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:

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  Mechanical nightmare - 1998 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Isuzu No More - November 22 - 5:26 am

  Im a 19 year old college student and last year, my dad bought me a Rodeo to drive to and from school (4 1/2 hours each way). I chose it thinking it would be a good, reliable vehicle with low maintenance costs. I was wrong. Come to find out, these engines are extremely problematic and I have yet to see a car with this engine over 170,000 miles. A comparable Toyota 4Runner will run twice as long with no problems. There is a reason why Isuzus things depreciate so quickly. My 150,000 mile Rodeo burns about a quart of oil every 600 miles, so I always have to have some on hand. And the parts are ridiculously expensive, often higher than comparable parts for a BMW--literally.

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  I Dont Know What Happened? - 1998 Isuzu Rodeo
  By ANGIE KING - November 15 - 1:30 am

  When I bought my Rodeo a little over a year ago it was running fine, no problems when we bought it. It had 85000 miles on it. We did the regular maintenance. Well when the thing hit 100,000 miles we decided to change the timing belt as recommended; everything went down hill from there. First the belt was done wrong so the valves were smashed. It’s been 10,000 miles since the belt was changed. We have since replaced the water pump, the thermostat 3 times, the radiator, the drive belt, the belt tensioner, the hoses, we have had the head resurfaced and let me tell you the parts for these things dont come cheap. I love the look of my Rodeo - it is a very rare orange color, if it would just run!

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  WHAT, NOT UNDER WARRANTY? - 2004 Isuzu Rodeo
  By greg masinelli - November 14 - 10:00 am

  they will not fix warranty work. they tell me at 25000 miles that it is all maintenance work. ignition sticks,idles at 1600rpms all the time, it clunks in the rear end when you leave a stop light. I took it in two other times for ignition sticking and they said nothing then about thats the way it is designed. very poor quality and will never buy another one ,ever!

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  Great Find - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By C.P. - November 12 - 10:00 am

  After I had been in an accident that rolled my van, I went looking for a good reliable vehicle with low miles. I found a Rodeo and instantly new this was the vehicle. The ride is great. Being in the south we have some rough roads and big hills. This vehicle is able to navigate the terrain well. It feels very stable on the road. After about 3 months and pushing up the miles I still love the vehicle and have found it only starts to get uncomfortable after riding in it for about 5 hours. As my friends and fam have checked it out they too have found it to be a great vehicle and might be getting one of their own.

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  I am Happy I Bought it - 2002 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Happyone - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Rodeo in August 2002. I must say I am really happy with it. Aside from the poor gas mileage (city), I am happy I bought it. The interior of the vehichle is cheaply built, but the power is awesome. It is really dependable and affordable.

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  Good Truck - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By jsh - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Good truck. Make sure you pay proper price

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  NEVER AGAIN - 2004 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Jd Texas Flyer - November 3 - 10:00 am

  Bought TWO of these dogs on the same day (what was I thinking) for wife and daughter, hoping to get them into something reliable and safe - just the opposite. After 20K miles, major items began to fail such as catalytic converter (complete failure), transmission oil leakage (required complete transmission replacement), engine starter failure (replaced / both cars), ABS brake failures, throttle control valves, EGR valves, gas gauges, central computer, radio (lights, speakers), along with multiple factory recall repairs, some of which required more than a day to complete (without a supplied rental). There is NO feeling of dependability.

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  Problems? Maybe a couple small ones - 2001 Isuzu Rodeo
  By redg - November 2 - 5:17 pm

  Im in California. No salted roads, not much rain or snow. Ive read the reviews of rusted frames but mine has no rust. I bought the car, a previous rental, one year old and, except for the fuel sender, replaced at 75000 mi. and the recurring engine light for the egr valve (Just remove it and clean it...easy to do) its performed flawlessly. Only gets 20mpg on the road and uses a quart of oil (I run 5-30 synthetic) between changes. Rough riding without a full load of people. I love this car. Plenty of power and nimble handling, I guess the winter drive selection must sense temperature because it only worked once...in winter. Power drive is a nice touch. A poor mans Honda Passport

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  Great Buy - 1999 Isuzu Rodeo
  By jgtompkins - October 13 - 10:00 am

  Bought the car new in 1999 and have not had any problems. Finally replaced the barkes at 103,000 miles. Other than maintence I have had to spend nothing else. I am now selling for a van because we are a growing family. I wish Isuzu made a van. We have owned several Isuzus in the past and they have all been very reliable. I have recommended it to many friends.

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  2 year owner - 2002 Isuzu Rodeo
  By CW - October 2 - 5:56 pm

  I was overall somewhat satisfied with this car. It was easy to load and unload since the floor of the cargo area was up higher than say a minivan. It was extremely reliable, who wouldnt love that?