1990-1992 Isuzu Impulse: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1990-1992 Isuzu Impulse and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Acceleration (RS)
- Fuel economy
- 4WD traction (RS)
- Antilock brakes (RS)
- Handling
- Airbag
Cons
- Rear-seat room
- Noise
Vehicle Highlights
Introduced in late spring of 1990, the new front-drive Impulse replaced Isuzu's previous rear-drive model of the same name. The sporty 2+2 hatchback shared its front-drive chassis, and one of its engines, with the subcompact Isuzu Stylus sedan. At this time, Isuzu was partly owned by General Motors. A similar sport coupe, called the Geo Storm, went to Chevrolet dealers. A driver's airbag was standard on both the base XS and the high-performance RS coupe. Standard equipment in the XS includes a sport suspension tuned by Lotus (the British sports-car maker, also owned by GM), 4-wheel disc brakes, power steering, and 185/60HR14. The 1.6-liter, dual-overhead-cam XS four-cylinder engine produced 125 horsepower and came with either a 5-speed manual or 4 speed automatic transmission. A 160-horsepower turbocharged engine went into the RS coupe, which had permanently engaged 4-wheel drive instead of front drive. The RS came only with 5-speed manual shift.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| 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 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1990-1992 Isuzu Impulse. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1990-1992 Isuzu Impulse.
Year to Year Changes
1991 Isuzu Impulse:
An extended-roof hatchback coupe, with Kammback-like rear styling, joined the original model this year. Antilock braking was optional on the RS edition.
1992 Isuzu Impulse:
A more-powerful engine went into this year's Impulse coupes and hatchbacks. The XS edition got a dual-cam, 1.8-liter 4-cylinder that produced 140 horsepower. It replaced the former 130-horsepower, 1.6-liter powerplant. As before, the RS featured a turbocharged version of the 1.6-liter, rated at 160 horsepower. Otherwise, little changed in what would be the model's final season. The similar Geo Storm continued into the 1993 model year.
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.
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.
Our reliability study for this generation Isuzu Impulse includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Isuzu Impulse .
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search
for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested
solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer,
however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.
Cruise control:
The cruise control stops working because the actuator cable is damaged if the accelerator-pedal lever and an improved cable have been installed. (1990-91)
Engine stalling:
The engine idles rough or even stalls after deceleration unless a revised ECM (computer) was installed. (1990-91)
Manual transmission:
Difficulty shifting, especially into second gear, is caused by a worn rubber stopper on the shifter allowing it to flop from side to side, but adjusting the shifter often overcomes this. (1990-91)
Suspension noise:
Clicking from the rear suspension is corrected by replacing the rear stabilizer-bar brackets. (1990-92)
Tail/brake lights:
Condensation collects in the taillight assemblies which must be removed, dried out, and sealed. (1990-91)
Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The
dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the
typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement
costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership
to be slightly higher.
| Item Name | Repair Cost |
| A/C Compressor | $405 |
| Alternator | $305 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $1,010 |
| Brakes | $260 |
| Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing | $470 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $670 |
| Exhaust System | $270 |
| Radiator | $310 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $440 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $260 |
Our price chart for this generation Isuzu Impulse details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 1992 | |||
| Impulse RS | $1,300-1,600 | $800-1,000 | $200 |
| Impulse XS | $1,100-1,400 | $700-900 | $100-200 |
| 1991 | |||
| Impulse RS | $1,200-1,500 | $700-900 | $100-200 |
| Impulse XS | $1,000-1,300 | $600-800 | $100 |
| 1990 | |||
| Impulse | $0 | $0 | $0 |
|
|
|||
This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings;
engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or
abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations
reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car
lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical
amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo,
etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep
in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from
region to region.
Specs for this generation Isuzu Impulse include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 2-door hatchback | |
| Wheelbase, in. | 96.5 | |
| Overall Length, in. | 166.1 | |
| Overall Width, in. | 66.7 | |
| Overall Height, in. | 51.8 | |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 2411 | |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 21.8 | |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 12.4 | |
| Seating Capacity | 4 | |
| Front Head Room, in. | 37.4 | |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 43.8 | |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 32.0 | |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 30.4 | |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
In 1991-92, a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 125-130 horsepower went into the XS coupe, available with either 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. The high-performance RS coupe got a turbocharged version of the 1.6-liter four, rated at 160 horsepower, and came only with the 5-speed manual gearbox. A 1.8-liter engine replaced the XS powerplant for 1992, delivering 10 more horsepower.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| Turbocharged dohc I4 | 1.6 / 97 | 160 | 150 | 5-speed manual: 22/28 | 5-speed manual: -- |
| dohc I4 | 1.6 / 97 | 125-130 | 102 | 5-speed manual: 26/33 4-speed automatic: 24/32 |
5-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: -- |
| dohc I4 | 1.8 / 109 | 140 | 120 | 5-speed manual: 23/31 4-speed automatic: 22/30 |
5-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: -- |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: Japan
Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front- or 4-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Isuzu Impulse include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
Vehicle crash test information not available at this time.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
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