The Rodeo and Passport are headed for big changes in 1998, when an all-newvehicle will make its debut. In the meantime, the current editions continue to be attractive entries, largely because of their superior roominess, solid engineering and better-than average quality. The choice between Rodeo and Passport comes down to price versus service organization. Even if you eliminate the basic four-cylinder Rodeo S from the equation--and we recommend that you do--the Isuzu lineup is less expensive than the comparably equipped Honda offerings. Isuzu also offers more variety. On the other hand, Honda has a much larger dealer network, and an excellent reputation for service. There are more sophisticated sport-utilities in this size class, offering a variety of electroncially-activated full-time 4WD systems. But the Rodeo and Passport still look good, their value index is still high, they're tough and durable, they offer manual transmissions with their six-cylinder engines, and they're tough to beat for that prime SUV factor--roominess.
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