2006 Mitsubishi Raider Review

An Alternative Pickup in Every Way but Functionality

There are two people in a previous generation Toyota Tacoma pickup truck making “roll down your window” hand gestures at me and my new friend and fellow scribe Mark as were meandering through Vancouver, Washington, feebly trying to find our way back to the I-5 and then onto the bridge to Portland, Oregon… lost once again. Looking at each other briefly before agreeing it was safe to engage conversation, the couple was easily in their 70s after all, Mark dropped the drivers side glass and we both smiled questioningly.

“Whats that youre driving,” came a quizzical enquiry from a smiling southerner… probably a Texan drawl if Im not mistaken.

“Well tell you if youll help us find our way back to the I-5,” I responded smiling.

They consented instantly, still smiling, telling us to pass the light in front of us and then turn right onto the 405, which would merge into the 14 and then the I-5.

“Its Mitsubishis new Raider pickup truck,” my colleague continued, satisfied that we had received the information that was most critical to us at this juncture, which was the end of a long and much maligned test of our navigation skills (or more likely our gift of the gab and unwillingness to pay attention to the directions at hand).

“I like it a lot,” added the husband, joined by a smiling nod of appreciation from his better half.

We proceeded to let him know why he hadnt seen a Raider yet, that it was a preproduction example of a vehicle that would be coming out in a few months (yes, Im horribly late getting this review done being that the Raider went on sale in September), and the two once again nodded their approval.

“It looks really good,” he added. “I want that truck,” he continued while looking over at his accommodating wife.

Like our new friends, I too would have been a little dumbfounded when eyeing the new Raider for the first time, had I not known about its impending arrival from the time that a few artists renderings started appearing late last year, and then when the real deal showed up at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last January. Like the Outlander, Endeavor and Montero SUVs, the Raider really stands out, and as you can tell by the reaction of passersby, for the right reasons.

The Raider is a striking new entry in a growing market segment, and due to its eye-catching styling Mitsubishi might very well have a product on its hands that manages to nick away at Toyotas customer retention dominance (for every customer Toyota loses it gains six), or at least entice enough new buyers to help continue its steady climb out of the sales chart cellar. And getting noticed is critical for this to happen, as customers for an all-new model will have to come from somewhere.

But its not like Mitsubishi has never been in the truck business before. I remember back to when Dodges Mitsubishi-made compact D50 roamed the streets. Here in the U.S., as well as other parts of the world, the tri-diamond version was called Mighty Max. While not a giant seller in North America, in either Mitsubishi or Dodge form, there will most likely be a small group of ex-owners interested in an all-new Mitsubishi pickup truck. Still, the majority of owners will be like our new friends, swayed by the trucks unique road presence.

I should add that theres a bit of irony to all this Mitsubishi-Dodge history, and this being that back when the D50 came into fruition Dodge primarily built full-size pickups and needed to look to its Japanese partner for a more competitive compact model. Now, Mitsubishi has turned to Dodge for a platform on which to build its midsize Raider, and the Dakota fit the bill to a T.

And Mitsubishi should be elated that such a formidable light truck architecture was made available for its new entry. Ive only driven the recently updated Dakota over a single week, but remember being impressed with its combination of rugged capabilities and civil manners. And to Mitsubishis credit, that combination has been fine tuned yet further in the Raider.
In case the name Raider sounds familiar, historys not playing games with your memory. But yet in another irony, the previous Raider was a variation of an ex-generation Mitsubishi Montero in Dodge clothing. In this case, the name dropping is a good thing for Mitsubishi, as a little recognition cant hurt when entering the market with an all-new product in a segment that the automaker had more or less left for dead throughout the last decade.

But name aside, what is it that makes the Raider a step up from the Dakota? Well, truthfully it wont be a step up for some, as what separates the two vehicles from each other is styling, inside and out, plus audio equipment, other electronic items, and a slight advantage in the warranty department. Bluetooth capability is also available, but its also part of the Dakotas U-Connect option. So, it really comes down to personal tastes. Where the Dakota is radically angular in its grille and fender styling, the Raider is somewhat curvaceous, for a pickup truck that is. Dodge uses large doses of traditional chrome to woo its faithful, while Mitsubishi is attempting to attract the sophisticated pickup truck buyer, with brushed aluminum trim.

