Used 2008 Isuzu i-290 Extended Cab

The once-robust Isuzu lineup is down to just two models: The Ascender SUV and the 2008 i-Series pickup truck. Although the i-Series shares a common platform with the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, it offers a better powertrain warranty for those who don’t put a lot of annual miles on their vehicles and tend to keep them for a longer time (seven-years/75,000 miles vs. five-years/100,000 miles). The tough little i-290 and i-370 are among the few remaining small trucks that can rightfully call themselves compacts, giving them an advantage in both maneuverability and fuel efficiency over their ever-larger rivals. If you’re not looking to tow heavy loads nor require copious amounts of passenger space, the i-Series trucks make a great choice.

The i-Series pickups are well mannered when traveling on paved surfaces, offering a comfortable ride and respectable acceleration. Some testers were not happy with the vague steering response and touchy brakes, while others reported that traversing washboard surfaces caused the i-Series’ rear end to jump about. In this regard, the i-Series pickups lag behind the standards set by the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier. These same testers, however, praised the i-Series models for their off-road abilities, noting the narrow body was easy to maneuver in tight spaces and the four-wheel-drive system seemed undaunted by loose sand and rocky trails. We were pleased with our test truck’s 3.7-liter engine, which averaged about 18 mpg in mixed city and highway driving.

The i-290 Extended Cab offers an optional set of forward-facing rear jump seats separated by a small console with integral cup holders (standard on i-370). Given the cab’s limited space, these seats will not comfortably accommodate adults. The i-370 Crew Cab offers better accommodations for four, providing a split-folding rear bench seat with fixed head restraints. Though front-seat legroom and headroom is ample, the i-Series’ narrow cab makes for snug shoulder and hip room, and the flat seat cushions don’t offer much in the way of long-term comfort. From a purely functional point of view, outward visibility is fairly open and the i-Series instrument cluster is large and legible. Esthetically speaking, however, the abundant grey plastic creates a rather industrial interior that is neither inspiring nor inviting.

From every angle but the front, it’s hard to distinguish the i-290 and i-370 from their GM cousins, the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Isuzu makes the truck its own by grafting on the company’s signature chrome grille and badging. A 126-inch wheelbase serves as the platform for all trims, with the i-290 and i-370 Extended Cabs offering a six-foot bed and the i-370 Crew Cab a five-foot bed. Buyers can order a number of off-road and appearance packages, including larger wheels and tires, color-keyed wheel arches and graphic decals.

Two-Position Tailgate
The i-Series’ tailgate can be set at a 55- or 89-degree angle, the former positioning the tailgate edge at the same height as the tops of the inner fender liners, which allows items longer than the bed — such as that 4×8 sheet of plywood — to be supported yet remain level. The tailgate is also removable and lockable.

Head-Curtain Side-Impact Airbags
The head-curtain airbags offer protection for both front- and rear-seat outboard occupants, and are standard on the i-370 Crew Cab and optional on the i-370 Extended Cab.

The i-290 Extended Cab pickup features a 2.9-liter, four-cylinder engine, five-speed manual transmission, 15-inch aluminum wheels, four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), power steering, automatic on/off headlamps and a 60/40 split-bench vinyl front seat. The i-370 Extended Cab adds a 3.7-liter five-cylinder engine, four-speed automatic transmission, fog lights, sliding rear window, full carpeting, remote keyless entry, cloth front bucket seats, power windows/door locks/mirrors, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with six speakers, cruise control and two forward-facing rear jump seats. The Crew Cab 4×4 includes a shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive, locking rear differential and an off-road suspension.

Optional on the i-290 is the Preferred Equipment Package that adds an AM/FM stereo with CD-MP3 player, rear jump seats, full carpeting, tinted windows and an under-seat storage bin. A four-speed automatic transmission is also available. The i-370 Extended Cab offers an automatic locking rear differential, traction control, head-curtain side-impact airbags, six-disc CD changer and a rear bumper with integrated trailer hitch. The i-370 Crew Cab offers leather seating, six-disc CD changer, heated eight-way power driver’s and six-way power passenger’s seats and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

The i-Series offer two engine choices. A 2.9-liter, in-line four-cylinder engine with an impressive 185 horsepower teamed to a five-speed manual transmission powers the i-290. As four-cylinder engines go, the i-Series is one of the most powerful and fuel-efficient in its class. Those needing more power can opt for the 3.7-liter in-line five-cylinder engine offered only on the i-370 Crew Cab. Rated at 242 horsepower, the 3.7-liter seeks to strike a balance between power and fuel economy.

2.9-liter in-line 4
185 horsepower @ 5600 rpm
190 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/24 (2WD, manual), 18/24 (2WD, automatic)

3.7-liter in-line 5
242 horsepower @ 5600 rpm
242 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/22 (2WD), 15/20 (4WD)