2002 Isuzu Rodeo Crew Cab 3.2i V6 4AT RWD (208 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Isuzu produced and sold the 2002 Rodeo Pickup in 120 countries worldwide under different nameplates, and the Rodeo was the version made for specific markets.

GM did an excellent job when it developed the chassis for the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Sonoma. It was also used to create the Isuzu D-Max, also known as the Rodeo. The pickup truck was introduced in 2002 in Thailand, where it was assembled. Since Isuzu also had a factory in Turkey for buses and trucks, it produced it there as well, but not for European countries. For those, surprisingly, it imported them from Thailand, which was much further away. The 2002 Isuzu Rodeo was available with three cabin versions, and the four-door Crew Cab was the most expensive one. It could be used as a workhorse and as a family vehicle as well, but it has some performance and comfort limitations.

While most automakers in 2002 tried to make their vehicles wider by installing horizontal headlights, Isuzu made the Rodeo look taller thanks to the vertical, angular-shaped headlamps. They flanked a grille with a bold horizontal slat that sported the brand’s badge and two vertical ones resembling the H letter. On the lower side, depending on the grade and market, the 2002 Isuzu Rodeo/D-Max featured a black or a body-colored bumper with available round fog lamps on the outer corners. In addition, the automaker offered an aluminum skid plate in the middle that protected the engine from hits.

From its profile, the 2002 Isuzu Rodeo had an adventurous styling, with flared wheel arches on both axles and body-colored trims. However, the highest grade was fitted with chromed door mirror caps and handles. Since Isuzu learned its lessons from one of the best pickup makers in the world, GM, it installed a separate bed in the back, behind the four-door cabin. As a result, vibrations coming from there were not transmitted through the rest of the bodywork, enhancing passengers’ comfort. As an option, the automaker offered a set of side steps that protected the rocker panels. However, these affected ground clearance. At the back, the bed was fitted with corner-mounted taillights that flanked a flip-down tailgate above the color-keyed bumper.

Inside, the automaker didn’t try to hide the utilitarian destination of the vehicle. The dashboard was made from hard plastic materials, and the door cards used the same quality materials. Fronting the driver was a four-spoke steering wheel that framed a rounded instrument cluster. There, Isuzu installed a wide dial for the speedometer in the middle that sported an LCD for the odometer, a tachometer on the left, and the gauges for the fuel level and the engine temperature on the right. Customers could order the 2002 Isuzu Rodeo with a stereo on the center stack, placed between the lower-mounted controls for the HVAC and below the squared center vents. At the front, the automaker installed a set of bucket seats that were separated by a center console. That was also made from hard plastic and housed the gear stick, the lever for the transfer box, and the handbrake. In addition, Isuzu placed a pair of cup holders. Behind, on the bench seat, three adult-sized customers could find their place. However, the limited legroom and the industrial-grade materials were nothing to write home about.

Under the hood, depending on the market, the 2002 Isuzu Rodeo was available with a choice of gasoline and turbodiesel engines. The automaker offered the four-door version of the car with a standard 4WD system, with independent suspension at the front and a leaf-spring axle in the rear with an available self-locking differential.