2000 Isuzu Amigo: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Optional adjustable shock absorbers, restyled front and rear ends, and larger standard wheels head the list of changes to Isuzu's compact SUV for 2000. Amigo shares its basic design with the Isuzu Rodeo 4-door sport-utility wagon, but has a shorter 2-door body. It comes as a semi-convertible with a folding soft top over the back seat and a pop-up sunroof, or as a hardtop with a pop-up sunroof over the rear seat.
Amigo offers 2- and 4-wheel-drive models powered by either a 4-cylinder or V6 engine. Manual transmission is standard, automatic is optional with the V6. Like Rodeo's 4WD system, Amigo's isn't for use on dry pavement but has pushbutton shift-on-the-fly between 2WD and 4WD, plus separate low-range gearing. Four-wheel antilock brakes are standard.
The 4WD 4-cylinder manual-transmission soft-top model is dropped for 2000, but added is a Ironman package for V6 models equipped with the Preferred Equipment package. It's named for Isuzu's sponsorship of the Ironman triathlon competition and includes Ironman graphics.
Isuzu calls the adjustable shock absorber system Intelligent Suspension Control. It's optional on V6 models with the Ironman package and allows the driver to choose sport or "comfort" shock damping via a console-mounted switch. In other changes, the standard 15-inch wheels are replaced by previously optional 16-inch wheels, a plastic/vinyl spare tire cover is newly standard, and fender flares are new options. Cruise control, unavailable last year, is now standard with the V6. Finally, the passenger-side front seat "remembers" its preset position after being tilted forward for rear-seat access. For 2000 Isuzu doubles its powertrain warranty to 10 years/120,000 miles on Amigo, Trooper, and VehiCross.

COMPETITION

Ignored in the past, compact SUVs are now some of the hottest-selling vehicles around. The two current Best Buys are the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. Though they don't offer true off-road ability, they mix the best ride, cargo, and comfort characteristics with all-weather traction.
Toyota's RAV4 , which used to be a Best Buy, falls to Recommended based on its noisy engine and cramped rear seating area. Toyota hopes that will change when an all-new RAV arrives in 2001.
As immovable as Mt. Rushmore, the Jeep Wrangler continues as our Budget Buy in this segment. Though it has become a status symbol of late, it's most at home crawling over rocks and fording river beds.