Pickups were in high demand in Australia, and GM tried to get a piece of the market when it worked together with Isuzu and created the Holden Rodeo Double-cab.
The cooperation between Isuzu and GM looked good for everyone, even though their badge-engineered products were rightful competitors in some parts of the world. In Australia, Holden was still a respected brand, and it sold in good numbers.
Its front fascia resembled the second generation of the Isuzu Trooper and the Holden Jackaroo, with its small rectangular headlights and the smiling grille shape. The bumper and the side moldings were offered in contrasting colors depending on the trim level and options. As an option, the carmaker offered a set of side steps. With its four-door configuration, the Rodeo Double-cab provided just enough room for five and a bed in the back that could carry enough stuff and tools for a day at work.
As with any rugged utility vehicle from those times, the interior was reduced to basic needs for the base trim level. It offered just a basic dashboard with six gauges plus the tachometer and speedometer wider. The front bucket seats were fine in terms of legroom and headroom, but there was limited room in the back for three adults. In the bed, the carmaker promised that the Holden Rodeo Double-cab could carry up to one ton.
Holden offered a wide choice of engines for the Australian pickup, either diesel or gasoline. The most potent version was not exactly a workhorse since the 3.2-liter V6 was far from being fuel-efficient. On the other hand, the turbodiesel versions were in high-demand thanks to their pulling power.