Isuzu Rodeo Denver Max Pick-up range
Just as the mixed grill is traditionally the meatiest meal on the pub menu, the Isuzu Rodeo Denver Maxs grille is probably the meatiest front-end on the UK pick-up market. Sure, there are mammoth American trucks that make Isuzus offering look like a wilted side-salad but on this bank of the pond the Rodeo is fast becoming the default choice for buyers with an insatiable appetite for chrome.
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Namely, a selection of models is offered with basic utilitarian commercial vehicles at one end and show pony derivatives sporting the chrome, alloys and bull bars at the other. The Isuzu Rodeo Denver Max models we look at here hail very much from the plusher end of the Rodeo spectrum. Isuzus Rodeo Denver Max is available exclusively in doublecab form with a choice of the Rodeos two engine options the 2.5 and 3.
0-litre turbo diesels. Prices kick off at £13,990 (+VAT) and amongst the various styling accessories, buyers get the SmartNav satellite navigation system with its route guidance and speed camera warning functions thrown in free of charge.
"You certainly get a good quantity of metal for your money with the Max pack"
SmartNav aside, the Max package doesnt get you much of real substance or practical value over the standard Rodeo Denver model but what it does do is enhance your vehicles appearance and, in lifestyle pick-up land, appearances are everything. A Rodeo Max features a front A-Bar with a chrome insert that hangs below the heavily chromed grille like a huge handlebar moustache. There are stainless steel side steps protruding between the wheelarches which serve to make the Rodeo Max look lower and meaner than conventional models and around the back there are further add-ons. Chrome lamp protectors surround the rear light clusters and a big shiny chrome bumper curls round below the drop-down tailgate.
Open a door and you may also spot some brushed stainless steel door entry guards protecting the paintwork as you step in. You certainly get a good quantity of metal for your money with the Max pack and you have to imagine that most buyers will probably specify it. It definitely enhances the look of the Rodeo and SmartNav has the capacity to get you out of a tight spot or two. Overall, the Isuzu Rodeo is probably the best of the older generation of pick-ups that you can get your hands on in the UK.
Weve established that it has the visual impact to compete with fancy Dan lifestyle-orientated rivals but it also performs well when judged on practical criteria. The 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine is the one to go for if you can afford it. Refinement is still a long way short of what youd expect from a modern diesel family car but by pick-up standards the engine is reasonably smooth and softly spoken.
It carries a big stick as well, in the form of a 131bhp maximum power output and 207lb/ft of torque at just 1,600rpm. This kind of pulling power is a distinct advantage when travelling off road or hauling a trailer and the Rodeo has come in for specific praise for its towing prowess. Theres a payload limit of 1,055kg but thats nowhere near the extent of the Rodeos load lugging potential. It will actually pull a braked trailer weighing up to a massive 3,000kg so there will be room for the kitchen sink after all.
Average fuel consumption, without a trailer hitched up you understand, is over 30mpg which isnt half bad for a vehicle of this size. On the road, the Rodeo cant match the best of the latest generation of pick-ups but its not too bad round the corners. Buyers will need to appreciate that heavy duty suspension and a high centre of gravity are not conducive to magic carpet ride quality and sportscar handling. The Rodeo is fairly adept on the tarmac for a pick-up but it still suffers from the suspension bounce and body roll that pick-up owners have come to know and love.
In keeping up appearances on the outside, pick-up designers often let interior issues slip but the Rodeo, its claimed, has a car-like quality to its passenger compartment. This isnt too far from the truth, with a reasonable standard of materials used and an impressive level of specification especially in this Denver Max derivative. Safety equipment is class leading across the Rodeo range with ABS, EBD, two front airbags, front seatbelt pre-tensioners and three-point belts throughout. Standard models also get a radio CD player, immobiliser and wipers with four (count em) different speeds.
The Denver Max also offers electric mirrors, fog lamps, keyless entry, a six-speaker sound system and air-conditioning, along with optional four-speed automatic transmission. Thats a healthy haul of gadgets by anyones standards and seasoned commercial vehicle operators in particular may never have seen the like. The Rodeo has always been up with the top UK pick-up truck choices and despite some more modern products usurping it in the quality and drivability stakes, it still make plenty of sense thanks to low prices, striking looks and strong equipment levels. The Denver Max models add that touch of extra glamour that should help this Isuzu to get itself noticed.
Facts At A Glance PICK-UP: Isuzu Rodeo Denver Max pick-up range
PRICE: £13,990 - £15,990 excluding VAT ENGINES: 2.5-litre (100bhp) or 3.0-litre turbodiesel (131bhp) PAYLOAD: 1,055kg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver and passenger airbags, side impact protection door beams, ABS with EBD, front seatbelt pretensioners.
