Karla News

Review of the 1990-94 Isuzu Pickup (P’up)

First off I have a strange fascination with small pickup trucks, most prominently the Chevrolet S-10 series of trucks. More so I have a love for small trucks that have the capability of stuffing a really big V-8 engine into (see also the Chevrolet S-10 line of trucks) but recently I have fallen upon rougher times and could not find an S-dime in my price range, I did however find a very similar truck; a 1994 Isuzu pickup more affectionately known as an Isuzu Pup.

First let’s get the hard core crunch numbers out of the way. The truck in question is a baseline model, they come with nothing automatic or powered. Hell they don’t even have an option for power steering in this class, but it’s not really needed for a truck of this size anyway. The truck comes standard with a 2.3L single over head cam carbureted in line 4 cylinder engine (2.3L SOHC I4) and produces 96HP at its peak. really when you look at it that’s not a bad number when you consider my much more modern computer controlled sport tuned dual overhead cam multi-port injected I4 only creates a peak of 110HP, and you can feel on hills that the truck even though its considerably heavier makes up for its sub standard HP restrictions with the amount of torque it makes. The truck is much happier bogging than it is at full rev. This really makes itself known when you look at the fuel mileage. The EPA rated the 94 Isuzu (1990-94 Isuzu pickups were unchanged other than cosmetically) with a 19mpg city and 23 mpg highway fuel mileage estimate, however I’ve gotten numbers with my pickup as high as 25mpg on average when I drive it the way it wants to be driven (down low) and as low as 15mpg when I drive it the way I want to (spinning the tires and revving it all the way out, or when loaded down with a 700lb motorcycle in the bed). The truck handles wonderfully with its short for its class 105.6″ wheel base and actually I prefer the firm more connected feel of the rack and pinion steering than I do a truck with power steering that you can’t necessarily feel how the tires are gripping through the wheel. The Isuzu pup has an EPA estimated range of 280 miles with a 20mpg average fuel mileage estimate and a 14 gallon fuel tank using 87 octane fuel.

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The transmission had the option of coming with Borg Werner T-5 internals giving it a very smooth shift feel that didn’t even require the use of the clutch if you knew how to shift smoothly and match engine rpm’s and shift points. The manual cable operated clutch gives a firm and distinct feel of engagement and disengagement points so you can hold the truck on a hill without the use of the brake and not worry about stalling the vehicle (of course this assumes you have a good clutch, when I bought my truck it had 345,000 miles and the clutch was on the rivets).

The suspension leaves a little to be desired, but stating again my truck has well over 350,000 miles now and is still running the stock springs and shocks. Still the suspension could have used an upgrade from the factory from what I’ve heard from others that have had an Isuzu pup from new. And really, when you look at the fact that my truck has now 356,000+ miles on it and I’ve not had to replace anything but standard wear items so far (coolant, brakes, tires, oil, clutch, and a starter) the Isuzu pup has been one of the best most economical vehicles to ever end up in my possession. I’ve had my pup for a little over a year now and with its age and mileage things are starting to go bad (it needs a radiator and heater core) but when you consider over the course of the year after the tires, starter, and clutch that all I’ve put into it is fuel, oil, and occasionally a little bit of water to replace the drips from the heater core and radiator and I’ve put over 11,000 miles on the truck in the course of that year. The truck has really done me well and only cost me about $2000 including initial purchase price and all parts/installation fees (of course I did a good portion of the work in a buddies garage with his assistance, thank god for friends with lifts and air compressors).

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I complain a lot about my underpowered little Isuzu, but really it’s done everything I’ve asked it to do and I know it will do more, and with rising fuel costs who really needs a V-8 that they’re not going to use the power in? I still plan and scheme for the day when the engine in my poor tired little truck will finally give up the ghost. For now it still runs good and strong and doesn’t burn a drop of oil, but when that day comes I plan on upgrading my suspension and slapping together a 350 4 bolt main Chevy V-8 with a 350 Turbo automatic transmission and a ford 9″ rear end to play with. Ahhh yes it will make a good drag truck, but until that day comes (and I can afford a newer truck) my little pup is a wonderful, economical, and fun street truck.