To me, a person who has been known to attempt posturing as a reasonably intelligent Euro-snob cum right-wing industrialist, the aluminum is a clear winner. I missed the 50s tailfins and chrome era by a decade or so, finding solace among the cars of the mid to late 60s and early 70s, which used chrome, of course, but much less liberally than their forebears. Also, interior styling and execution might even be more important to me than whats going on outside a given vehicle, and I really like what Mitsubishi has going on inside the Raider.

Granted, its a pickup truck. Dont expect levels of refinement associated with luxury sedans or top-tier SUVs, let alone the fabulous job that Mitsubishis interior team did with the new Eclipse. But this said there are more soft-touch plastics in the Raider than in the majority of its rivals. Panel fit is also good, and all the switchgear is at the higher end of mid-grade - again its a pickup truck so lets not compare it to a Bentley Continental GT. Some of the kudos should go to DaimlerChrysler, which designed and engineered components like the Raiders heating, ventilation and air conditioning module and audio interface, but of the items that are all Mitsubishi, such as the dash and centre stack housing, great work.

The most impressive interior update has to be the Raiders seats. Comfortable, supportive, great looking: all terms that do them justice. As you may know, last year I enjoyed having a long-term Mitsubishi Endeavor in our West Coast office, and therefore had gone on at length about its supportive chairs, plus I find the new Eclipse rivals anything from Volvo in this department, so I shouldnt be surprised that the Raider follows this positive trend.

The four-spoke steering wheel is thick and meaty with well placed thumb indents, exactly the way truck guys like it, which just happens to be the way sports car enthusiasts want the most important human-machine interface made. Behind the wheel is a nice efficient gauge package with sporty white-faced dials, each easily legible unless sunlight is bright, which can, depending on which angle it is coming from, cause a distracting glare.

But this is a minor item in a cabin which is so well put together it would redefine the midsize pickup truck class if it werent for the new Toyota Tacoma, which is also very good. But the Tacoma doesnt offer some of the features available in the Raider, such as its aforementioned Bluetooth connectivity and one of the best audio systems Ive ever heard in any truck.

Once again, top-tier audio has long been part of the Mitsubishi equation. My long-term Endeavor Limited included a stereo that could handle any genre of music at almost any volume without getting overwhelmed, while a top-line Eclipse GT I recently tested, featuring the optional 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate system, pumps out dance tracks with the rich tones and bass depth of a nightclub. I wouldnt go so far to say that the Raiders top-line audio system is as good as the Rockford-Fosgate unit in the Eclipse, although at 508 watts its more than decent, and as mentioned is better than that in any rival pickup. But before I get into that system, only available with the top-line XLS trim level, the Sound Package comes with Extended Cab models, featuring a 276-watt Alpine head unit that incorporates an in-dash 6-disc CD player and SIRIUS satellite radio capability, along with 6-months of prepaid service which should have you sufficiently hooked by the time youre asked for fork out any of your own money.

It also features steering wheel-mounted audio controls, which are at the backside of the upper spokes for easy finger modulation (large cruise control buttons are on the front side of the spokes), plus a massive Alpine SoundBox subwoofer in its own blue-green colored clear plastic enclosure that actually lights up to the beat of the music - speaking of simulating nightclubs.

To Mitsubishis credit, even base Raiders come with a fairly decent four-speaker AM/FM audio system with a CD player. That stereo can be upgraded to include an in-dash 6-disc CD changer, standard when opting for the XLS trim package.

Rather than confuse you with a bunch of generic acronyms, its probably time to lay out what Mitsubishi calls its upgrade packages and tell you what comes with each. The aforementioned XLS is the top-line truck, but there are two others that come before, one of which might appeal more to sport-oriented truckers. That would be the ultra-cool DuroCross, but before I delve into its contents lets start with the base LS.

In addition to the aforementioned audio system, the base models list of standard features will be ample for those who use their Raiders primarily for work, and includes air conditioning, a 40/20/40 front bench seat, 16-inch steel wheels on P245/70R16 Goodyear BSW tires and a full-size spare.

