Hi everyone! I'm looking to downsize my SUV to something a bit smaller and I'm seriously looking at the Rodeo. I need a cheaper car that's more fuel efficient as I put on 50+ miles a day. So, for all of you current or past Rodeo-ers....would this vehicle be a smart choice for me? How's the fuel efficiency? Repairs?

If you want fuel efficiency DP NOT GET A RODEO!!! They are pretty bad on gas!

I wouldn't necessarily say they are "bad" on gas. There are some cars and minivans out there not too mention smaller SUV's, i.e. PT Cruiser, Dodge Caravan, Jeep Liberty for instance, that get just the same mileage I do.

Actually, I've read numerous complaints that the Liberty only gets about 14mpg - now that's bad for a small SUV.

If you need an SUV for the daily driving, i.e job requires it, and one that's built on a truck frame and RIDES like a truck then the gas mileage is alright and about to be expected - these are heavy trucks with stout, but mid-sized engines.

Don't be a heavy footer and pay attention to maintenance - these trucks are not to be ignored, they'll take care of you as long as you keep their fluids and hoses fresh and clean. I can't say I've experienced any more maintenance issues with this vehicle, but I will say that they can be a bit tricky to work on.

If I had to do it over again, I would in a heartbeat - and I've had two of these trucks.

With running a tire size two sizes bigger then stock, Loadwarrior luggage rack w/extension that sits off the roof of the truck by about 2-3", Class 3 hitch, Brushguard and a heavy spare tire, I average 17-18mpg in town stop and go driving 50 miles a day.

On the open highway, if I stay between 60-65mph, I can reach 20-23 mpg.

Keep your tires aired up, in fact, take them 2-4 psi ABOVE what the door label calls for - gas mileage will improve.

In my opinion, if Gas mileage is a huge factor, you should pass. If you need/want an SUV, the Rodeo is great. My only dislike of my Rodeo is the MPG. I really thing it's a fun vehicle to drive. Resale value is bad on them, so that's good for you because you can get one for a good price.


marc

If you dont plan to take it off road look for something without a frame. It will be lighter and get better mileage.

One of the guys I work with just bought a honda pilot. Its pretty nice looking but by no means a real suv. Its unibody and independant front and rear suspension. It gets pretty decent mileage to for an "suv". Quite a bit better then mine but then I like the skinny pedal too much.

There is no full framed part time 4x4 suv/truck out there that will average better than ~20mpg. Like the other fellas said, dont get a truck/suv if your goal is max fuel economy. Even the unibody, front wheel drive / all wheel drive suv/cross-overs are not great on gas. For the fun factor, awesome looks, versatilty & towing capacity, a rodeo can't be beat.

Joel

what do yo drive now? Do you tow? Do you really need an SUV?

I"m lucky and only live 4 miles from where I work so gas is not that big of a deal to me.

if MPG is that big of a deal keep your current SUV and buy a commuter car (saturn, civic, corella of the sorts).

The best you will do in a rodeo is 17-21 MPG, that cheap small are will pay for itself fast due to your 50 mile round trip.

i agree with amigo....i myself am getting 12-16 mpg's depending on how i drive it ( I've noticed that if i start from a stop, i get great gas mileage, but flipped off alot....) anyhow, if you dont need a suv, get a gas efficient car.

hshawn31 - I get flipped off a lot too, I'm not too quick in wanting to mash on the gas pedal and wig out the transmission after having had to come to an almost stop.

I'm pretty slow at taking off from a standstill as well, mainly cause I like my transmission and can't see being unnecessarily hard on it. It amazes me the abuse I see people putting their $30-40k dollar cars through.

if MPG is that big of a deal keep your current SUV and buy a commuter car (saturn, civic, corella of the sorts).

The best you will do in a rodeo is 17-21 MPG, that cheap small car will pay for itself fast due to your 50 mile round trip.

