We had an '04 Axiom XS with leather and the Direct Injection ('04 only) and my wife, who was the primary driver, really liked it. Not as much as her '01 Trooper, but in her words it was "like a Trooper/VX hybrid" to drive. I found it a little cramped after being used to typical Isuzu spaciousness, but not so much I couldn't spend all day in it. It is all Isuzu, so good quality and part availability. The only thing I didn't particularly like about it was the location of the fuel tank which would definitely warrant a decent skid plate for serious off-roading. It was VERY peppy with the extra HP and torque provided with the Direct Injection version of the 3.5L engine, with city mileage for us at about 19MPG and hiway in the mid-twenties. We found ours through CarMax at a S. Carolina dealership and they brought it down to the local Orlando location for a little bit extra. The only reason we sold was our fundamental shift to diesel power.
If you have any specific questions or would like hi-res photos just PM or email.
PS: If you like the Rodeo at all you can find them with the Direct Injection engine as well, just look for '04 models. But if you're looking for something unique, brawny with power and economy then look at some V10 TDI Touaregs. Just watch some Dakar footage before you do so you can see them in the correct frame of mind!
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Originally Posted by JHarris1385
