2008 Isuzu Rodeo UK Range Expands Review

Isuzu’s popular Rodeo pickup range is about to be topped and tailed by two appealing new versions – a new 3.0 litre Denver Max LE with either manual or automatic transmission and a new entry-level 2.5 litre 4x2 Single Cab. Pricing is extremely competitive, with the new 3.0 litre Rodeo Denver Max LE starting from £19,999 and the new 2.5 litre Rodeo 4x2 Single Cab listed at £9,999 (all prices are On-The-Road but exclude VAT).

The LE aims to offer the ultimate in pickup luxury at an affordable price – especially for business users - while the new 4x2 Single Cab is aimed at the cost-conscious construction industry, scaffolders, fencing contractors and farmers.

Featuring exactly the same equipment as the previous 2.5 litre Denver Max LE, the new five-seat, four-door Double Cab 4x4 model boasts a powerful new 3.0 litre Common Rail turbocharged diesel engine which makes the previous Prodrive Performance Pack unnecessary.

Power is a substantial 163 PS at only 3,600 rpm while torque is a massive 265.5 lb ft at 1,800 rpm in manual form and 245.6 lb ft as an automatic.

Class-Leading Fuel Economy And Emissions
Class-leading fuel economy and low emissions continue, with the new 3.0 litre Rodeo Denver Max LE returning 33.6 mpg and 31.4 mpg Combined as a manual or automatic with emissions of 222 and 237 g/km respectively.

Top speed for the new Denver Max LE is 109 mph with a 0-60 mph time of 10.3 seconds (manual) and 10.8 seconds (automatic). First deliveries start late July for the former and late June for the latter.

Standard equipment includes 18 ins alloy wheels with 255/60 Pirelli Scorpion Zero tyres and stainless steel side steps. It also boasts premium leather seats and door inserts, an LE mesh grille, a tough load-liner and a high-quality LE-branded hard top.

In addition, customers benefit from a sophisticated touch screen Sat-Nav with full DVD/DivX playback plus high-tech Bluetooth kit.

Other Max features include a soft-type front A-bar, chrome side steps, rear step bumper, rear light guards and brushed steel door entry guards. This is in addition to air-conditioning, four electric windows, leather-wrapped steering wheel, keyless-entry and selectable ‘shift-on-the-fly 4WD or 2WD at speeds up to 60 mph.

Also highly competitive is a braked towing limit of 3,000 kg for the Denver Max LE and a payload of 1,060 kg and 1,055 kg respectively for the manual and automatic.

High-Value Entry-Level Model
Aimed at the cost-conscious construction and agricultural sector, the new entry-level Rodeo 4x2 Single Cab boasts a high specification and costs just £9,999 OTR (excluding VAT).

Equipment levels are impressive, however, and include central-locking, electric windows, a radio with single CD player and MP3 capability.

Also standard is ABS with EBD, twin front airbags, power steering, a five-speed manual gearbox and a rear limited-slip differential.

However, the biggest news is the fitment of the new DOHC 2.5 litre Common-Rail turbo-diesel engine first introduced in spring ’07 when the facelifted Rodeo range was introduced.

Producing 136 PS at 3,600 rpm and 217 lb ft of torque at 1,800 rpm, the new engine offers exceptional refinement and efficiency with an outstanding 38.2 mpg Combined and equally impressive emissions of 196 g/km.

Compared to the previous 2.5 litre pre-facelifted Rodeo equivalent, top speed rises by 16 mph to 109 mph while the Combined fuel economy is 3 mpg better.

In addition, the CO2 for the new Denver 4x2 Single Cab drops by 18 g/km and the 0-60 mph time is a car-like 10.5 seconds.

Its braked towing limit is a useful 2,500 kg while the payload is an equally impressive 1,235 kg with a load length of 2,270 mm.

All Isuzus have a 36 month, 60,000 mile warranty (whichever comes first) plus 36 months’ membership of Isuzu Assistance, a comprehensive home and roadside repair and recovery package valid throughout the UK and Europe. Service intervals are a generous 12,000 miles.

Kenyon Neads, Isuzu (UK) Limited Brand Manager, said: “More and more operators are appreciating the bullet-proof reliability, reassuring durability and low running costs of the Rodeo and these new additions will help us grow sales from last year’s 1,941 units to more than 2,100 in 2008.”

Features:
New 163 PS 3.0 litre Common Rail diesel for Rodeo Denver Max LE
Available with both manual and automatic gearboxes
Outstanding efficiency with 109 mph top speed yet 33.6 mpg Combined (manual) and 3,000 kg braked towing limit
Standard leather trim, air-conditioning, large alloy wheels, satellite navigation, shift-on-the-fly 4WD or 2WD and hard top
Prices start at £19,999 OTR (ex VAT) for Denver Max LE manual
New entry-level 2.5 litre Rodeo 4x2 Single Cab at £9,999 OTR (ex VAT)
High equipment plus 38.2 mpg Combined, 1,235 kg payload and 2,500 kg braked towing limit