Isuzu has decided to drop the Amigo nameplate and re-christen its two-door mini SUV the Rodeo Sport for 2001. According to Isuzu PR, the rebadging is intended to "focus buyer perception of the Rodeo brand on what it truly represents — strong offroad performance and durability combined with outstanding on-road abilities and fresh, exciting style."
Truth be told, Amigo has always been a sport-ute with an off-road bias, reflected in its slow steering, noisy engine and 8.2 inches of ground clearance. But because so many SUV owners primarily drive their vehicles as if they were cars, potential buyers would be well advised to take note of Rodeo Sport's lackluster highway appeal. Did we mention that Isuzu's attempt to play up its littlest ute's offroad ability is also fueled by this year's introduction of the on-road-biased Axiom? Yep, here's a manufacturer that's doing its best to cover all of your sport-utility needs.
There's an undeniably youthful appeal to the Rodeo Sport's design, and to two-door utes in general. In the case of our four-wheel-drive tester, dual sunroofs and an in-dash six-CD changer contributed to that charm. In theory, at least. While the in-dash changer was a delightful and unexpected convenience, the sunroof design soon proved tiresome. More on that later.
Several complaints were leveled on Rodeo Sport's engine performance, although some editors were kinder than others. One driver observed that, although acceleration from the 205-horsepower, 3.2-liter V6 by no means snapped her head back, the engine maintained speed going uphill, and passing on the freeway was for the most part a confident maneuver. However, go power was noticeably hindered with the air conditioning on, even on its lowest setting. Several drivers also took special offense at the engine's lack of refinement, referring to it as tinny, buzzy and nasal. Rather a poor showing for the Rodeo Sport V6, especially considering that the base engine is a measly 2.2-liter four-cylinder.
Rodeo Sport's lack of refinement manifested itself in other ways, as well. The 16-inch radial tires positively howled, even at low speeds; we heard plenty of rattles and squeaks emanating from the dash; and wind roar off the roof assailed occupants when traveling at highway velocities.
Performance from the four-wheel disc, ABS-equipped brakes was underwhelming. The calipers just didn't grab with enough authority, or alacrity, for that matter. We'd find that after applying what felt like sufficient pressure to the pedal, we'd have to push yet a little harder to get the vehicle to slow down in a timely matter. Another odd feature of the brakes: With most vehicles, when at a standstill on level ground, it's possible to ease one's foot off the brake pedal without inching forward. In the Isuzu, however, relieving pressure on the pedal even slightly would allow the Rodeo Sport to move forward, even on level ground. This was unnerving and took some getting used to.
Rodeo Sport's sloppy handling was a popular grievance. Particularly annoying were the vertical undulations over bumps in the road and excessive vibration produced by highway irregularities. The ride was so buoyant that one driver likened the vehicle to a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon. And while this rebadged Amigo felt no more tippy around corners than any other truck-based ute, it by no means inspired spirited driving, either. Rodeo Sport felt considerably less stable than much larger SUVs we've driven. Disconcertingly light steering, a shaky ride and sub-par brakes all contribute to the sensation that this SUV shouldn't be taken to the limit. Its short wheelbase (96.9 inches), however, did make it easy to maneuver around town and into parking spaces.
Accommodations in Rodeo Sport aren't even up to Super 8 motel standards. The fabric covering the seats is distinctly unattractive, and the seats themselves are in desperate need of additional contouring, especially in the lumbar region. Visibility could likewise stand improvement; obtrusive rear-seat headrests and a rear-mounted spare tire make changing lanes a chore.
We were nonplussed by the liberal use of hard plastic materials in the Sport; even the armrest on the door is cold and unyielding. The armrest over the center console storage bin is cushioned, but set too far back to be used by anyone who must drive with the seat moved forward. The console itself is sized perfectly for holding CDs. Rodeo Sport claims a total of four cupholders — two up front and one for each outboard rear passenger.
Now, back to those sunroofs. One editor was particularly irked by their design while driving on the freeway one sunny afternoon. Admittedly, this person may be a little more paranoid about ultraviolet exposure than most people; but who can blame her, what with her fair complexion coupled with the rapid depletion of the ozone layer? Anyway, the rays glaring down through the dual sunroofs began to make her uncomfortable; she wanted to close the sunroofs. Much to her chagrin, she realized that the Rodeo Sport's quirky design necessitates that the sunroof covers be removed completely, rather than just slid open. Therefore, the roof covers were stowed in the cargo area, which meant that to protect her delicate countenance, she would've had to exit the freeway, retrieve the covers and reinstall them in the roof. It turned out to be more trouble than she was willing to take at that particular moment.
Even more frustrating was the fact that this exhaustive and antiquated process amounted to just a few measly inches of ventilation — the sunroofs on the Rodeo Sport don't slide open; they only tilt. If the driver wants serious UV exposure, she has the choice of removing the sunroofs completely. Again, it just seems like a big nuisance. Or maybe we're just lazy. We're sure there are plenty of nicely bronzed, devil-may-care types out there who'd appreciate the dual sunroof feature.
Speaking of blithely fun-loving individuals, we suspect that these are the very people who would be willing to overlook Rodeo Sport's flaws in favor of its sunny demeanor and truck-based utility. The four-wheel-drive model offers a viable alternative to those who crave Jeep Wrangler's off-road ability and youthful appeal, but appreciate Isuzu's slightly more refined design and comparatively quiet cabin. For buyers looking for a cute ute with genuine offroad ability and don't mind putting up with sub-par on-road performance, Rodeo Sport might be the answer. But we recommend taking a close look at some of the other small SUVs on the market and going on a few test drives before settling for this warmed-over Amigo.
