Introduction

The Isuzu Rodeo looks at home near the soccer fields. It's light on its feet and easy to drive, which makes it better than average for the kind of suburban/metro duty most sport-utilities perform. And it's comfortable and nicely equipped, which makes it a great family vehicle. Yet there is another side to the Rodeo you would never guess existed unless you ventured into rough country. A frisky V6 engine and highly capable four-wheel-drive system turns this friendly, easy-to-handle city car into a serious trailblazer that can navigate some amazingly rough territory. Isuzu's Rodeo was completely re-engineered for 1998, the first complete change since its 1991 introduction. It's substantially more refined than the first-generation. For 1999, there's an expanded list of options, new colors, additional refinement and an all-new trim level. The keyless remote is improved.

Walkaround

Rodeo's utilitarian looks feature a short rear overhang, blister fenders and fastback styling. The track was widened for 1998, which improves handling and gives the Rodeo a more aggressive stance. A relatively low floor pan makes getting in easier. The 4-cylinder engine that comes on the base two-wheel-drive Rodeo develops 130 horsepower and 144 foot-pounds of torque. It gets an EPA-rated 21/24 city/highway miles per gallon. But that's not a lot of power for a 3,900-pound vehicle, particularly when attacking grades at high altitudes. Most folks will opt for one of the V6 models. It develops 205 horsepower and 214 foot-pounds of torque. Isuzu's 3.0-liter V6 compares favorably to its competition: Mitsubishi's Montero Sport LS struggles with 173 horsepower and 188 foot-pounds, while Nissan's Pathfinder lags with 168 horsepower and 196 foot-pounds. But the Rodeo's V6 wilts next to the Chevy Blazer's 4.3-liter Vortec V6, so it's not the hot setup for pulling that 20-foot travel trailer. Isuzu's V6 gets 18/20 mpg, 16/20 with the automatic. On four-wheel-drive models a button, rather than a lever, is used to switch between two- and four-wheel drive. All Rodeo 4X4s come with a two-speed transfer case; you drop into low range by stopping and shifting a floor-mounted lever. All Rodeos come with skid plates under the radiator and fuel tank to protect against rock damage when driving off-road. Four-wheel drive models get a skid plate under the transfer case, too.

Interior Features

Rodeo's interior is straightforward and highly functional. Controls are well placed and instruments are easy to read. We missed not having an oil pressure gauge or ammeter, the cupholder is dicey for holding coffee and it took a little time to master the windshield washer/wiper control, but otherwise the Rodeo is easy to manage while going down the road. There is ample headroom all around and there's adequate legroom in front. People under 6-foot tall found the front seats comfortable. Rear-seat legroom is fine for children, but limited for adults. Overall, the Rodeo's seats are not its best feature. The seat bottoms are too short, making it difficult for taller drivers and passengers to find a comfortable angle for the seat backs. In the rear, the seat backs are too upright for comfort. One 6-foot 5-inch rear-seat passenger remarked that, even though he was wearing a seat belt, the size and angle of the seat made him feel like he was going to slide out of it as we worked our way down one steep, rocky trail. The good news is that Isuzu is redesigning the seats for model year 2000. The rear seat folds down to reveal a large, relatively flat cargo area. There's 81 cubic feet of cargo space and the cargo area is just a bit over 5 feet in length. In other words, the Rodeo holds a lot of gear. The tailgate opens from the right and swings to the left. Not having to walk around an open door makes it easier to unload baggage at the airport or load groceries curbside. You can now order your Rodeo with the full-size spare tire mounted underneath the cargo area or on the hatchgate door. By integrating the spare tire carrier with the hatchgate, the need for a separate spare tire carrier is eliminated, so you no longer have to swing a gate out of the way. That makes getting in back a two-step process, rather than a three-step process. You release the rear hatch glass, then swing the rear door open.