1998 Isuzu Rodeo Review & Road Test at Automotive.com
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Isuzu
Rodeo
1998

1998 Isuzu Rodeo Review

Below is a full, detailed review and road test of the 1998 Isuzu Rodeo written by either the experts at New Car Test Drive or by one of Automotive.com's very own. A full evaluation of the driving experience, price, equipment, and specs are here in a ...     read more
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1998 Isuzu Rodeo Review

More power, more refinement, less money.
Introduction
More for less. If there's one single theme that sums up the entire 1998 new model lineup, this is it--better vehicles at better prices--and the new Isuzu Rodeo is a good case point.

A leader among the import nameplate sport-utilities ever since its 1990 introduction, the Rodeo has been redesigned for 1998. The new one offers more refinement in every area and it does so at a reduced price. The price for the rock bottom two-wheel-drive, four-cylinder S version of the new Rodeo has been raised $655 over the old one. But Isuzu has lowered prices an average of $500 for most of the Rodeo range when comparing comparably equipped models.

Like other manufacturers, Isuzu's claims of reduced pricing involves a bit of economic sleight-of-hand in the realm of standard equipment. It's easier for the manufacturer to improve a vehicle's relative value by including more goodies than it is to actually knock a grand off the suggested retail price.

And it is not easy to regard a $31,000 sport-utility as a bargain. But that as-tested price tag of $31,300 is for a loaded LS model with four-wheel drive, leather, sunroof, automatic transmission, and power everything.

If you were to knock off the leather ($995) and power moonroof ($700), retaining the always useful limited slip ($250), you've reduced the price to $29,605.

With a standard five-speed manual transmission--something you don't see offered by Isuzu's domestic four-door competitors--the price of a new LS 4x4, which includes four-wheel ABS as standard equipment, shrinks to $28,355.

A 4x4 Isuzu S with a V6 engine starts at $23,685; a two-wheel-drive version of the same truck starts at $21,395. Even with the $2,350 preferred equipment package, you're looking at a very attractive SUV compared to comparably equipped competitors.

And that's without looking at the improvements to the product, which are numerous. Next Page


1998 Isuzu Rodeo