From the July 1991 subject of Automobile and Driver.

Is it truthful to say that the typical Ameri­can would not know a lot about Isuzu?

In that case, too unhealthy for the typical Ameri­can, as a result of the new-for-1991 Isuzu Ro­deo reveals that there is much more to this Japanese firm than only a humorous, ly­ing spokesman named Joe. Briefly, the Rodeo is a sport-utility automobile (SUV) that undoubtedly deserves your consideration.

We cannot wade too deeply into the Rodeo’s background right here. However let’s hit a couple of of the highlights.

The Rodeo is constructed on the joint Isuzu-Subaru plant in Lafayette, Indiana. It is accessible as a five-door wagon solely, which Isuzu defends by noting that, even given a selection, the overwhelming majority of SUV consumers go for fashions with 4 facet doorways anyway. (These consumers who insist on having a sportier Rodeo can go for its stubby sibling, the two-door Amigo.) The Rodeo rides on a 108.7-inch wheel­base, which is lengthy for this class; however at 176.4 inches total, it is compact on the surface. There are two engines (a 2.6-liter 4 or a 3.1-liter V-6), two transmis­sions, two- or four-wheel drive, and three trim ranges. Our check automobile was a top-­of-the-line Rodeo LS, geared up with the six-cylinder engine, a four-speed automated transmission, and four-wheel drive.

Spend a couple of minutes behind the wheel of the Rodeo and also you shortly grow to be impressed by how civilized it’s. The steering is gentle, the cabin is quiet at excessive­approach cruise, and the experience verges on plush. The driving place is superb—whereas another SUVs on this class have the driving force’s seat planted deep down under the instrument panel and the door sills, the Rodeo’s helm sits excessive and luxury­in a position. Additionally notable is the convenience of entry and exit—you’ll be able to bounce aboard the Rodeo with out worrying about smacking your knee on a splash edge or catching your foot on a excessive rocker panel.

Cockpit options embody a comprehen­sive and well-grouped array of analog gauges, tasteful supplies, and plenty of room for heads and legs. The cabin is not as trendy as some within the class, however we’ve got no complaints about the way it works. There’s room for 5 within the Rodeo LS (which will get entrance buckets as an alternative of the bottom mannequin’s bench). The rear seat­—cut up on the LS—could be folded flat to type a big rear load flooring.

Spend a couple of extra minutes behind the wheel and also you additionally be taught that the Rodeo isn’t any five-door Humorous Automobile. The V-6 is sweet for simply 120 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque, so the 4027-pound Rodeo wants 14.7 seconds of heavy respiration to get to 60 mph. That stated, the Rodeo strikes at its personal tempo happi­ly—like a marathoner who can go the dis­tance however is not within the sprints. Fitted with entrance discs, rear drums, and a regular rear-wheel anti-lock system, the Rodeo stopped from 70 mph in 234 toes—which is on the lengthy facet even for an SUV.

Judging by the reception our black check automobile acquired on the road, Isuzu has scored a success with the Rodeo’s styling. “Hey, man, awesome-looking truck,” was simply one in every of a slew of comparable com­ments. “All proper! Cool! That is the brand new Chevrolet Blazer, proper?” beamed the teller on the Taco Bell window. “You bought it,” we stated again to maintain him smiling and nodding, and we managed on exiting to keep away from knocking over a Fotomat kiosk.

Little doubt contributing to our check Ro­deo’s head-turning energy had been its wheels, snazzy and glossy drilled alloys sporting beefy raised-letter 225/75R-15 tires.

The bottom Rodeo LS ($18,898) comes commonplace with all the things from a leather-based­-wrapped steering wheel to intermittent wipers and a four-speaker AM/FM/cas­sette system with 80 watts of energy. Our check LS was plumped up with such op­tions as energy home windows, cruise management, air con, and a sunroof—which raised the out-the-door sticker to $21,348. Patrons who need extra can tack on a compact-disc participant; consumers who need much less can transfer all the way down to the Rodeo XS or S fashions, the latter of which begins—in four-cylinder, two-wheel-drive type—at simply $12,818.

So who cares if the typical American is aware of nothing about this gifted and tempting sport-utility machine? The im­portant factor is, now you do.