Rodeo's utilitarian looks feature a short rear overhang, blister fenders and fastback styling. The track was widened for 1998, which improves handling and gives the Rodeo a more aggressive stance. A relatively low floor pan makes getting in easier.The 4-cylinder engine that comes on the base two-wheel-drive Rodeo develops 130 horsepower and 144 foot-pounds of torque. It gets an EPA-rated 21/24 city/highway miles per gallon. But that's not a lot of power for a 3,900-pound vehicle, particularly when attacking grades at high altitudes. Most folks will opt for one of the V6 models. It develops 205 horsepower and 214 foot-pounds of torque. Isuzu's 3.0-liter V6 compares favorably to its competition: Mitsubishi's Montero Sport LS struggles with 173 horsepower and 188 foot-pounds, while Nissan's Pathfinder lags with 168 horsepower and 196 foot-pounds. But the Rodeo's V6 wilts next to the Chevy Blazer's 4.3-liter Vortec V6, so it's not the hot setup for pulling that 20-foot travel trailer. Isuzu's V6 gets 18/20 mpg, 16/20 with the automatic. On four-wheel-drive models a button, rather than a lever, is used to switch between two- and four-wheel drive. All Rodeo 4X4s come with a two-speed transfer case; you drop into low range by stopping and shifting a floor-mounted lever. All Rodeos come with skid plates under the radiator and fuel tank to protect against rock damage when driving off-road. Four-wheel drive models get a skid plate under the transfer case, too.
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