The fun side of the Rodeo came out then we tackled some rough, unpaved trails in the San Bernardino Mountains. We cruised through some bumpy country in 2WD before we switched to 4WD-high to transverse more rugged trails. Some of the steep, rocky tracks were rough enough to force us into 4WD-low. The Rodeo literally walked through it all without batting a headlight. It handles well on smooth dirt roads. Drive into a corner too fast and, predictably, the front end gives up traction before the rear, making it easy to correct. The brakes work well, bringing the Rodeo to a quick stop with little drama.
Rodeo's agile handling and stable braking are benefits of its relatively low weight. Our 4x4 LS checked in at 3,926 pounds. That compares favorably against a Mitsubishi Montero Sport, which tops 4,200 pounds. Isuzu's engineers strove to hold weight down while maintaining optimal structural rigidity. Next Page