Great all around 4wd SUV. Looked at several others and checked out all the reviews and info. I could find before buying it. Powerful, easy to drive, great in mud and snow. I've taken it 4wheeling with friends a few times and actually ended up using it to pull a 2000 model Toyota Tacoma out of a river! Pretty good gas mileage if you can keep off the pedal, and 4wd switching is very smooth (push button). I've now got over 46k on it, and have had no real problems. Great looks. (note: I think the new FORD sub-SUV is a complete rip off of the Rodeo 98 or later body style!).

Shocks & Brakes could be better, bumpers bend too easily. A little noisy, but otherwise comfortable. Adding an aftermarket stereo was a bit more complicated than I thought. Not much room to mount sub or amps anwhere.
Tire balance is key- otherwise roadnoise and "hop" can become a problem.

Damn solid vehicle. Great for everyday, snow and 4wheeling!

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Toyata 4runner, Explorer, Durango, Chevy Blazer- beat 'em all hands down on price to performance.

Style, Power, Room, Value

A rattle or 2

We looked at all the major SUV's and the Rodeo was hands down the best bang fot the buck. I looked at Edmund's site and read all the comments about the problems with Explorers and Ford's handling of customer problems and I scratched it off the list. The 4runner was just ridiculously overpriced. They may be built well, but for the same content level, you're looking at $10,000 more. I have better uses for that kinda money. As for the Rodeo, It's got good power, decent mileage for what it is. We have 2 Samoyeds and there is plenty of room to haul them around. It has a pretty nice on road ride, can't speak for off road, it's never been.
I would highly recommend it to anyone that wants a dependable( the 2000's went to a 10 year powertrain warranty) good looking vehicle.

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Explorer, 4runner

Reliable, good 4wd, great looks

a little underpowered, should have waited for 96 and up because of the bigger engine, but its alright
headrests could be better, gas mileage

I love this truck, even though its almost 5yrs old, i still get compliments of how great the truck looks. reliability has been great, i wouldn't recommend though the early 98 models because of problems experienced by other owners but before 98's and 99's or 00's are gonna be great buys. Its a great off-roader,and on. Could get better gas mileage but overall, this truck is built to last!

I like the power of the V6. It has plenty of room, and handles great in the harsh New England winter! In my opinion, it also happens to be the best looking SUV, and is a real value for the money. My Rodeo has the 16" wheels (Goodyear Wranglers) and provides a smooth ride on the highway, quite impressive for a truck.

The lack of cup holders (I know it's a common complaint)is a problem. Also, the ritual for opening the tailgate can be a bit annoying if you are in a hurry. Otherwise, I love my truck. I replaced an 82 Mercedes 240D, which was in beautiful condition, however, it just was no longer practical for my growing family. I do, however, miss the gas mileage. I guess this is to be expected from an SUV. After the second week, I got over the sticker shock at the gas pumps!

I paid $13,995 from Superior Isuzu of Worcester. So far, so good. I have been very pleased with my Rodeo and would recommend it to others.

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I spent some time with my Mother-in-law's Jeep Cherokee Sport. I think the Rodeo provides a much better ride and feels more stable on the road.

sporty looks, sweet V6, 20+ hwy mpg, perfect size for small family, nice on long trips, smooth shifting auto, full truck frame, fun to drive, great value.

bouncy on big bumps(needs better shocks), radio could be better.

I bought a left over 99 LS 2 wheel drive with aloy wheels for $19,400. The main reason I needed a suv was to pull my boat. Don't think I'll ever bur a car again. I shoped every suv and full size truck out there, could'nt find a better value out there. If you are as picky as I am, you just might end up with a rodeo too!

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the explorer seems smaller, extera seems weaker, blazer seems cheaper, 4runner seems expensive, jeep seems older.

