Road Tests: Long-Term Test

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So impressed were we with the redesigned 1998 Isuzu Rodeo that we decided to buy one for long-term duty in our growing test fleet. The Rodeo, which accounts for 85 percent of all Isuzu sales in the U.S., has plenty of potential to regain the top-selling import SUV title that it held briefly in 1992. Why? It’s comfortable, has a smooth ride, looks like a million bucks, and has a powerful overhead cam V-6 engine under the hood.

We selected the LS model, and equipped it with nearly every option. Painted silver with a dark gray leather interior and equipped with the optional Sport package, our Rodeo looks identical to the one in Isuzu’s print advertising for the truck. Exceptions to this rule are the tubular running boards and ugly plastic bug guard on the hood, but at least the latter will keep the paint from getting pitted during Denver winters. We’ve got a sunroof, a limited-slip differential, a trailer hitch, and an in-dash CD changer. What we don’t have is heated seats, and that leather is icy on cold mornings. Isuzu should add this item to the option list for the LS as soon as possible.

The great thing about living with a vehicle is that you discover irritants that don’t make themselves readily apparent during a one-day or one-week test. For example, we raved about the cool hatchgate in our road test of the Rodeo earlier this year. Now we hate the damn thing. Grant Whitmore, who’s been charged with the Rodeo for the past few weeks, has large dogs that require plenty of food. Loading big bags of dog food into the Rodeo is a royal pain in the keister. The Rodeo has flip-up rear glass, but with the big spare tire hanging on the tailgate, it’s almost impossible to utilize without leaning against the spare tire, which has been covered with muck since we picked the Rodeo up from Joe Tynan’s Isuzu in Aurora, Colorado (an Auto-by-Tel dealership). So, Grant usually pops the glass up and opens the tailgate, a two-step operation. After tossing the dog food into the cargo area, a three-step process is required to get the cargo door closed. First, Grant pulls the release handle just above the bumper, which is usually coated with the same muck that covers the spare tire, and consequently, his hand. Then he swings the door closed and flips down the rear window. It didn’t take long for him to wish Isuzu had gone with a more conventional hatchback-style liftgate. (It should be noted that Rodeos with smaller 15-inch wheels and tires have the spare mounted under the rear of the truck, making the flip-up glass easier to use.)

Other complaints include tall, vision-blocking rear headrests, a horn pad that only activates when hit dead center on the steering wheel, and winter/power transmission modes that are easy to inadvertently engage because the activation buttons reside right next to the cupholders on the center console.

Fortunately, the Rodeo is great fun to drive. We can’t get enough of the smooth power made by the overhead cam 3.2-liter V-6. The penalty for brisk driving? Poor fuel economy. But those with deep pockets don’t need to worry about it. Sit back and enjoy the crisp sound coming from the in-dash CD player, or load up friends for a trip to dinner, because there’s plenty of room in the back seat. While we still like the Rodeo, its shine is quickly fading. We came out one frigid morning to find that the driver’s side exterior mirror had cracked in half. Worse yet, no Denver-area dealers stocked the proper replacement part, and wouldn’t order it unless they saw the Rodeo first. Harumph!

Best Fuel Economy: 17.1 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 15.1 mpg
Maintenance Costs: $0
Problems: Cracked side-view mirror