Forgotten Cars: Isuzu Axiom

"LJ909" (lj909) 02/12/2018 at 12:17 • Filed to: None

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Debuting for the ‘01 model year, the Axiom was Isuzu’s answer to car based SUV’s like the Toyota Highlander. It replaced the Rodeo as Isuzu’s flagship SUV here in the States.

Based on the same platform as the outgoing Rodeo, it was powered by a 3.5 liter V6 that initially put out 230 horses, but was bumped up to 250 in ‘04 along with a new transmission. In typical rugged Isuzu fashion, it was available with a 4 wheel drive system as well. It was built in Lafayette, Indiana at what was then called Subaru Isuzu Automotive Inc, a joint venture production plant by Subaru and Isuzu(weirdly the last gen Camry was produced here from ‘07-’16). Its strange name was the result of a contest Isuzu had to name the vehicle, with the winner getting his own Axiom.

With its strange but handsome styling, and plain interior, the Axiom wasn’t well received by the buying public only staying on the market 3 years. It was replaced by the equally forgettable Chevy Trailblazer in a cheap suit Isuzu Ascender in 2004.

Source: Netcarshow.com

Over its 3 years on the market, the Axiom spawned 3 sporty concepts to try to liven things up. Firstly, the above pictured Axiom XSF concept. Debuting at SEMA in 2001, it had a sporty body kit that was designed by Isuzu and fabricated by Italdesign’s California arm, Italdesign California (IDC). It came with the same 3.5 V6 as the regular Axiom, but in the XSF the V6 was fitted with a AutoRotor supercharger and a Laminova intercooler boosting power to 275 peak horsepower and 260 lb/ft of torque through was was described as a “sophisticated” 4 speed auto.

Next up is something that might go over well today with the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet/Range Rover Evoque convertible crowd the Axiom XSR from 2002. IDC had a hand in this one as well. No changes were made to the 3.5 V6 in this concept and it had the same 230 horses as the production version.

Lastly was the Axiom XST which was exactly what it looked like: an Axiom pickup. With Italdesign having a hand in this as well, it had a midgate system to extend the bed length. The XST different from the other Axiom concepts in engine wise in that it was powered by a Isuzu 3.0 liter turbodiesel V6 that sadly was never used in production.

Had Isuzu brought any of these into production, specifically the XST instead of the badge engineered i Series, the Axiom may have helped delay their US exit for a few more years.

OPPOsaurus WRX > LJ909 02/12/2018 at 13:37

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sm70- why not Duesenberg? > LJ909 02/12/2018 at 13:38

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Neat SUVs. It replaced the Trooper though, not the Rodeo. Rodeo was sold alongside this I believe.

LJ909 > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/12/2018 at 13:39

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They made a few memorable things, the Rodeo, Trooper and their random attempts at passenger cars in the 80's and 90's.

LJ909 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 02/12/2018 at 13:41

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You are correct thanks. Both this and the Rodeo went away in 04.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > LJ909 02/12/2018 at 13:44

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Yup. My mom had a fairly loaded Trooper when I was born, it was an awesome truck. I thought about one for my first car but ended up deciding against it.

LJ909 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 02/12/2018 at 13:47

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You should have tried to tack down the much rarer Acura version of the Trooper, the SLX.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > LJ909 02/12/2018 at 13:52

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True. Trooper is a much cooler name than SLX though.

The Trooper has been sold around the world using more names that I can count.

punkgoose17 > LJ909 02/12/2018 at 13:56

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At first I disliked the Axiom, but then I became a big fan. The design was too far ahead of the time. It looked weird in 2001. It looked perfectly contemporary and handsome in 2011. Also, this was the first car in the American market with a direct injection gasoline engine. If you can find one on craigslist the leather interiors still look very nice.

LJ909 > punkgoose17 02/12/2018 at 14:01

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I always thought the design was handsome, but many were turned off by it simply because they weren’t ready for something like it. It easily could have been a vehicle from 2009 design wise.

punkgoose17 > LJ909 02/12/2018 at 14:08

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As a fan of the Trooper at the time I was upset with the original concept design and the car when it was released in ‘01. I did not really like it until ‘03, and then fell in love later in the decade.

ranwhenparked > LJ909 02/12/2018 at 14:18

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Not so forgotten in China, at least.

LJ909 > ranwhenparked 02/12/2018 at 14:21

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You can really see the Axiom in the side profile.

Brickman > LJ909 02/12/2018 at 15:16

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A design that was ahead of its time. Now days most vehicles have huge bumper grills and angles and soo many crossovers. Not so much in the yearly 2000's

Joe6pack > LJ909 02/12/2018 at 21:18

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Actually had one. Bought it brand new. Got a great deal and it was very nice with sunroof and leather. I think it had like an eight or ten year warranty. The only real problem was that the transmission went out around 70,000 miles. But since it was still under warranty, Isuzu replaced it no questions asked. Also, the transmission didn’t have a dipstick as I recall. I eventually sold it to my father in law. I think it had around 250,000 miles on it when it was retired.

pip bip - choose Corrour > ranwhenparked 02/13/2018 at 04:47

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was going to post one of those.

Klaus Schmoll > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 02/13/2018 at 10:07

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Opel Monterey being one of them. The design got handed around quite a bit.