Good Space, Good Price, Still Drives like an SUV and capable off road

no problems yet, but it's new

Bought a 1999 last month for $3200 below INVOICE - big dealer incentives on '99s now. This brought price below the Nissan Crew Cab I was considering, and I ended up with way more car. About $1500 less than I would have had to pay for an Xterra

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Nissan PU, Blazer, Xterra
Real similar to other SUV's, Better than pu because it's enclosed and has space for more than 2 people

Cargo space is great for its size. THe extra horse power is great. It came with a extra ordinary extended warrenty 10 yr 120,000 mile drive train. It is perfect for the city and off road though I would not get it in over its head off road.

It is a little rough on the big bumps even for an SUV. Extras add up but still good for the price. Engine noise is noticable. Center consule is small and only really fits CD's.

I got it this January for 500 over the dealers invoice. Added the 6 disc in dash CD changer, which is sweet. It is going to be used for a variety of tasks, everything from runing around Chicago, hunting trips, cross country road trips, and weekend camping. I have only had it for a month now but so far it is great. I have had no problems and the people at the dealership are great. I would suggest this SUV to anyone interested in a larger compact SUV. THe warrenty is a good indication of how well Isuzu feels they have built this vehicle.

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Ford Explorer. The Isuzu has more cargo space, and has a better engine. I would give it a one star rating better than the Explorer.

Good power, reliable engine

Horrible quality paint job (paint chips way too easy), cronic valve/head oil leak (minor, but annoying). When I went to the dealership to fix it, the guy told me that it was a problem inherent in all Rodeos. Go figure. What kind of crap is that...selling vehicles with an inherent defect.
It also has a poor turning radius. Other than those things, I've had no problems and I like it...although I would likely buy something else if I knew of these issues.

Also gets poor gas mileage. But it's an SUV, so I shouldn't expect good gas mileage.

Overall, I think it's a pretty good SUV. I don't know what the newest models have improved, but all in all I like it.

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None

Power, turning radius, sporty looks

Squeaking in suspension at low speeds, tailgate opening

We're now selling this vehicle to cut our debt load, but if not for that we would keep the vehicle for a long time. The Rodeo is the happy medium for those of us who don't want a tank like the Durango and don't want to settle for a pseudo SUV like the CR-V. The Rodeo is large enough to give you the feeling of invinceability (you'd know if you saw me drive). However, you can maneuver this vehicle through everyday obstacles (parking lots) with more ease than the full-size SUVs.

We have the LSE package which is top of the line, including in-dash CD changer, moonroof, leather, and wood trim. All of these have been fantastic.

The body is sporty looking and is a favorite of my friends. The engine is very powerful. Compared to the '99 Pathfinder, this thing blows it away. Turning is tight (I think tightest of any SUV) and brakes are solid.

If you're 20-35 and you want something that you can actually drive around the city, this is your vehicle. Drives like a truck but handles like a car. I highly recommend this beauty.

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'99 Nissan Pathfinder, '98 Isuzu Rodel S

Great in snow; Great off road; Style looks good; Good power with the new 205 HP. Great Warranty, Bumper to Bumper covers anything. Isuzu wants to keep its customers loyal.

Plastic Interior very poorly made causing many rattles through out. Poor ground clearance(great traction with limited slip), tin can body, Rough ride; With only 26,000 miles already had many problems, ABS brakes just failed tonight.

Overall I am pretty neutral on the subject. If I were to recomend the Rodeo I would say buy a lease return or very slightly used because for the new price there are many other better vehicles. Price aside, make sure you get the upgraded seats, and Limited slip. Both available with the LS, The S model is a little sparse for the price.
I dont plan on selling the vehicle anytime soon, but given another chance on buying a diferent mid-size SUV I would. This SUV had a few to many problems, and was made to cheap. If Isuzu re-designed and upgraded the Rodeo to competitive standards with others in its class I may consider it. As for now it wouldnt be my first choice.

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Drove the Pathfinder, and 4 Runner, Both of the other vehicles were made great in Quality but lacked the offroad ability. And where price is concerned the Rodeo was the better deal.