Description Of The Car

2006 Mitsubishi Endeavor Review

This SUV is the best in the Japanese market as we all can see for the main reason that only Mitsubishi can give a very long warranty unequalled by the competition or the best three Japanese car companies.

For that logic, I choose Mitsubishi Endeavor to buy because why throw your hard earned money, for a vehicle that would last 3 or 4 years and forced tobuy another so-so vehicle. It is a very competitive car market and only the best will stand up for their product and that is in black and white! Competitors should not envy Mitsubishi by writing bad reviews, but stand up for their products.

Great Warrenty also! It has a 10 year and 100,000 mile warrenty. It drives very smooth, and the seats are comfortable. It handles very well in all the different kinds of weather. I cant say enough on this SUV, I love it.



New for 2006

The 2006 Mitsubishi Endeavor receives an exterior update with a new chrome grille, a restyled rear bumper and a rear bumper extension. The interior is fitted with chrome accents to the instrument panel controls, a bright silver metallic finish on the door levers, and a new beige color trim is added. Standard equipment includes MP3 playback capability and ABS with electronic brake-force distribution. Platinum Pearl is added as a new exterior color.

Interior Design and Special Features

A large center console dominates the interior, giving the Endeavor a slightly different look than most other sport-utes. In keeping with the exteriors bold and unique design, sporty faux metallic trim is used throughout the cabin. A small screen placed atop the dash provides vital radio, compass and climate information, but it doesnt support an optional navigation system. Like most other sport-utes in its class, the Mitsubishi Endeavor uses a flip-up rear hatch along with a separate lift-glass for added convenience. Cargo capacity maxes out at 75 cubic feet, less than the Pilot, Murano or Explorer.

Safety

Antilock brakes and traction control are standard on all models, as are front-seat side airbags and a tire-pressure monitoring system. A stability control system is optional on 4WD Limited models. Side curtain airbags are not available. The Mitsubishi Endeavor scored well in IIHS frontal-offset crash testing, earning the top mark of "Good." In government crash tests, it earned a perfect five stars for driver protection in frontal impacts and four stars for the front passenger. The Endeavor scored five stars across the board for side-impact protection.

Powertrains and Performance

All Mitsubishi Endeavor models come with a 3.8-liter V6 coupled to a four-speed automatic transmission. Output is rated at 225 horsepower and a substantial 250 lb-ft of torque. Although many vehicles in this class offer more horsepower, the Endeavors ample torque gives it an equally powerful feel. Two-wheel-drive models are front-wheel drive, and all-wheel-drive models utilize a full-time system with a viscous center differential. Fuel economy estimates are 17 mpg city and 22-23 highway.

Driving Impressions

The Mitsubishi Endeavor feels stable underway yet handles well in corners, benefits of its car-based structure. The rack-and-pinion steering is responsive. It turns in nicely for corners. Theres some body lean, but its free of the tippy feeling that used to plague SUVs. You have to drive it pretty hard before understeer sets in. Endeavor uses an independent suspension and 17-inch wheels with Bridgestone Terranza 235/65R17 road tires.

Weve driven the Endeavor over all kinds of surfaces, and it has a nice ride. Its smoother than most truck-based SUVs and comparable to some of the car-based SUVs. The only bump in the Endeavors otherwise comfortable ride appeared in the sharp ridges, those pitches upward that you feel in the pit of your stomach.

The unit-body chassis appears to be very strong. Mitsubishi says virtually every inch of it is either reinforced, corrugated, triangulated or doubled up. The longitudinal rails are octagonally shaped for strength, with no welded beads, and there are five lateral crossmembers.

Put it in Drive and the four-speed automatic transmission does a decent job. It also features a manual Sportronic mode, which allows the driver to change gears; put it in the manual mode and it only shifts when the driver shifts it. We prefer that over the manual modes on many automatics that wont hesitate to override the driver when it doesnt like the drivers decisions. Shifting manually is awkward, however; because of the size of the center armrest/console, you have to cock your elbow in the air to grab the lever, which puts an awkward angle on your wrist and hinders manual shifting.

The engines drive-by-wire throttle system is very responsive. Mitsubishi says the 0 to 60 mph time for a 2WD LS is 9.5 seconds, which is reasonable but sets no records. The all-wheel-drive Limited we drove was 300 pounds heavier than the front-wheel-drive LS. The 3.8-liter V6 is rated at 225 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque, the latter at 3750 rpm. We felt the need for more torque in second gear, where the transmission wouldnt shift down for sharp acceleration. At the other end of the power curve we had the opposite transmission problem: too much shifting down. Peak power comes at 5000 rpm and redline isnt until 6000.

We also spent some miles in a front-wheel-drive Endeavor, on steeper and rougher roads that included gravel and loose dirt over asphalt. We were less impressed with its handling; it understeered, torque steered, and was sprung more softly. We would suggest choosing an all-wheel drive Endeavor unless you live in a place thats always flat and dry, and you never leave the pavement.


Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options

The Mitsubishi Endeavor offers two trim levels: LS and Limited. The LS comes with standard features like 17-inch alloy wheels; air conditioning; power windows, locks and mirrors; remote keyless entry; air conditioning; a 140-watt CD stereo; a full-size spare tire; and towing preparation. The Limited adds items like a power driver seat, a 315-watt stereo with an in-dash six-disc CD changer and an automatic climate control system with separate rear controls. Available options include a sunroof, leather seating, heated front seats and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system (which unfortunately isnt available in conjunction with the sunroof). A navigation system is not available.

Prices start in mid-$20,000s

With a starting price of more than $25,000, the Endeavor obviously isnt bargain-basement priced.

But theres a nice complement of standard features including remote keyless entry, roof rails, privacy glass, minimum 140-watt audio system with CD player and the V6, even on the base LS model. Theres a midrange XLS trim level, too, and the top-of-the-line Limited adds standard leather seat surfaces.

Note that sunroof and full-size spare tire are options, even on the Limited.

2006 Mitsubishi Endeavor Summary

The 2006 Mitsubishi Endeavor is a 4-door, 5-passenger sport-utility, available in 4 trims, ranging from the LS FWD to the Limited AWD.

Upon introduction, the LS FWD is equipped with a standard 3.8-liter, V6, 225-horsepower engine that achieves 17-mpg in the city and 23-mpg on the highway. The Limited AWD is equipped with a standard 3.8-liter, V6, 225-horsepower engine that achieves 17-mpg in the city and 21-mpg on the highway. A 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims.