Overview & Reviews

Just about every automotive manufacturer produces a sport-utility vehicle today. But back in the early 1990s, there was only a sprinkling of truck-based, off-road vehicles to whet the appetites of those trendsetters who were ahead of their time in appreciating elevated seating heights and macho styling. The Isuzu Rodeo was one of these pioneers; a midsize SUV with ample room for five passengers and a comfy ride. Compared to more rough-and-tumble models from Jeep or Chevy, the Rodeo was much easier to live with on a day-to-day basis, and it quickly became a best-selling import SUV.

For the second-generation Rodeo, Isuzu concentrated on weight reduction, noise deadening, passenger comfort and improved on-road driving dynamics that all made the Rodeo a more livable daily driver. Thanks to a generous warranty, it was initially one of our top choices in the segment, but quickly found itself outclassed by newer competitors despite some minor updates.

Although a well-maintained used Isuzu Rodeo should satisfy shoppers on a tight budget, those willing to spend a bit more would be better served by more refined SUVs such as the Nissan Pathfinder or Toyota 4Runner.

Most recent Isuzu Rodeo

The second-generation Isuzu Rodeo midsize SUV arrived in 1998 with the same basic shape of its successful predecessor. The spare tire was now attached directly to the hatch (rather than a separate swinging tire carrier), or it could be mounted under the truck for a cleaner tail end design. These two configurations also reduced weight, which was a key design goal for Isuzu's engineers. In total, 285 pounds were shaved off the Rodeo by reducing frame and engine weight, by switching to rack-and-pinion steering and by using a five-link rear suspension design.

This reduced the burden on the four- and six-cylinder engines, which despite going up in power, were hardly known for providing quick acceleration. The standard 2.2-liter inline-4 engine available on the base S model made an anemic 129 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque, and could only be coupled to a five-speed manual. The 3.2-liter V6 available on the S and standard on the LS and LSE produced 205 hp and 214 lb-ft and was mated to either the manual or a four-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive was standard with four-wheel drive being optional on all trim levels, but only with the V6.

The base S model with the four-cylinder engine was essentially a stripper (though antilock brakes were standard) with only a few options like air-conditioning available. Standard and optional equipment on upper trim levels included alloy wheels, a limited-slip differential, full power accessories, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, keyless entry, moonroof, leather upholstery and a six-speaker stereo with cassette or CD player.

In 2000, the Isuzu Rodeo received more than 200 changes, including an aggressive styling refresh, updated seating and an optional Intelligent Suspension Control (ISC) system that automatically selected one of 17 shock rebound and compression rates depending on road conditions. A new Ironman LS package included sunroof, alloy wheels, ISC, special decals and a Best of Black Sabbath album (wait, that's a different Ironman). A transferable 10-year/120,000-mile powertrain warranty also became standard in 2000 and a two-door Rodeo Sport model was sold from 2001 to 2003.

When that second-generation Rodeo debuted, we considered it one of the top midsize SUVs on the market. We were particularly impressed with its quality interior, silky V6 engine and roomy backseat. After a long-term test and two years later, however, we were no longer so enamored (quite the opposite, really) and thought that in general, recently introduced SUVs were much better choices than the Rodeo.

While the V6 and ample space continued to score points, our long-termer's three breakdowns, shoddy build quality and numerous electrical gremlins were simply unacceptable and we began to view the interior plastics as increasingly cheap compared to those in the newer competition. We also complained about the vehicle's paltry gas mileage, low towing capacity and rough-riding suspension.

Past Isuzu Rodeo models

The original Isuzu Rodeo was introduced for 1991. Like its replacement, it was available with four- and six-cylinder engines and a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive. With its long wheelbase, this Rodeo offered one of the best rides and largest backseats on the market.

Initially, both the 3.1-liter V6 and 2.6-liter inline-4 made only 120 hp. The V6 made 30 more lb-ft of torque, but its upgrade to 175 hp in 1993 was certainly welcome. The four-cylinder remained unchanged. Early Rodeos were also not very safe, receiving poor crash test scores and offering almost no safety equipment. Antilock brakes were standard, but were rear-wheel only with four-wheel ABS becoming an option in 1995. That year also saw front airbags added along with a redesigned dashboard courtesy of Honda, which rebadged the Rodeo as its Passport SUV a year previously. The only other significant changes for the Rodeo occurred in 1996 when Isuzu bumped the V6 up to 190 hp, added a shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system and improved the vehicle's ride quality.

User Reviews:

• 

  old zuzu - 2004 Isuzu Rodeo
  By bigroo - January 15 - 10:00 am

  sorry people, i have a 95 rodeo. i just had to write something. my 95 rodeo has been through 3 teenagers, now on 128000 miles and has had no problems on it as far as breaking down. this is my first vehicle and i LOVE it!! and of course its got 4wd so this thing does see a lot of off road use. it has held up for almost 10 years now. even as its previous owners treated it like a red headed step-child.

• 

  2002 Rodeo - 2002 Isuzu Rodeo
  By maxell27 - January 11 - 2:00 am

  I have a 2001 Rodeo S V6 4wd and love it. It handles great and it is a true SUV, not like a car with SUV features. I loved it so much that my folks just bought a 2002 Rodeo LS 4wd. You can not beat the warranty, features and price. I wanted a SUV not a car and I am very pleased with my Rodeo. In fact so are my folks.

• 

  Something Missing - 2004 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Diablita - January 9 - 10:00 am

  I think the Rodeo is a fun car to drive it needs a little improvement... the interior is not that pretty, the cloth of the seats is a very cheap maetrial, but they are not that uncomfortable... very roomy, and the cargo area is huge... i cant really complain there

• 

  Pleased Overall - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By andrea kelley - December 26 - 10:00 am

  I purchased the Rodeo when I found out I was pregnant and specifically wanted a small SUV for the ease of getting a child in and out of the car seat. I didnt want to hurt my back by lifting an bending over constantly. The extra space for the stroller and misc supplies has been a real plus. The actual performance of the vehicle has been excellent. I havent had any problems what so ever mechanically. The pick up is not as powerful as I sometimes want it, but then again I need to remeber there are children in the car now and I dont need to race everywhere I go.Overall Im satisfied.

• 

  Best Friend - 1998 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Sharon - December 15 - 12:40 am

  My 98 has about 200k ... my check engine light is on due to two sensors needing to be replace both costing $200-$300 but other than that, there is virtually nothing else wrong with the car......since Ive had it (2.5yrs) Ive had to change the breaks, timing belt, spark plugs/tune up.. very satisfied

• 

  LS V6 3.2 5sp MT - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By kylel012 - December 13 - 7:56 pm

  There seem to be many issues with high mileage. We bought brand new. Did not however have any problems til now. With 213600 miles on it, I just had to replace the wiring harness @ $2000.00 and this morning it would not move. It pulls a horse trailer with no problems.

• 

  This is one cool truck!!! - 1998 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Custo - December 12 - 10:00 am

  I bought my rodeo used a few months a go. Havent had any problems with it jet, althoug the truck had 90,000 miles on it.

• 

  Former Rodeo Owner - 2000 Isuzu Rodeo
  By dimitrisyaakov - December 12 - 10:00 am

  The Rodeo is small( sholder room ), top heavy, has poorly thoughtout interior and exterior design. Windshield moldings had to be removed and re-glued due to excessive wind noise. The front suspension was factory bad and had to be modified to level the vehicle out. The brakes stick when a hard stop is required. The rear axle yoke had to have special grease and parts to make it function properly. There were spot weld rust through around the rear lift gate from the factory. The ride was rough. Wind, Rain and Road noise were horrable. Traveling down the road while raining you hear every drop.

• 

  Accidental Purchase - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Frank G - December 12 - 10:00 am

  My S10 pickup blew its enging and I needed a vehicle right now. Saw the Rodeo LS 4WD at the Dodge dealer and it only took a few minutes to purchase. Its a solid feeling very good handling auto that pleased both my wife and I. Ride is a bit rough, mpg only so-so (16 city 22 high way) but a very easy to operate vehicle. Took it on a 1200 trip first week and loved every mile.

• 

  A dependable sturdy working ride - 1999 Isuzu Rodeo
  By texas - December 12 - 1:30 am

  I purchased my Rodeo new and have loved every minute of owning it. I have taken great care of it with regular checkups and changes. I am at 225k all orig. parts. I live in the country on a farm and work 30 miles in town and it has served me well. The great part is it is still going. I have just recently purchased a small car for work and to save on gas but have no complaints with my Rodeo. It has lived up to its name in all aspects and I am sure it will go well over 300k.