car seem "darty" at the first turn of the wheel. The Impulse stays flat on the pavement, and steers with satisfying crispness. An early XS coupe stopped rather well in a simulated panic stop, but erratic rear-wheel lockup marred the experience. The turbocharged all-wheel-drive Impulse RS is a capable little sportster. In the marketplace, however, it was overshadowed by the faster--but more expensive--turbo and AWD versions of the Mitsubishi Eclipse/Plymouth Laser/Eagle Talon trio. Inside, the 2+2 edition is harmed by a small rear seat that's very short on leg room and has literally no head room for anyone over 5-feet tall. The regular hatchback has more head space in back, but is still short on leg room. Limited cargo space is aggravated by a high loading sill.
Value for the Money
Impulse never managed to rank with the best competitors in the small sport coupe league, though it was much better than the Isuzu models of the 1980s.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category |
Isuzu Impulse RS Rating |
|
Performance |
6 |
|
Fuel Economy |
6 |
|
Ride Quality |
3 |
|
Steering/Handling/Braking |
6 |
|
Quietness |
3 |
|
Controls/Materials |
3 |
|
Interior Room |
4 |
|
Room/Comfort (rear) |
2 |
|
Cargo Capacity |
2 |
|
Value within Class |
3 |
| Total Score: |
38 |
|
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.