2003 Holden Rodeo Space Pickup 2.5L TD 5MT RWD (79 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The third and last generation of the Holden Rodeo followed the same recipe as its predecessors, and it was available in a wide range of body choices, ranging from the Single Cab Chassis to the Crew Pickup.

GM owned more than 30 percent of the Isuzu when it decided to create a medium-sized pickup truck that it would sell worldwide under different badges. In Australia, it offered it as the Holden Rodeo and made it available in many configurations, with rear or 4WD, with three cab choices, as a pickup or as a chassis cab. While the single cab was preferred by those who used the vehicle just for work, the extended cab version targeted more customers since it provided roomier interiors and seating for up to four. It could be used even by families if they had small children. In addition, the 2003 Holden Rodeo Space Pickup featured a longer bed in the back than its four-door stablemate. However, the vehicle was a badge-engineered version of the Isuzu Rodeo that GM introduced in 2002 in Thailand.

At the front, the 2003 Holden Rodeo Space Pickup impressed its customers with its bold new design. It featured vertical, angular-shaped headlights, which made the pickup look taller, even though it had a similar size to its main competitors. Depending on the grade, the automaker placed a black or body-colored wrapped-around plastic bumper. In addition, it had higher or lower ground clearance, depending on whether it was 2WD or 4WD.

From its profile, it showed a classic short nose, typical for pickup trucks. The slightly raised hood was followed by a panoramic windshield supported by thin A-pillars. Both front and rear fenders featured black or body-colored moldings that protected the bodywork from scratches and chip stones. Even though it featured just two doors for the front occupants, the 2003 Holden Rodeo Space Cab featured an additional panel and small-sized windows between the B- and the C-posts, which could be popped out open. GM knew that the loading area had to be separated by the cabin so the vibrations couldn’t be transmitted through body panels. As a result, the automaker left a gap between the cabin and the bed. At the back, the flip-down tailgate was flanked by tall and narrow vertical taillights, while below it was a black bumper. For higher grades, customers could get that color-keyed.

Customers were greeted inside by a wider cabin with more comfortable seats than in the previous generation. The automaker offered the 2003 Holden Rodeo Space Cab with either cloth or vinyl upholstery, depending on the grade, but all versions came equipped with a hard-plastic dashboard. Fronting the driver was a rounded instrument cluster where the speedometer took center stage and was flanked by the large dial of the tachometer on the left and by the fuel level and temperature gauges on the right. In addition, Holden added a digital odometer. On the center stack, the base version came with just a simple ventilation system. In the back, the automaker installed a pair of jumpseats that could be used mostly by children and for short jaunts.

Unlike its American siblings, which were offered exclusively with gasoline-powered engines, the 2003 Holden Rodeo Space Cab was available with a choice of three powerhouses. Besides the least-potent one, which was a 2.4-liter unit developing 128 PS (126 hp), the automaker also provided the pickup with a 200 PS (197 hp) unit and a three-liter turbodiesel that pumped out 130 PS (128 hp). Depending on trim and options, the vehicle was available with a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic that sent the oomph to the rear or to both axles via a two-speed transfer case. Vehicles fitted with the 4WD system also benefited from a limited-slip rear differential.