Mitsubishi Endeavor: American Ride, Anime Style

Despite the continuing bogey of $100/barrel oil, there continues to exist that market for crossover SUVs that consume enough fuel for one and a half Kia Picantos for the same amount of mileage. And why shouldn’t it? All too often these guzzlers are company-subsidized, and for the fortunate few that can afford them, comfort and luxury are key. Besides, a spacious, multipurpose vehicle might make more political sense than, oh, a 4-door Euro-sedan at the same price range. The Endeavor is arguably Mitsubishi’s least well-known SUV at the moment, overshadowed by the sportiness of the cheaper Outlander and the status symbol reputation of the Pajero. Yet with a retail price of P2.150M, it quietly undercuts more well-known competitors like the Honda Pilot (P2.6M), the Nissan Murano (P2.680M), and the Ford Explorer (P2.295M).

Based on the Project America platform, which the Galant sedan and Eclipse sports couple also use, the Endeavor was primarily conceived to appeal to the US market. The latter, as you might already know, places high value on all-day comfort suitable for Interstate driving, easy drivability, and plenty of low-rpm torque in exchange for high-rpm power. And if the vehicle in question tries its best not to look like an appliance, then so much the better.

To that end, the Endeavor looks like an SUV penned by the same designer as the Starship Enterprise. The conventional body style is set off with exaggerated wing flares, a power dome on the hood that continues down to the hawk-like grille, and organically shaped tail lamps that never fail to elicit “What the heck was that?” questions from drivers you’ve just passed. And, at least for us, it works. In our opinion, if it makes for good conversation and evades the “Ho-hum” verdict, then the design team did a good job.

Inside, more of the spaceship ambience is effected by the cockpit with its angular lines, metallic accents, and blue instrument lighting. The T-shaped center stack for the climate control and stereo is topped by an LCD display for outside temperature, compass, and your ventilation settings. It’s complemented by an extra-large, console-mounted shifter with a head that’s a little larger than a golf ball. At first, you like the audacity, then you’ll think it’s tacky, then you’ll like it again and so on and so forth. As polarizing as the cockpit is, credit Mitsubishi for the fit and finish of the whole package; the steering wheel is dimpled and pebbled for a nice feel, and the soft plastic of the dashboard top says “expensive”.

The sole engine choice is a single overhead camshaft 3.8-liter V6 rated at 225-horsepower and 32 kg-m of torque. It’s big and hardly ever stressed, just how Americans must like their trucks. The standard transmission is a 4-speed manumatic. In this day and age, a 4-speed seems corny compared to the newer generation of 5-, 6-, and even 7-speed transmissions, but to its credit the Mitsubishi 4-speed acquits itself well. An extra cog might add an extra bit of sprightliness, but the big six happily loafs along in 3rd or 4th gear most of the time on the highway with none of that constant gear shifting that 5- and 6-speeds are wont to do. Combined city/highway driving reaped 6 km/liter for our light-footed, fuel-conscious test drive.

Like the Murano and Pilot, the Endeavor is part of that new breed of SUVs, the “crossovers” that primarily focus on comfort and style over all-weather (much less off-road) performance. The Endeavor uses a monocoque chassis for superior Noise-Vibration-Harshness insulation relative to a ladder-frame chassis.

Thus, if the Endeavor soaks up road bumps with ease, then it’s practically a cruise ship on smooth asphalt. The suspension is softly tuned for all-day comfort and it rolls in the corners if you take them too aggressively. Relentless understeer is the name of the game, and enthusiasts will be disappointed with the Endeavor’s un-ambitious dynamic. Partly to blame is its front-wheel drivetrain, the first we’ve come across for midsize SUVs and part of the bargain for a platform that must also be shared with two other cars. Equipped as such, it feels front-heavy and plows through corners, erupting in torque steer if you abruptly floor the gas pedal.

All-wheel drive is an option in the US but not here, although it does keep the price significantly down. If you want all-wheel drive for peace of mind, then Mitsubishi has the Outlander for you. If you want a more heavy duty four-wheel drive system, then the Mitsubishi salesman will point you to the Pajero.

Actually, the issue of front-wheel drive may be a moot point with the Endeavor’s target market, who likely won’t mind (or even notice) the difference and just want a large, comfortable, and luxurious SUV that can take them through floods.

So, a driver’s SUV it is not, but as a luxury ride it has its charms. The soft suspension is complemented by superb seats, thickly cushioned and nicely shaped to lull the hardiest narcoleptics to sleep. However, the Endeavor is only a 5-seater, so large families will definitely miss the extra third bench that’s rapidly becoming standard fare these days.  As for creature comforts, it also comes with full-auto climate control, leather upholstery, and a superb 8-speaker Rockford Fosgate sound system. No less than six airbags, all-disk brakes, ABS, and Active Stability Control plus traction control do their best to keep you out of harm’s way.

As the middle child in Mitsubishi’s three-SUV lineup, the Endeavor may be somewhere in the middle of luxurious and sporty, and by “sporty” we mean the perception lent by its styling rather than the actual driving experience. Buyers looking for a cloud-like ride with a healthy dose of character in an otherwise unexciting vehicle class would do well to check out the Endeavor.

The Good

• Zany styling.

• Cloud-like ride comfort.

• Superb sound system.

• Loaded with all the goodies.

• More-than-adequate engine power.

The Bad

• No available all-wheel drive

• Lacks a 3rd row seat.

The Verdict

• A ride that tries to look different without giving up the comfort.