Behind those tires are vented front disc brakes and rear drum brakes with ABS, front and rear stabilizer bars, a heavy duty suspension system and power rack and pinion steering, which translated into exceptionally good handling, another Mitsubishi trait, even in relatively base trim - there was no totally stripped Raider on hand to try out.

The $19,180 LS comes with a six-speed manual or, for $21,755 a four-speed automatic transmission, both which worked well, while 16×7-inch full-face steel wheels and 245/70R16 on-and-off road tires, with a full-size spare tire tucked underneath the bed where it should be, not in a “trunk” embedded within the cargo floor as Honda does it with their otherwise impressive new Ridgeline, forcing you to unload your cargo in order to change a flat. Just crank the tire down and change away. Its the way that pickup owners have done it for years, and besides being a bit messy, its a lot more convenient than Hondas plan if you expect to use your truck for hauling stuff.

Also standard is a tachometer, tinted glass, rear-access doors, large 5×7-inch adjustable side-view mirrors, a whip antenna on the fender, variable intermittent wipers, an AM/FM/CD player with four speakers, cargo bed tie-downs, various power outlets, dual front reading lamps, and front and rear cupholders.

You can also added the LS Extended Cab Power and Convenience Package, which includes power windows, power locks with remote keyless access, 5×7-inch power mirrors, a second row with 60/40 split folding rear seatbacks, floor mats, cruise control and a tilt steering column.

The LS also comes with four doors for $23,680, called the Double Cab, incidentally the same designation that Toyota gives to its four-door pickup models, which ups interior volume to more than 100 cubic-feet and with that rear seating for three adults, plus an additional 7.1 cubic-feet of storage room behind the rear seats for a total of 37.1 cubic-feet. It also, obviously, adds the convenience of two rear doors for easier entry and exit. An LS with four doors and 4WD, by the way, starts at $26,710.

The DuroCross, which starts at $23,440 in rear-wheel drive layout, adds some styling tweaks, such as fender flares with mudguards, deep tinted side glass, additional exterior trim upgrades, DuroCross floor mats, and side steps, which are as convenient as attractive. The package also adds other handy yet stylish features, including 16-inch alloy wheels, 265/70R16 all-season tires, fog lamps, a box bed liner, power 6×9-inch heated fold-away mirrors, sliding rear window, leather-trimmed steering wheel, a heavy duty cooling system and a 750-amp battery. Four-wheel drive models add LT265/70R16 BFGoodrich All Terrain tires, high-pressure gas shocks, a skid plate package and a limited slip differential. The DuroCross Double Cab starts at $25,365, incidentally.

Add a V8 to the mix for a total of $25,440 and the DuroCross Extended Cab increases its content to include machine-finished alloy wheels, a power drivers seat, satin-finish interior trim, a Bluetooth hands free phone link, and a heavy-duty towing package. There are a few options available in this trim level too, such as that high-output premium audio system I mentioned a few minutes ago, featuring an AM/FM/SIRIUS Satellite radio, six-disc CD changer, subwoofer, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls, as well as bucket seats, included with the audio upgrade. Include the Double Cab option with the V8 DuroCross and the price will increase to $27,690, or 4WD with the smaller Extended Cab for $28,590, or for another configuration, 4WD and four doors for $28,855, and 4WD, four doors, plus a V8 engine for $30,845.

The top-line XLS, which can only be had in the Double Cab configuration for $30,675, also only comes equipped with the top-tier 4.7-liter V8 engine and five-speed automatic transmission combo, also features hands-free communication, an automatic dimming rear view mirror, Mitsubishis Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package, plus the High-Output Audio Package. Also standard in XLS trim are front bucket seats, a centre console, a rear window defroster, power 6×9-inch heated mirrors, plus the Leather Package, which adds heated leather seating surfaces for a truly upscale appearance. XLS buyers can also opt for the Full-Time AWD Package which starts at $33,920, while a Security Package increases content to include side curtain airbags, four-wheel ABS brakes and an engine key immobilizer.

