Isuzu Rodeo Denver dominates snow-covered ‘Killer Kielder’

With the country in the grip of the record-breaking 2008 snowfall-fest – the most prolific winter weather in 18 years – the rough, tough and ultra-capable Isuzu Rodeo Denver headed deep into the fearsome forest tracks and the wilderness of ‘Killer Kielder’ Forest: England’s largest man-made woodland.

Kielder Forestry Commission PR and Motorsport manager, Jonathan Farrier, said: “The old Isuzus were very popular here in the forest, but this new vehicle is at another level: it can seemingly go anywhere, in total comfort, and with maximum practicality. I am sure we will see a lot more of these capable vehicles in the forests.”

Covering over 400 square miles, remote Kielder Forest has long been the battleground for rallying adventures, including rounds of the World Rally Championship, where epic special stages like ‘Pundershaw’ – the longest in the world at 36.61-miles – drained the talent of many a driver, and their chosen vehicle.

But the ‘go anywhere’ capabilities of the all-new 2009 Isuzu Rodeo Denver made light work of the snow-covered, icy, heavily-cambered, ditch-lined special stage forest tracks, impressing the Forestry Commission staff no end.

And, with prices starting at just £9,999 (CVOTR) for the single cab and £13,999 (CVOTR) for the double cab 2.5-litre models, and the range topping 3.0-litre Denver Max (with its high end interior, exterior and generous specification touches) priced from £19,999 (CVOTR) the Isuzu Rodeo range represents amazing, class-leading value for money in the popular 4x4 pick-up marketplace – perfect in these ‘credit crunch’ times.

The new 136 PS and 294 Nm torque 2.5-litre commonrail diesel engine, with its variable vane turbo technology, also offers class-leading fuel economy (which Isuzu recently demonstrated; with a run from John o’Groat’s to Land’s End, over 800 miles, on one tank of diesel) and brilliant on, and off-road performance.

Practicality is the Rodeo’s ace card, with each of the vehicles in the range offering a class-leading 3000 kg towload capability, huge 800+ mile fuel range and 38.2 mpg fuel economy, user-friendly, tough, simple-to-operate driver controls and flexible, accessible performance, grip and driveability. Then factor in Isuzu’s hard-fought reputation for bomb-proof reliability, its tax breaks as a commercial vehicle and its genuine off-road ability and on-road manners and you start to realise why the Rodeo range is such a popular choice – for farmers, families and foresters alike.

In up to two-feet of snow, battling one of the world’s most feared gravel rally stages – Pundershaw – the Rodeo made light work of its icy task. Switching from rear-wheel drive to four-wheel drive high ratio mode (available on the move, up to 60 mph, with a user-friendly dash selection button), the Rodeo did not even slip a 16-inch wheel tackling the steep ascents, descents, off-camber bends, deep dykes, pot holes and devilish ditches. It simply found traction, whatever ‘Killer Kielder’ threw at it.

It took a special effort to get off the forestry-beaten special stages to test out the last trick in the Rodeo armoury… low ratio four-wheel drive (again, selected in a matter of seconds, stationary, via the dash-mounted panel). Here on these boggy tracks, in up to three feet of deep, water-logged, icy mud and snow, the Rodeo was unstoppable – easily going where other vehicles would instantly be in dire straights, thanks to its fabulously grippy, limited slip differential four-wheel drive system, excellent ride height (195 mm), ABS/EBD brakes and grunty diesel powerplant.

Kenyon Neads, Marketing Director, Isuzu (UK) Ltd. said: “It takes a lot more than the world’s toughest special stage and the heaviest snowfall in 18-years, to stop a Rodeo in its tracks, believe me. These practical, comfortable, economical and highly capable vehicles really have got the ‘go anywhere’ capability; making them the perfect, pragmatic powerhouses for families, foresters and farmers alike.”