Used Isuzu Rodeo review and buying guide (2003 to 2012): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Isuzu Rodeo should you buy?

Aim for a Rodeo from the April 2007 facelift onwards, because that's when the smooth 2.5 I-TEQ common rail diesel arrived, along with a reworked cabin and bodywork. It's the engine that's rated best for refinement and towing. There's very little fault history for any Rodeo, though, so that's a thin record rather than a clean one, and the condition of the truck in front of you matters more than its year.

At launch in 2003, the two-wheel-drive Rodeo had a 2.5 diesel and the 4x4 a 3.0 diesel. That older 3.0 has unconfirmed stories of blown engines hanging over it, so it needs more checking before you hand over any money. Rodeos built from November 2011 got a diesel particulate filter, and the replacement model arrived in 2012.

Don't buy one expecting car-like safety. It's an old-school ladder-frame pickup, and when it was crash tested in 2008 it earned two stars for protecting adults. Across its life it came as a single or double cab, in 4x2 or 4x4 form, so make sure the one you're looking at matches what you'll actually use it for.

Which Rodeo engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 2.5 I-TEQ diesel fitted from April 2007 is the engine to pick. It's smooth, it pulls strongly from low revs, which is what you want when towing, and it came with a new five-speed manual gearbox and uprated brakes. There's little fault history on any Rodeo engine, so this choice rests on how well it drives rather than on proof it never breaks; judge each truck on its own history.

The older 3.0 diesel in 2003 to 2007 4x4s has had rumours of blown engines attached to it, and there are similar stories about automatic gearboxes failing, though neither was ever confirmed. One suggested cause is injectors weeping fuel into the sump, which thins the oil and speeds up bore wear. If you're set on one, ask for oil change receipts and check the dipstick for thin oil.

A later 3.0 I-TEQ arrived in the Denver Max LE from 2008, with a manual or auto, and there's nothing recorded against it either way. Some trucks carry a Prodrive Performance Pack, which was standard on some LE models and sold as a fitted extra; Isuzu said it left turbo boost alone so didn't add engine strain. Other aftermarket power upgrades exist too, so ask who did any tuning and get the paperwork.

What should you check when viewing a used Rodeo?

Get underneath before anything else, because Isuzu gave the Rodeo very little underbody protection. Look along the chassis rails, the crossmembers and the floor for rust, and don't accept surface corrosion as harmless without seeing how deep it goes. If the truck's sound, plan to have the underside treated and waxed once you've bought it, and ask whether a previous owner's already done it.

Let the engine warm up fully on the test drive, then listen at idle. A rattle that appears once it's hot and stops when you press the clutch pedal points to the clutch or flywheel starting to fail. On an automatic, make sure every change is smooth and there's no slipping or flare in revs, given the unconfirmed stories about those gearboxes.

Check the spare wheel's still there, because it hangs under the back of the truck and they're a target for thieves; a spare wheel lock is worth fitting. If you'll tow a heavy trailer, read the plate for the braked towing limit, since the original 3.0 only got its higher rating from April 2004, and earlier trucks are cleared for less.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Isuzu Rodeo cost to run?

What do Rodeo owners like about them?

It's a big, good-looking truck that's always been a strong tow vehicle, and the double cab has room for five. The tailgate drops lower than on other pickups, which makes it easier for a dog to jump up into the back, and that's a small thing you'll notice every day if you've got one.

If you tow for a living, the gearbox is already built to take a tachograph sender unit, so fitting one isn't a big job. If you don't need four-wheel drive, the raised two-wheel-drive Hi-Lander shares the 4x4's torsion bar front suspension and drives slightly better on the road than the 4x4 does.

• The Rodeo has gained a strong reputation for product reliability and longevity among demanding customers like the farming community since 2004.
• The 3.0 litre I-TEQ Common Rail diesel engine in the Rodeo Denver Max LE offers 163 PS, a 109 mph top speed, and 33.6 mpg combined.
• This pick-up is a good-looking, large vehicle, built in Thailand and available in single or double cab, 4x2 or 4x4 configurations.
• The 4x2 model with a 2,499cc diesel achieves 34.9 mpg combined, while the 4x4 with a 2,999cc diesel manages 30.7 mpg.
• The Rodeo was rated top Utility towcar in 2004 by The Caravan Club, offering a 3,000kg towing capacity.