Review Car

2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor

The 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor, entirely designed and built in the U.S., is a solid new entrant into the mid-sized, mid-priced SUV field. The 2011 2011 Endeavor’s closest competitors include the Buick Rainier, the GMC Yukon XL Denali, and the Volkswagen Touareg. Upon introduction, the LS FWD is equipped with a standard 3.8-liter, V6, 215-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, 215-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. The 2011 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor is all-new for 2011. One engine is available in the Endeavor, a bigger, more powerful and improved version of the V6 that powers the higher-priced 2003 Montero. It’s a 3.8-liter V6 making 215 horsepower, with an iron block, aluminum heads and single overhead cam. It’s mounted transversely, and mated to a four-speed Sportronic automatic transmission with manual shifting capability.

For 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor the cargo behind the front seat is 76.4 cubic feet. The temporary spare tire is mounted under the cargo floorboard, which is easy to raise; a full-sized spare is optional. Front legroom is good. For front legroom, the Endeavor and Pilot have 41.4 inches, the Highlander 40.7; most other mid-sized SUVs are in that range. The XLS driver’s seat with standard adjustable lumbar support is comfortable and well bolstered, but rather wide for aggressive cornering. The premium fabric is nice, and appears quite durable. Rear legroom is very good, with 38.5 inches; the Pilot’s middle seat has 37.0 inches, and the Highlander has 36.4. The rear seat is quite comfortable, and has a center armrest with two cupholders. Getting in and out is easy. There’s a nice big glovebox, and the cushioned armrest console between the front seats has a removable tray, ideal for cell phones, that increases its capacity. With the tray in place, however, you have to lift two lids to get to the deeper storage area. There are two 12-volt outlets within the console, and another one accessible from the rear seat. Mechanically it appears to be on par with other mid-priced SUVs, while its styling is distinctive. The ride is the fourth feature that Mitsubishi appears to believe is superior. But this seems a tenuous boast, because it suggests that the Highlander, Pilot and others do not have such smooth rides, which isn’t the case. The new unibody chassis for the Endeavor 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 cross members. The engine’s drive-by-wire throttle system is very responsive. 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor looks best from the rear. The back end is simple, smooth and classy-angular on a two-dimensional level, with the tailgate shaped into a subtle stretched hexagon by small taillights. Its elegance creates a small mystery as to how it fits into this in-your-face geomechanical theme