Isuzu Rodeo Scoops Gold In What Van ? Annual Awards
Published: 6th October 2004
Isuzu Rodeo
It means the Rodeo range has beaten all competitors - both in lifestyle luxury trim and in ‘workhorse’ specifications.
Magazine Editor, Neil McIntee, said: "It’s new, it’s big, it’s bold and it’s a worthy winner."
He added: "Successor to the TF, in 4x4 single and double guise, it’s powered by an enormously impressive 3.0 litre direct-injection intercooled turbodiesel engine blasting out 131 bhp at 3,800 rpm. Top torque of 207 lb.ft - rising to 217 lb.ft if you specify the optional automatic gearbox - kicks in at 1,600 rpm.
"That’s more than enough top-end punch and low-down grunt to get you where you want to go both on and off the public highway."
What Van? also praised the Rodeo’s long 12,000 mile service intervals, safety features and convenient 4x4 selection.
This is the second major award in a matter of weeks for the Isuzu Rodeo which is priced from just £11,357.02 on-the-road (excluding VAT) as a 2.5 litre 4x2 Single Cab.
The top-spec Rodeo 3.0 DT 4x4 Denver has been chosen as The Caravan Club’s ‘Towcar Of The Year - Utility Class’ winner.
With its braked towing limit of 3,000 kg, The Caravan Club considered the Rodeo Denver superior to its Ford, Mitsubishi and Nissan rivals which also entered the competition.
Towing judges looked at all aspects of towing including hill starts, traction, stability, engine pulling power and practical features such as the car’s ability to accommodate large bulky loads such as awnings and water carriers.
What Van? is Britain’s biggest van buying guide while The Caravan Club has been running its ‘Towcar Of The Year’ competition for 22 years.
This is the third major accolade for the Rodeo this year. Specialist magazine, 4x4 voted the Isuzu its ‘Commercial 4x4 of the Year - 2004’ back in April.
Meanwhile, Isuzu plans to overtake Toyota in UK pickup sales in 2005, achieving a 15 per cent market share within two years.
