Isuzu Pick-up Named 4x4 of the Year in UK

The new Isuzu Rodeo was designated Commercial 4x4 Of The Year by 4x4, a major automative magazine in the United Kingdom. The model, known as the Isuzu D-MAX in other countries worldwide, was launched in the UK market last October.

According to an article in the April 2004 issue, the screening panel this year looked for “a champion to please the common man”, rather than an overly specialized vehicle. In choosing the Rodeo, the magazine praised Isuzu for bringing new levels of safety and refinement to the pick-up world. It noted that the Crew Cab interior “introduces new levels of car-like comfort, making it the closest crossover yet between a pickup and sports utility”.

4x4 reported that the Rodeo offers greater refinement and comfort for people who need it the most- those who spend hours every day at the wheel of commercal vehicles. “For setting standards that others are sure to follow, we award our accolade of 4x4 Of The Year to the smart, smooth-riding, great-handling efficiency of the new Isuzu Rodeo”.

Readers learned that tha Isuzu Rodeo “has much more to boast about than a bit of external glitz”. The 3.0-liter 4JH1-TC intercooled turbo-charged diesel engine, the biggest in its class, was introduced as developing “easy, relaxed torque at a lowly 1,600 rpm, making it a particularly effective towing barge”.

“Mind you”, 4x4 continued, “’barge’ is hardly the word to describe the Rodeo, since it brings the most car-like interior yet into the pick-up world”.

The magazine stated that the Crew Cab leaves “all its rivals completely in the shade” with soft-touch plastics on all interior trims, including the shapely one-piece dashboard, and its well-padded, comfotably raked rear seats.

The new Rodeo’s outstanding potential is emphasized as a dependable commercial vehicle and as a new kind of SUV. The 4x4 Of The Year award has just made this message all the more credible!