Mitsubishi’s Endeavor doesn’t look like anything else.  Considering the extremely crowded nature of the mid-size sport-ute market, that’s probably a good thing.  Our first reaction was, admittedly, to think it was ugly, but the design grew on us after a while.  The Endeavor’s good road manners and powerful 3.8 liter V6 didn’t hurt in winning us over, either.

The Endeavor is one of the latest entrants into the “soft-roader” class of mid-sized sport-utility vehicles that have been bred for life in the suburbs, rather than bashing through the boonies.  Although the folks in Marketing won’t admit it, SUVs are at heart glorified station wagons.  Don’t try to pretend that they aren’t!  The Endeavor and other soft-roaders like the Toyota Highlander and Nissan Murano are proof of this fact; all three ride on car platforms instead of relying on trucky underpinnings.

Unlike Mitsubishi’s other SUVs, the Montero and Montero Sport, the Endeavor takes many of its design cues from the car side of the lineup.  The short, stubby hood and massive fender flares are truck-tough, but the split grille and strong hood character lines are dead ringers for those of the all-new Galant and upcoming Diamante.  The Endeavor is long and wide, like full-size station wagons used to be, and the bold flared fenders make it seem even wider.  The tailgate has a sort of hump that’s vaguely reminiscent of a Fifties Continental spare, and the taillights are smallish.

Inside, the Endeavor presents a wide, inviting cockpit, with broad, squashy Barcalounger-type chairs for front and rear passengers and a big, flat dash with a center stack that’s got just a bit too much satin silver plastic to be completely fashionable.  The dash seems to flow toward the passenger cabin in a series of waves.  It’s topped by a 5-inch LCD display that acts as a compass, thermometer and radio display.  The steeply raked windshield creates a lot of greenhouse up front, but it’s sometimes a bit hard to see where the Endeavor’s nose is.  The gauges are backlit in a very un-Mitsubishi shade of indigo that received mixed reviews from passengers.  Some liked the unique color; others found it extremely difficult to read.  On the other hand, we really liked the large, open center console, which was large enough to swallow a big CD case and still close.  Our Endeavor Limited test truck had leather upholstery and automatic climate control as standard equipment.  As for the going-shopping part, the Endeavor has 40.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, and a wide, dual-opening tailgate for easy loading.

Its soul may be more station wagon than truck, but it’s still clear the Endeavor has Paris-Dakar desert race winners in its family.  Get it on a dirt road, and Mitsubishi’s experience with hostile terrain becomes evident.  The fully independent suspension navigates big potholes and washboard pavement without the violent, uncontrollable changes in direction that many SUVs are guilty of.  It’s got car-like MacPherson struts up front, as well as subframe bracing to stiffen things up.  At the rear, a multi-link trailing-arm setup is compact, to minimize cargo space intrusion.  On pavement, this translates to a smooth ride that’s noticeably softer than that of the average sport-ute.  The Endeavor’s relatively wide track keeps it stable as well.  Rack and pinion steering provides a carlike feel that’s most welcome when navigating this wide beast through parking lots.

The 3.8 V6 is blessed with ample torque at low revs. Stoplight starts are a breeze, with 250 foot-pounds of torque available at just 3750 rpm.  It’s enough to make the 215 horsepower that’s on tap feel like a lot more.  On the highway, the Endeavor’s happy to keep up with traffic, and it’s quiet as well.  The four-speed automatic shifts smoothly thanks to an adaptive shift control which allows it to learn how heavy a foot the driver has and adjust accordingly.  The Endeavor can be had with two- or all-wheel drive, of course.  With 8.3 inches of ground clearance it’s not completely incapable of off-roading, but the Endeavor is happiest on pavement.  The Endeavor will tow 5250 pounds when properly equipped.  V8-equipped SUVs are going to out-tow it, but the Endeavor’s intended as a family hauler, not a work truck.

As far as family-friendly sport-utes go, the Endeavor is a good choice.  Side airbags are available, and four-wheel disc brakes are standard an all-wheel drive Endeavors.  Electronic brake-force distribution is used to maintain stability during panic stops.

Pricing is fair, too.  Endeavors start below $30,000, and there are three trim levels to choose from.  Our test truck was a top of the line all-wheel drive Limited, and the only installed option was a full-size spare.  The $34,092 sticker price seemed steep at first, but we checked and found that a comparably equipped Honda Pilot costs about the same.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor Limited, which we tested.
Length:         190.2 in.
Width:            73.6 in.
Height:            67.3 in.
Wheelbase:        108.7 in.
Curb weight:        4156 lb.
Cargo space:        40.7 cu.ft. (seats up); 76.4 cu.ft. (seats folded)
Base price:        $33,197
Price as tested:        $34.092
Engine:         3.8 liter SOHC V6
Drivetrain:         four-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Horsepower:         215 @ 5000
Torque:         250 @ 3750
Fuel capacity:        21.4 gal.
Est. mileage:        17/21

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