​The Isuzu Rodeo pick-up range gets two new versions - the 3.0 litre Denver Max LE and a new entry-level 2.5 litre 4x2 Single Cab . . .

Isuzu’s popular Rodeo pick-up range has recently been topped and tailed by two new versions – a new 3.0 litre Denver Max LE, with either manual or automatic transmission, and a new entry-level 2.5 litre 4x2 Single Cab.

Priced to be competitive, the new 3.0 litre Rodeo Denver Max LE starts from £19,999 for the manual, with the auto costing £1,000 more, and the 2.5 litre Rodeo 4x2 Single Cab is £9,999 (all prices are on-the-road but exclude VAT).

The LE aims to offer the ultimate in pick-up luxury at an affordable price – especially for business users – while the new 4x2 Single Cab is aimed at the cost-conscious construction industry, scaffolders, fencing contractors and farmers.

Featuring exactly the same equipment as the previous 2.5 litre Denver Max LE, the new five-seat, four-door Double Cab 4x4 model boasts a powerful new common rail turbo-charged diesel engine, which makes the previously offered Prodrive Performance Pack unnecessary.

Power is a substantial 163 PS at only 3,600 rpm while torque is a massive 265.5 lb/ft at 1,800 rpm in manual form and 245.6 lb/ft as an automatic.

Although the engine is bigger, Isuzu says its fuel economy and low emissions are class leading, with the 3.0 litre Rodeo Denver Max LE returning 33.6 mpg and 31.4 mpg on the combined cycle as a manual or automatic, with emissions of 222 and 237 g/km respectively. Top speed is 109 mph with a 0-60 mph time of 10.3 seconds (manual) and 10.8 seconds (automatic).

Standard equipment includes 18in alloy wheels and stainless steel side steps. It also boasts premium leather seats and door inserts, an LE mesh grille, a tough load-liner and a high-quality LE-branded hard top.

It also comes with a sophisticated touch screen sat-nav with full DVD/DivX playback, plus high-tech Bluetooth kit, air-con, four electric windows, leather-wrapped steering wheel, keyless-entry and selectable “shift-on-the-fly” 4WD or 2WD at speeds up to 60 mph.

Also highly competitive is a braked towing limit of 3,000 kg for the Denver Max LE and a payload of 1,060 kg and 1,055 kg respectively for the manual and automatic.

Aimed at the cost-conscious construction and agricultural sector, the new entry-level Rodeo 4x2 Single Cab boasts a high specification and costs just £9,999 on the road (excluding VAT).

Equipment includes central-locking, electric windows, a radio with single CD player and MP3 capability.

Also standard is ABS with EBD, twin front airbags, power steering, a five-speed manual gearbox and a rear limited-slip differential. However, the biggest news is the fitment of the new DOHC 2.5 litre Common-Rail turbo-diesel engine first introduced in spring ’07 when the facelifted Rodeo range was introduced.

Producing 136 PS at 3,600 rpm and 217 lb ft of torque at 1,800 rpm, the new engine offers exceptional refinement and efficiency with an outstanding 38.2 mpg Combined and equally impressive emissions of 196 g/km.

Compared to the previous 2.5 litre pre-facelifted Rodeo equivalent, top speed rises by 16 mph to 109 mph while the Combined fuel economy is 3 mpg better.

In addition, the CO2 for the new Denver 4x2 Single Cab drops by 18 g/km and the 0-60 mph time is a car-like 10.5 seconds.

Its braked towing limit is a useful 2,500 kg while the payload is an equally impressive 1,235 kg with a load length of 2,270 mm.

All Isuzus have a 36 month, 60,000 mile warranty (whichever comes first) plus 36 months’ membership of Isuzu Assistance and a comprehensive home and roadside repair and recovery package valid throughout the UK and Europe. Service intervals are a generous 12,000 miles.