An example of badge engineering at its finest, the Ascender is basically a GMC Envoy (or a Chevy Trailblazer) with a nose job. And like the Envoy, it shares most of its mechanicals. That means you’ll find the same 4.2 liter inline-six under the hood. And while the GM offers a V8 option and a longer wheelbase, Isuzu’s version only comes as a shorty with either rear- or four-wheel drive. ...

Available only as an extended cab with a five-person capacity, the Isuzu i-290 is one third of the GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado triplets so it should look, sound and feel familiar. As the name suggests, it is powered exclusively by a 2.9 liter inline-four cylinder engine. The big four-banger makes 185 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 190 lb-ft at a low 2,800 rpm and returns 18 mpg in the city and 24 ...

The i-370 is a unique truck (at least as unique as its near clones, the GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado) in that it offers an odd-ball inline-five cylinder engine. Touted at its launch as offering the fuel economy of a four cylinder with the power of a V6, the 3.7 liter straight five manages to make decent power: 242 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 242 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. Fuel economy is ...