Isuzu Ascender History

As Isuzu ran out of resources to develop its own US SUVs, it turned to partner GM for a product, launching the Ascender for 2003 as a rebadged GMC Envoy XL — a seven-passenger, body-on-frame truck-based SUV on GM's GMT-360 platform with the Trailblazer and Envoy. A shorter five-passenger version followed for 2005.

The Ascender effectively marked the end of Isuzu's ability to field its own North American passenger vehicles; it was sold as-is with only a different grille and Isuzu badges. Production ended June 6, 2008, and Isuzu formally exited the US passenger-vehicle market on January 31, 2009.