Inside, the faces of the gauges on the instrument panel have been changed slightly by adding more hash marks between the numerals on the speedometer and tachometer. A new bumper fascia and taillights freshen the rear. It looks as though Isuzu is trying to reemphasize some of the rugged off-road character the Rodeo lost in its 1998 makeover, which softened its exterior appearance. The new nose is more aggressive-looking than the old one. On the exterior, Isuzu decided the Rodeo needed some rhinoplasty, so it has been given a new grille and front-bumper fascia and flush-mounted headlights that incorporate the turn signals and side-marker lights into a single assembly.
#2000 isuzu rodeo for sale manual#
Only the base two-wheel-drive S is offered with a DOHC 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission and is priced at $18,575. The Rodeo is available in two other trim levels, S and LS, with a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive and a manual or automatic transmission. Also standard on the LSE is four-wheel drive, activated by pushing a button on the dash (although low range is engaged by a lever on the center console). Mated to this engine is an electronic four-speed automatic transmission that offers three shift modes at the touch of a button on the center console: normal, power (with higher-rpm upshifts), and winter (second-gear start, low-rpm upshifts). We decided to have a look at the top-of-the-line LSE, which comes standard with a DOHC 3.2-liter V-6 that churns out a respectable 205 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque. By comparison, this year's changes to the Rodeo amount to more of a simple face lift than an overhaul. Inside, it got a new dash, some extra legroom in front, and an additional 6.2 cubic feet of cargo space. The exterior was softened by rounding off its edgy lines, and it shed 285 pounds. The Rodeo got a major overhaul for 1998, although it turned out to be more evolutionary than revolutionary. It's a moneymaker, and Isuzu has been conservative in making changes to this popular sport-ute. And that doesn't include another 20,000 Rodeos that Honda has sold rebadged as Passports since '94. Ever since its introduction in 1990, the Rodeo has been Isuzu's best-selling vehicle, with annual sales of about 60,000 units since 1994.