And as I mentioned previously, the XLS can also be had with the amazingly powerful High Output Audio Package for $1,845, and for that pumps out 508 watts of premium sound through an AM/FM/six-disc CD head unit with MP3 compatibility, nine speakers and Sirius satellite radio, the latter once again with a six-month pre-paid subscription.

Under the hood its not quite as powerful, of course, but the fact that drivetrain components are pretty well standard Dodge Dakota fare makes for a giant benefit to Mitsubishi. The Raider comes standard with a very strong 3.7-liter V6, which I never realized before but have just been informed is a Mitsubishi engine, boasting 210-horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque. In comparison, Ford Rangers base-line 3.0-liter V6 only makes 148-horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque, with an upgrade to the 4.0-liter unit needed before it nearly matches the Raiders output at 207-horspower and 238 lb-ft of torque. Chevrolets Colorado and GMCs Canyon twins come standard with a 2.8-liter four-cylinder, good for an impressive 175-horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque, but still no match for the Raiders 3.7-liter mill. Its possible to upgrade to an inline-five with 220-horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, but even this top-line GM motor falls short of Mitsubishis base V6. Hondas pricy but refined Ridgeline includes higher standard output, at 255-horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque, but as previously mentioned, the innovative model wont win over traditional pickup truck buyers as easily as the Raider will.

All thats left is Nissans new Frontier and Toyotas Tacoma, both featuring more available power than almost any of their peers at 265-horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque in the former and 245-horsepower and 282 lb-ft of torque in the latter, although with the Toyota the engine isnt standard, and its 2.7-liter four-cylinder labors with only 164-horsepower and 183 lb-ft of torque. The Raider, on the other hand, includes that powerful 4.7-liter V8 I mentioned a minute or two ago. This makes it the only “import” compact-to-midsize pickup with V8-power, and other than the Dakota, the only pickup in its class with eight cylinders. While Dodge keeps the high-output version of this engine to itself, which produces 260-hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, the engine produces a healthy 230-horsepower and an impressive 290 lb-ft of torque in Raider trim, more than enough to give it a class-tying towing capability of 6,500 lbs and impressive passing power even when accelerating from standstill.

The V8 also gives the Raider an entirely new feel, more so than any other pickup. When matched to the refined interior and top-tier XLS package, or sporty DuroCross cabin, the truck almost feels like something created by a premium brand. Its five-speed automatic transmission, standard with the V8, doesnt hurt either, shifting smoothly while providing immediate kick-down when passing is required. I like this package, and would at least want to buck up for it if in the market for a pickup truck.

And just who is in the market for a pickup, let alone this particular urban-style but still work-a-day machine. It seems more and more that families are opting for four-door pickups, being that they offer the same seating capacity as five-occupant SUVs and the same cargo capacity, and often more, if fitted with a canopy. By the way, just above the Raiders fully boxed steel frame with hydroformed rail tips, is a total cargo volume of 40 cubic-feet in standard trim with a payload capacity of 1,700 lbs. The added functionality of the open cargo bed, which stretches from 5.3 feet in Double Cab trim to 6.4 feet in its base Extended Cab layout, can be used for everything from taking a load to the dump to hauling a camper during family vacation, makes something like the Raider especially enticing. That box measures 59.6 inches wide, which is the same distance spanning the tailgate opening, while its 17.6 inches deep.

So, does Mitsubishi have a chance in the hotly contested light truck market segment? Well, if our friends at the beginning of the story are any example, I think that the Raider does have a chance. The Japanese automaker will have minimum quotas to meet in order to keep Chrysler Group happy, being that all Raiders are built at the domestic automakers Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Warren, Michigan, but this shouldnt be too much of a problem.

My guess is that most people who see it will like it, which should translate into decent sales numbers. Personally, I really like this truck, and if I were a pickup buyer, which Im not and probably never will be unless I buy a hobby farm one day when I retire, I would consider it next to Toyotas Tacoma. And thats pretty tough company, considering the strides the Japanese giant has taken in improving perceptions of the pickup  segment on the whole with its latest light truck.

Mitsubishi should feel good, however, for doing such a fine job of transforming this truck from its already impressive Dakota roots to the wonderfully refined Raider. Anyone who is currently shopping for their next compact to midsize truck, should add it to their short list.