I agree with amigo-2k.
If your current SUV is paid for (or nearly so) and is otherwise reliable and has purpose - keep it.
I'd recommend finding a Chevy Prizm for a commuter car. They have 85% of the components from a Toyota Corolla - especailly the important mechanical ones. Look for the 1998 to 2002 models. Very good cars, and cheaper to buy than an identical Toyota.
Next consideration is to reduce the insurance coverage on your SUV to match the annual mileage you predict. Allstate has allowed me to assign a 'less than 7500 miles per year" usage on my Rodeo. Then I go to liability & comprehensive only in the summer time. The Rodeo gets used used mostly in the winter, so I increase the coverage then. All this saves at least $200 a year doing that. Between the fuel savings driving a small car 50 miles a day, and the cheaper insurance and registration costs on an older economy car, it's something to consider. Besides, the used car lots around here are getting overstuffed with bigger SUV's - so you might not get much to sell your current one if the same phenomemon is happening everywhere else.
Tom

I agree on the prizm recommendation. Good cheap used buy. I'm almost sure they are 100% toyota corolla? AFAIK, the only thing non-corolla about them is the GM badging. My BIL has a 2001 corolla that he has done NOTHING to aside from tires, brakes and oil/filter changes. It sees nothing but kwik lube oil/filters probably every 4-7Kmi.:disappoin. He's definately not an automotiveforums kinda guy.:rolleyes:

Joel

I'm almost sure they are 100% toyota corolla? AFAIK, the only thing non-corolla about them is the GM badging.
Joel

Hi Joel,
I learned that there are subtle differences in the Prizm/Corolla besides the badges. Some of the folks on the AF Prizm & Corolla forums can list them all . Electrical systems, dash, hood, trunk, taillights are some of them. Nothing bad though, just different.
Perhaps the Passport/Rodeo has fewer differences in design. My favorite of all time was the Cadillac Cimarron/Chevy Cavalier in the mid-80's! Who did GM think they'd fool? Absolutely nobody was thinking - 'hey I just bought a Caddy with a bowtie and saved thousands'. But to buy a Rodeo for less than a Passport, or a Prizm for less than a Corolla - now that's a bargain.:smokin:
And you're right - the prizm forum is mostly posts about cool street modifications and silly mechanical issues due to lack of maintenance - nobody talks about seafoam and alternator horror stories! :p

nobody talks about seafoam and alternator horror stories! :p

Yeah, but that's just because we're obsessed. There's not one owner here, justifiably, that NEEDED to use seafoam - it was rather by choice, as the ticking in the engine is harmless.

So, for all of you current or past Rodeo-ers....would this vehicle be a smart choice for me? How's the fuel efficiency? Repairs?

Hello IsuzuCurious - well we have given some answers and suggestions, have you made a decision on what to do next? Tom

I have a 99 Rodeo 6 cyl. 2wd and I was getting 23-24 mpg on a trip last week.

Hi,
I have a 2002 2.2 Frontera DIESEL (identical to Rodeo) 40 (yes FORTY) miles to the gallon!
Did they ever do a diesel option in the states?
:grinyes:

Hi,
I have a 2002 2.2 Frontera DIESEL (identical to Rodeo) 40 (yes FORTY) miles to the gallon!
Did they ever do a diesel option in the states?
:grinyes:

Ahhh .... Just realised ..... U.S. Gallon not the same as U.K. Gallon!
Make that about 34 mpg in U.S. Gallons!
:screwy:

Ahhh .... Just realised ..... U.S. Gallon not the same as U.K. Gallon!
Make that about 34 mpg in U.S. Gallons!
:screwy:

Even so, that is twice as good as most of us get with the six-cylinder engines. Diesel fuel costs about the same per gallon here as gasoline, so maybe you can send us some extra engines? Do you know of ten or twenty of them lying around on a shelf somewhere? :) We can all learn to like diesels then! Tom

No diesels here. I was wondering how I missed the Frontera connection...

Hi

The diesel engine is quite "sought after" over here.
It's a 2.2 16 valve turbo, performance is about the same as the 2.2 petrol (but with a lot more torque).
If, like me , you get the engine computer "re mapped" you can get another 30 or so bhp quite easily.
I'll post a few photos when I get a few minutes .....

Paul