Which Acura SUV is made by Isuzu?
The short answer: The Acura SLX was the model produced by Isuzu for Acura, effectively a badge-engineered version of the Isuzu Trooper sold in North America in the late 1990s.
In this article, we explore how this badge engineering came about, what the SLX represented in Acura’s lineup, and how it fits into the broader history of cross-brand collaborations in the auto industry. The piece provides a concise overview of the partnership, the vehicle’s place in market history, and its lasting legacy.
Background: How the collaboration came to be
During the 1990s, automakers occasionally explored badge engineering to expand model coverage without developing new platforms from scratch. For Acura, Honda’s luxury marque, one such path involved partnering with Isuzu to bring a rugged SUV with Isuzu engineering into Acura showrooms. The result was the SLX, a vehicle built by Isuzu and sold under the Acura banner in select markets.
Before outlining key facts, it helps to understand what made the SLX notable: it represented one of the few instances where an Acura model was sourced from another manufacturer, reflecting a temporary strategic alignment between the brands rather than a long-term platform sharing arrangement.
The following list highlights essential points about the SLX, its origin, and its role in Acura’s history.
- Model and badge: Acura SLX, a rebadged Isuzu Trooper
- Market availability: Sold in North America during the late 1990s (model years around 1997–1999)
- Manufacturer: Built by Isuzu in its own facilities for Acura distribution
- Purpose in Acura lineup: Aimed at expanding the brand’s SUV offerings with a rugged, off-road-capable option
In summary, the SLX stands as a standalone footnote in Acura’s product history—an example of cross-brand collaboration that was short-lived but historically significant for the brands involved.
Details: What distinguished the SLX in the marketplace
The SLX was essentially a Trooper wearing Acura badging, offering the robustness of Isuzu’s SUV engineering with Acura’s luxury branding. It catered to buyers seeking a capable, relatively affordable premium SUV with off-road credentials, a combination that was attractive in certain markets at the time.
Key considerations about the SLX
Several aspects shaped the SLX’s reception and legacy, including its mid- to late-1990s styling, interior appointments aligned with Acura’s brand expectations, and the reality that production and development were outside Acura’s traditional Honda-based supply chain.
Legacy and current context
Today, no current Acura SUV is built by Isuzu. The collaboration that produced the SLX was a product of its era, and Acura’s modern SUV lineup—such as the MDX and RDX—comes from Honda’s global manufacturing network rather than Isuzu facilities. The Isuzu brand itself shifted away from mainstream SUV production in North America as market dynamics changed, making the SLX a historical curiosity rather than a continuing model line.
In the larger context of badge engineering, the SLX illustrates how brands have experimented with cross-brand products to fill gaps in a lineup or to leverage a partner’s engineering while maintaining distinct brand identities—an approach that has become less common in the premium SUV space today.
Summary
The Acura SLX represents a unique chapter in Acura’s history: a badge-engineered SUV built by Isuzu and sold under the Acura name for a brief window in the late 1990s. While the collaboration was short-lived and no longer active, it remains a notable example of how automakers have experimented with cross-brand synergy to broaden their product portfolios. Today’s Acura SUVs are developed and built within Honda’s broader manufacturing network, with no current Isuzu-built models in the lineup.
Who makes the Acura SUV?
Acura SUVs are made by Honda, which owns Acura as its luxury division. While Honda produces the vehicles, Acura SUVs like the RDX and MDX are assembled in North American plants, primarily in Ohio.
- Manufacturer: Honda makes Acura SUVs.
- Assembly locations: North American plants are the primary assembly sites.
- Specific plants: The East Liberty, Ohio plant assembles the RDX and MDX SUVs.
- Related models: Acura's SUV models share platforms with Honda SUVs, such as the RDX with the Honda CR-V and the MDX with the Honda Pilot.
What is the most common problem with Acura MDX?
Common Problems:
- Transmission failure: Early MDX models had issues with automatic transmission failure, leading to costly replacements.
- Steering rack issues: Some vehicles experienced steering rack and pump failure, which led to a loss of power steering.
Which Honda SUV is made by Isuzu?
Honda Passport
First released for the 1994 model year, the original Honda Passport was actually a rebadged version of the Isuzu Rodeo delivered as part of a partnership between the two car companies.
What SUV did Isuzu make?
Isuzu MU-X
The Isuzu MU-X (Japanese: ミューエックス, romanized: Myū Ekkusu) is a mid-size SUV produced by Isuzu.
