2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor

There’s a new term you need to know if you plan to shop the automotive market or just want to sound savvy when cocktail conversation turns automotive. The term is ‘crossover,’ not to be confused with hybrid, sport utility, sport activity or any of the other terms marketing types have dreamed up to confuse us. ‘Crossover’ refers to a new breed of mid-sized, car-based, sporty-looking vehicles not equipped for the off-road like sport utilities, although many offer some form of all-wheel-drive. Included in this category are Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Nissan Murano and this 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor.

The Good News
Most manufacturers base their crossovers on current sedan platforms. Mitsubishi mixes it up a little by giving the Endeavor a brand new unibody that hasn’t yet been used. Rumors are it will be the next Galant. The Endeavor is also the first of Mitsubishi’s sport vehicles to be built in the U.S.

It is offered in three trim levels and front-wheel drive or full-time all-wheel drive. I had the fanciest of the three, the Limited, with all-wheel drive.

All Endeavors come with a 3.8-liter single-overhead cam V6 that is delightfully responsive. With 215 horses at 5,000 rpm and peak torque of 250 lb-ft at 3,750, the Endeavor’s power is geared towards around-town driving and easy highway merging. There’s nothing jumpy about the acceleration – a fault of others that get overzealous in their quest to seem powerful. The Endeavor takes off with ease and maintains that composure throughout, thanks in part to a 4-speed automatic transmission, the only one available.

Further complementing the daily-errand aspect of this crossover is nimble handling. From the comfortable weight of its steering to its agility in and around traffic, the Endeavor really does an excellent job. All in all, it is a real treat to drive.

I couldn’t find official NHTSA crash test ratings for the Endeavor, because it is so new. But it joins a class that consistently gets high marks in this regard, and I can’t imagine this new Endeavor, with its brand new platform and other state-of-the-art assets, won’t live up to those standards. Mitsubishi’s tests “confirm that it meets or exceeds the federally mandated performance critieria in the 30 mph frontal, 30 mph oblique and 35 mph rear collision tests.” Mine had side-impact airbags standard, but only because it was top of the line.

As for its aesthetics, the interior has kind of a future thing going on with lots of brushed silver and gray, but it doesn’t look cheap. The exterior gets points for a distinctive front end, but the rest is pretty bland.

The Bad News
To be among the longest overall in the crossover segment at 190.2 inches, the Endeavor comes up short of its competition in cargo space. There are 40.7 cubic feet behind the back seat, 76.4 with rear seats folded down. The Honda Pilot has 90 cubic feet with seats folded, for example. This same shortcoming means the Endeavor offers no third seat, but neither do the new Nissan Murano or Toyota Highlander. Still, that third seat has been a big seller for the Pilot. The Endeavor should have included one. Finally, I generally like the Endeavor’s interior and instrumentation, especially the big, beefy control knobs. But the little high-tech LCD screen that gives you all sorts of vital information in illuminated blue totally – I mean totally -- disappears in sunlight. Clever.

Gas mileage
EPA rated at 19 mpg city/27 highway, overall the best in its class

Price
Price as tested, $33,197

Is it worth it?
I thoroughly enjoyed driving this Mitsubishi Endeavor. Its ride, handling and acceleration are right on. Comfort for front seat and backseat passengers also impresses me, and its list of amenities is what I would expect for this price.

Considering its class and competition, however, I wish it had more cargo room, a third seat, an LCD readout I could read and a better-looking exterior.

Mitsubishi is accustomed to being up against Toyota and Honda, so it knows what it’s doing with this Endeavor. I think it has a lot to offer, certainly well worth including on your shopping list if you’re considering something in the crossover class. Or even just making small talk at parties.

Beth Stein is a life-long car buff and free-lance journalist living in Nashville. She has reviewed new vehicles in print for 12 years as a weekly columnist for Nashville's daily newspapers and on television for Road Test Magazine and Motor Trend Television. Currently, her reviews appear nationally on Car And Driver Television.