Young working woman's view: The five passenger, four-wheel drive Ascender we tested was listed at about $28,000 (US) but it had $7,000 in options making it more expensive than some of the luxury SUVs that have a similar seating capacity. The option packages are so large that they make individualizing the Ascender nearly impossible. You have a Featured Equipment Package with keyless entry, side mirror defrosters, privacy glass, cruise control, special body cladding, an anti-theft system, vanity mirrors, overhead console, cargo cover, and floor mats. That is a very difficult package to ignore for $1900 and if you add $500 for the roof rack and side air bags and you have a well-equipped vehicle. But wait, there's more. There is a LS equipment package for $2500 that features a power moonroof, upgraded stereo, limited slip differential, and alloy wheels. And, for $3204 you get leather, a BOSE stereo system, heated seats, adjustable pedals, and a compass and temperature gauge. There is a discount if you get all the options of $1517. Although we usually stick to the MSRP, I have little doubt that the Isuzu dealers are going to put together an attractive deal since the competition is fierce and this model is essentially the same as the plentiful Envoy and the Trail Blazer.
For me, as a businesswoman, it comes down to value. The Ascender comes with Isuzu's 3-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and 7-year/75,000-mile powertrain warranty vs. the competitions 3-year/36,000-mile coverage. Isuzu also provides roadside assistance for seven years or 100,000 miles, and a rust through promise up to 72 months or 100,000 miles so these are all in its favor. So if that is what you want this Ascender is a good choice. Ultimately, I can see no reason to consider the Isuzu unless you have a local dealer, however, I would not snub the Ascender because of name recognition.
College attending male's view: I had my songs played on the radio for the first time and got a check for 24 cents. My career is beginning to take off and my dad feels that my stage name, Simple Thoughts, is very appropriate (www.simple-thoughts.net). Until that time when I am in full flight this Ascender is simply not on my list. It is heavy, cumbersome to drive, has little feeling, needs constant steering wheel input when on all but the smoothest of roads, and has a sub-standard stereo system and speakers.
On the good side of the ledger, the interior is generous in size, the 60/40 split seat fold easily and you don't have to even remove the head rests as they automatically-fold out of the way. However, instead of a flat load floor with all seats folded, the Ascender's floor is slanted and uneven. This Isuzu is strictly a price vehicle in my book. If you can get a good deal on it, don't depend on using a SUV as a babe magnet, have a habit of owning them for a long time so depreciation is not a problem, and don't drive enough miles to be bothered by the poor gas mileage, you might just want to give this model a drive.
Dad's view: The 4.2 liter six-cylinder Ascender is underpowered with a full family onboard even thought it is rated at 270 horsepower when you get to 6000 rpm. The 5.3-liter V8 has more energy, but it comes at a steep premium of nearly $1500. Despite my best efforts to get good fuel mileage I was hard pressed to get much more that 12-mpg in city driving. There is a Displacement on Demand feature that is said to increase gas mileage by about 2 mpg, but face it, this is not the type of vehicle to own if you are remotely concerned about conservation. Acceleration is adequate, but hardly significant. Indeed, the best part of the Ascender is its highway ride. There its soft suspension is not overly taxed and turning the stereo up a notch can hide the considerable wind rush so typical of boxy SUVs. Unfortunately, unless you opt for the deluxe stereo package, don't expect much quality from the base unit.
For me, as a businesswoman, it comes down to value. The Ascender comes with Isuzu's 3-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and 7-year/75,000-mile powertrain warranty vs. the competitions 3-year/36,000-mile coverage. Isuzu also provides roadside assistance for seven years or 100,000 miles, and a rust through promise up to 72 months or 100,000 miles so these are all in its favor. So if that is what you want this Ascender is a good choice. Ultimately, I can see no reason to consider the Isuzu unless you have a local dealer, however, I would not snub the Ascender because of name recognition.
College attending male's view: I had my songs played on the radio for the first time and got a check for 24 cents. My career is beginning to take off and my dad feels that my stage name, Simple Thoughts, is very appropriate (www.simple-thoughts.net). Until that time when I am in full flight this Ascender is simply not on my list. It is heavy, cumbersome to drive, has little feeling, needs constant steering wheel input when on all but the smoothest of roads, and has a sub-standard stereo system and speakers.
On the good side of the ledger, the interior is generous in size, the 60/40 split seat fold easily and you don't have to even remove the head rests as they automatically-fold out of the way. However, instead of a flat load floor with all seats folded, the Ascender's floor is slanted and uneven. This Isuzu is strictly a price vehicle in my book. If you can get a good deal on it, don't depend on using a SUV as a babe magnet, have a habit of owning them for a long time so depreciation is not a problem, and don't drive enough miles to be bothered by the poor gas mileage, you might just want to give this model a drive.
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