2006 ISUZU I-350 NEW CAR BUYER'S GUIDE

What's New for the 2006 Isuzu i-Series?
After a five-year hiatus, Isuzu brings a compact pickup back into its lineup with the 2006 i-Series. There are two versions of this midsize pickup: the i-280 extended cab and the i-350 crew cab. Both are heavily based on General Motors' most recent compact pickup design used for the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. (There's precedence for this badge engineering – the old Isuzu Hombre pickup, honored with one of the more interesting names in auto-land, was based on the Chevrolet S-10.) The two-wheel-drive i-280 has a 2.8-liter, inline four-cylinder engine that makes 175 horsepower and 185 lb.-ft. of torque. The four-wheel-drive i-350 has a 3.5-liter, inline five good for 220 hp and 225 lb.-ft. The i-350, being a crew-cab design, also has more room for rear passengers or interior cargo, though the tradeoff is a bed that's slightly shorter than the i-280's. Standard equipment for the i-280 includes air conditioning, cruise control, side-curtain airbags and antilock brakes. Optional are power windows, locks and mirrors; a CD player; keyless entry; front bucket seats; and rear jump seats. The i-350 is much better equipped as pretty much all of the i-280s optional features come standard. Leather seating and a six-disc CD changer are also available on the i-350.

Advantages of the 2006 Isuzu i-Series:

• Frugal four-cylinder in the i-280
• Extended powertrain warranty
• Standard antilock brakes and side-curtain airbags

Objections to the 2006 Isuzu i-Series:

• Doesn't have as many optional packages as its GM siblings
• Low tow ratings
• Budget interior

Editor's Advice:
If you're thinking of getting a small GM pickup, and you're thinking about keeping it for a long time, consider the Isuzu i-Series. The truck's 7-year/70,000-mile powertrain and roadside assistance warranties are about double in length then those offered on the Chevy and GMC trucks. All three trucks are pretty much identical, so why not? Those not dead-set on the i-Series will find it to be a decent truck but not much else. The Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier, though more expensive, are more powerful, capable and rewarding to own.