All the switches have been rearranged for easier identification and operation, the climate controls--dominated by a pair of rotary dials--are simple and easy to use, the horn button is right in the middle of the steering wheel hub, and the audio buttons are larger.

The only fault to find with the new layout is the location of the four-wheel drive switch, which is next to the cruise control master switch at the left side of the dashboard. It's too easy to punch one when you actually want the other.

No worries, though. If you're traveling over 60 mph and inadvertently touch the 4WD switch, a warning light flashes on the dashboard to tell you no, you can't do that. The system will make three attempts to engage, and if it can't, you simply continue in two-wheel drive. Like virtually all four-wheel drive systems, engaging low range for maximum traction in tricky terrain requires bringing the vehicle to a complete stop.

Why, you may ask, is the Rodeo's wheelbase shorter when others keep getting longer? The answer lies with the spare tire. Like most SUV manufacturers, Isuzu found that many buyers prefer to have that rarely-employed spare tucked away below the cargo compartment rather than mounted on the tailgate, where it obscures rearward vision and also magnifies the body damage consequences of a rear-end collision.

Isuzu's solution was to move the rear axle forward enough to accommodate the under-floor spare. You can still choose a rear-mounted spare, however, which adds a little more macho in the looks department, and is easier to get at if you find yourself forced to change a tire in some remote mudhole.

Other body-related refinements: Isuzu has increased the size of the Rodeo's door openings and reduced the step-in height, making it easier to climb in or out, front or rear.