Truth be told, Amigo has always been a sport-ute with an off-road bias, reflected in its slow steering, noisy engine and 8.2 inches of ground clearance. But because so many SUV owners primarily drive their vehicles as if they were cars, potential buyers would be well advised to take note of Rodeo Sport's lackluster highway appeal. Did we mention that Isuzu's attempt to play up its littlest ute's offroad ability is also fueled by this year's introduction of the on-road-biased Axiom? Yep, here's a manufacturer that's doing its best to cover all of your sport-utility needs.
There's an undeniably youthful appeal to the Rodeo Sport's design, and to two-door utes in general. In the case of our four-wheel-drive tester, dual sunroofs and an in-dash six-CD changer contributed to that charm. In theory, at least. While the in-dash changer was a delightful and unexpected convenience, the sunroof design soon proved tiresome. More on that later.
Several complaints were leveled on Rodeo Sport's engine performance, although some editors were kinder than others. One driver observed that, although acceleration from the 205-horsepower, 3.2-liter V6 by no means snapped her head back, the engine maintained speed going uphill, and passing on the freeway was for the most part a confident maneuver. However, go power was noticeably hindered with the air conditioning on, even on its lowest setting. Several drivers also took special offense at the engine's lack of refinement, referring to it as tinny, buzzy and nasal. Rather a poor showing for the Rodeo Sport V6, especially considering that the base engine is a measly 2.2-liter four-cylinder.
Rodeo Sport's lack of refinement manifested itself in other ways, as well. The 16-inch radial tires positively howled, even at low speeds; we heard plenty of rattles and squeaks emanating from the dash; and wind roar off the roof assailed occupants when traveling at highway velocities.
Performance from the four-wheel disc, ABS-equipped brakes was underwhelming. The calipers just didn't grab with enough authority, or alacrity, for that matter. We'd find that after applying what felt like sufficient pressure to the pedal, we'd have to push yet a little harder to get the vehicle to slow down in a timely matter. Another odd feature of the brakes: With most vehicles, when at a standstill on level ground, it's possible to ease one's foot off the brake pedal without inching forward. In the Isuzu, however, relieving pressure on the pedal even slightly would allow the Rodeo Sport to move forward, even on level ground. This was unnerving and took some getting used to.
Rodeo Sport's sloppy handling was a popular grievance. Particularly annoying were the vertical undulations over bumps in the road and excessive vibration produced by highway irregularities. The ride was so buoyant that one driver likened the vehicle to a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon. And while this rebadged Amigo felt no more tippy around corners than any other truck-based ute, it by no means inspired spirited driving, either. Rodeo Sport felt considerably less stable than much larger SUVs we've driven. Disconcertingly light steering, a shaky ride and sub-par brakes all contribute to the sensation that this SUV shouldn't be taken to the limit. Its short wheelbase (96.9 inches), however, did make it easy to maneuver around town and into parking spaces.
Accommodations in Rodeo Sport aren't even up to Super 8 motel standards. The fabric covering the seats is distinctly unattractive, and the seats themselves are in desperate need of additional contouring, especially in the lumbar region. Visibility could likewise stand improvement; obtrusive rear-seat headrests and a rear-mounted spare tire make changing lanes a chore.
We were nonplussed by the liberal use of hard plastic materials in the Sport; even the armrest on the door is cold and unyielding. The armrest over the center console storage bin is cushioned, but set too far back to be used by anyone who must drive with the seat moved forward. The console itself is sized perfectly for holding CDs. Rodeo Sport claims a total of four cupholders — two up front and one for each outboard rear passenger.
Now, back to those sunroofs. One editor was particularly irked by their design while driving on the freeway one sunny afternoon. Admittedly, this person may be a little more paranoid about ultraviolet exposure than most people; but who can blame her, what with her fair complexion coupled with the rapid depletion of the ozone layer? Anyway, the rays glaring down through the dual sunroofs began to make her uncomfortable; she wanted to close the sunroofs. Much to her chagrin, she realized that the Rodeo Sport's quirky design necessitates that the sunroof covers be removed completely, rather than just slid open. Therefore, the roof covers were stowed in the cargo area, which meant that to protect her delicate countenance, she would've had to exit the freeway, retrieve the covers and reinstall them in the roof. It turned out to be more trouble than she was willing to take at that particular moment.
Even more frustrating was the fact that this exhaustive and antiquated process amounted to just a few measly inches of ventilation — the sunroofs on the Rodeo Sport don't slide open; they only tilt. If the driver wants serious UV exposure, she has the choice of removing the sunroofs completely. Again, it just seems like a big nuisance. Or maybe we're just lazy. We're sure there are plenty of nicely bronzed, devil-may-care types out there who'd appreciate the dual sunroof feature.
Speaking of blithely fun-loving individuals, we suspect that these are the very people who would be willing to overlook Rodeo Sport's flaws in favor of its sunny demeanor and truck-based utility. The four-wheel-drive model offers a viable alternative to those who crave Jeep Wrangler's off-road ability and youthful appeal, but appreciate Isuzu's slightly more refined design and comparatively quiet cabin. For buyers looking for a cute ute with genuine offroad ability and don't mind putting up with sub-par on-road performance, Rodeo Sport might be the answer. But we recommend taking a close look at some of the other small SUVs on the market and going on a few test drives before settling for this warmed-over Amigo.
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