Road Tests: Long-Term Test

Things have been pretty quiet with our long-term test Rodeo for the first time since we introduced the truck in November. No unexplained malfunctions, no hasty trips to a service center, just the solid transportation that we expected when buying an Isuzu. The flickering ABS light has not reared its head in awhile, but we plan to have it investigated, along with the faulty trailering harness, when the Rodeo goes in for its next service in March.

This month, the Rodeo served basic commuter duty in Denver’s notorious stop and go traffic. The Isuzu’s commanding view kept our drivers informed of changing road conditions ahead, and its powerful engine allowed drivers to exploit narrow openings in traffic. There is a price to be paid for this power, however, and that is the Rodeo’s unimpressive gas mileage. We realize that most of our drivers have a lead foot, but the month’s best 13.8 mpg is a shocker even for us. Without any long trips to even things out, the Rodeo’s fuel consumption this month was abysmal.

Quick trips to hiking trails have again changed our opinion of the hatch-gate. What had been applauded and then derided, is now being applauded again, as our dog-owning driver has realized the utility of the hatch-gate’s integrated cargo storage net. The net is perfect for holding towels, water bowls, retrieval dummies, and the other things necessary for having fun with a couple of dogs in the mountains.

Speaking of dogs, the dog barrier and heavy-duty cargo mat that we received from Performance Products proved their worth to managing editor Grant Whitmore during a recent trek to his favorite dog friendly park. Both of his animals decided that it would be a good idea to jump into a half-frozen creek. They were pretty grimy when it was time to go home, despite his efforts to towel them off at the end of playtime. Fortunately, however, Whitmore didn’t have to worry about cleaning the entire interior after his trip home. The dog barrier served to keep his Labrador and Husky confined to the cargo area, and the cleanup process merely required wiping down the previously-mentioned cargo mat with a handful of damp paper towels. The cargo area itself is plenty big, too. In addition to capably hauling two large dogs around, it recently allowed one of our editors to transport all of the food and beverages necessary for a party of 30 people without having to fold down the rear seats.

In this basically trouble-free month, we’ve had time to focus on the things that we like about this truck, instead of worrying about whether or not it was going to bring us home form our next road trip. There is general agreement among our editors that despite the new SUVs rolling out this year that the Rodeo is still the best-looking truck on the road. One of our evaluators has even gone so far as to commend the bug guard that sits forward of the Rodeo’s hood as being, "not too ugly, and pretty effective in keeping stones from hitting the windshield." Since the El Nino storms seem to be hammering everyone but those living in Denver, we have been treated to a fairly mild winter. As such, the tinted glass has come in handy keeping the interior pleasant on days when the Rodeo has been parked in the 70-degree sunshine. It also helps reduce the harsh glare of the sun in the Rodeo’s interior during our morning and evening commute. Other good news is that the fuel gauge seems to be reading more accurately. We are no longer pulling in for a fill-up to find that the Rodeo will only accept 10 gallons of gas, despite the needle showing that we are close to being stranded. Nevertheless, we’ll have the fuel level sensor checked out in March at the truck’s next servicing.

Best Fuel Economy: 13.8 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 11.7 mpg
Maintenance Costs: $0
Problems: None