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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  Rodeo - 1999 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Mark Rockman - May 1 - 2:00 am

  The rodeo is a very reliable truck. It is simple to go into 4 wheel drive and has minimal maintenance problems. It is great off road as well as handling on the open road. I love it..

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  Awesome Car - 2003 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Wolf83 - April 12 - 2:00 am

  One of the bet SUVs Ive ever driven. Awesome Power, needed a little more interior refiniement but overall a great vehicle. Has great offroad capability. Helps to have Spare on the hatch. I love this SUV.

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  Stylish fun - 1999 Isuzu Rodeo
  By administrator - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Love it! Fun vehicle to drive and has a smooth comfortable feel over bumpy roads. The interior is very spacious, one doesnt feel "close in", that is, the driver does not "fit like a glove" in the driver seat...its not a sports car...its a SUV.

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  Nice - 1999 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Durkk82 - April 5 - 2:23 pm

  I just bought this suv and I love it, but the fuel gauge does not work. The motor has a slight knocking sound. Over all its a very nice car, it looks good and rides great. So really I have no complaints.

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  Good on paper, but.... - 1999 Isuzu Rodeo
  By reed jones - April 1 - 10:00 am

  Going on 4 years, replaced engine under warranty (just barely), otherwise OK. Gives off very musty odor from AC (?!?), lots of creaks and rattles, loud road noise, lousy seats. Great off- road, fun to bang around in, but not reliable and not refined at all. Wouldnt buy another Isuzu.

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  Lemon - 2003 Isuzu Rodeo
  By mita - March 26 - 2:00 am

  Got less than 11000 miles before I had to trade. Poorest vehicle I ever had.

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  Im in the blue one - 2002 Isuzu Rodeo
  By jenningsm - March 18 - 10:00 am

  My experiences are all good... Im slightly disappointed in the fuel economy, although it is in line with the EPA estimates (im getting 18 in town and 23 hiway) Spring for the LS... the extra features are small stuff, but they are an improvement (I didnt and wish that I did... i ended up buying some of the amenities for the cargo area and ended up spending 300 there alone)

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  satisfied - 2004 Isuzu Rodeo
  By glewis - March 9 - 10:00 am

  Having owned 3 previous Isuzus I knew what to expect in the 2004 Rodeo. It hasnt changed in years and I was looking to take advantage of lower interest rates, remaining trade-in value and rebates to get into a new version. I like a no-frills 4-door dependable, logical sport utility I can take to the country as well as haul stuff around town. Ive always been satisfied with the Isuzu product.

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  1999 Rodeo - 1999 Isuzu Rodeo
  By Sunny - March 5 - 11:16 am

  I purchased my Rodeo new and used it as my main vehicle for 8 years. One of the main things I was looking for was the ability to transport my bicycle inside the SUV, yet have a mid- sized vehicle that was easy to handle. The Rodeo has met every expectation and at 112,000+ miles, I am still very happy with it. I have honestly not kept up with the scheduled maintenance as the Isuzu dealerships come and go in our town, but have done the general oil changes, etc. There have been very few problems with it, and the only real negative is that it only gets about 15 - 18 miles a gallon at this point.

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  The best vehicle I owned. - 1998 Isuzu Rodeo
  By bobbi23 - February 23 - 10:00 am

  This is the 6th vehicle I have owned. All were bought new from a dealer. The Rodeo is the first one that never had any problems. The only money spent was oil changes every 3,000 miles and tire rotations every 6,000 miles, dealer servicing at 15 & 30,000 miles. It is a great car. The only complaint I have is the seats are uncomfortable for long distance driving.