2002 Isuzu Axiom ; Another truck from Isuzu? In a word, yes.

If you think of trucks as a fad, don't tell that to Isuzu. They're all the Japanese automaker builds, without apology. If it's a car you want, Isuzu will gladly tell you to look elsewhere.

Until now, that is. Enter Axiom, Isuzu's answer to its car-devoid lineup. Only Axiom isn't a car. It's another Isuzu sport/ute, but the most car-like sport/ute Isuzu has ever designed.

With its slightly lowered ride height and a decided-ly wagon-esque rear hatch design, Axiom certainly looks more like a car (at least from the rear) than, say, a Trooper or Rodeo. More so, it drives more like a car than anything else in Isuzu's lineup-or many other SUVs on the road, for that matter.

Axiom gets its car-like ride despite a fully boxed-frame platform, borrowed from the Rodeo. This saves the company money, of course, but Isuzu says using a conventional frame chassis over a unibody design also gives Axiom a stiffer body that is more resistant to bending and twisting forces. Important because although Axiom is built primarily for on-road performance, it is still an Isuzu, which means it better be able to venture off-road with some semblance of ability.

Also helping off-roadworthiness is an automatic transmission with built-in grade-sensing software, limited-slip diff and Isuzu's Torque-On-Demand 4wd system with low range. When TOD (essentially a viscous center differential) senses wheelslip, up to 50 percent of engine torque shifts to the front wheels to maintain traction.

It felt more than capable in a run down a pothole-ridden dirt road, the four-wheel drive pulling us up and over some tricky spots with little fanfare. But Axiom's lowered ride height most likely will ...