We've got one more short month before our Rodeo goes back to the dealer to find another home. As mentioned last month, we're way over our mileage allowance, so the Rodeo took few jaunts with our Colorado staffer, sitting patiently until the jingling of keys awakened the sleeping sport-ute. Our word is gold, and as such, our Rodeo went four-wheelin' on wild Colorado trails so we could report on its off-road prowess.

Forests are to SUVs what racetracks are to sports cars. It's where contenders are discovered and nolo contendres cannot hide. Let's start with the good. We found that 4-Hi is easy to engage and disengage, brake feel is exceptional, and the slow and sloppy steering is a boon off-road, where lots of play is necessary to stay straight. But the praise ends there. The rear end wanders easily in two-wheel drive, the Rodeo rams over obstacles abruptly, and it is not suspended for serious off-road work. We discovered the ABS is intrusive in the dirt and the rear-mounted spare tire blocks visibility. We also scraped the bottom on three separate occasions during this session with the Rodeo; however, over the same route with our long-term Jeep Grand Cherokee, we didn't scrape the bottom once.

Compared to our JGC, the Rodeo's no match when it comes to climbing hills, whacking weeds, and traversing ravines. Yes, the Jeep's gonna cost you more, but if your driving regimen consists of a healthy diet of off-roading, a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo with a six cylinder and the basic four-wheel-drive system is going to fulfill your craving far better than the Rodeo. We cite ground clearance, visibility, four-wheel-drive system, and suspension as just some of the areas where the Jeep is superior to the Rodeo.

Our Colorado staffer summed up his impressions of the Rodeo since the truck is going back to the dealer next month. He began with the bad. Stranding us on two separate occasions due to electrical and mechanical failures does not leave us with a warm fuzzy feeling. Failing running lights and dumping coolant all over the interstate are not endearing qualities.

In Denver we found the bumpers to be ineffective at absorbing damage, with one small tap costing us over $1,000. The Rodeo's platform-mate, the Amigo, scored wretchedly in offset crash testing. Perhaps the people over at Isuzu should rethink an emphasis, or lack thereof, placed on occupant protection.

Other gripes from our staff member included: uncomfortable front seats, miserly front storage space, and a lack of rear cupholders. He was also displeased with an incessant rear tire squeal in 2WD while accelerating around corners, and found the hatchgate difficult to operate. He further remarked, "Steering is slow, the ride is rubbery, and there is lots of cheapo plastic covering the interior."

Our Colorado guy did detail some pleasant qualities of the Isuzu. He loves the powerful V6 engine, which accelerates the Rodeo much quicker than one would expect and with a great deal of smoothness to boot. He believes that the silver paint, muscular flanks, spoked alloys, and dark tinted windows make our truck possibly the best-looking SUV on the market. Well, some of us will say that the thin Denver air is getting to his head, but, to be sure, the Rodeo isn't hard on the eyes.

Other strong points centered around the roominess of the backseat, cargo space, and the flip-up rear glass which has come in handy on more than a few occasions. Isuzu just needs to address reliability, comfort, and structural integrity, all of which are big issues. Then maybe they'd have a great recipe. But alas, word has reached Denver that Isuzu is collaborating with GM on the next Rodeo. To our staffer's ears, that's not promising, now is it?

That's our report for this month. In fact, that's our last monthly report on the Rodeo. Now it's your turn to tell us about your experiences. If you own a 1998 or 1999 Isuzu Rodeo or Honda Passport, we'd like to hear from you. Simply email commentary, your VIN, your name, and the city and state where you live to djg@edmunds.com, with the understanding that we may quote you in our long-term wrap-up on the Rodeo next month. We look forward to hearing from you!

Total Odometer Reading: 36,472
Best Fuel Economy: 17.7 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 13.5 mpg
Body Damage Repair: $0
Maintenance Costs: $0
Problems: Still has steering wheel vibration on highway at 70 mph. Still has "tea kettle about to boil" sound during part-throttle low-speed acceleration.