It has been just over a decade since Mitsubishi had a pickup in its lineup (remember the Mighty Max). The Raider is related to the
Dodge Dakota, under the skin at least, and comes with that same domestic brand's V6 in base form, plus for the first time in Mitsu's pickup truck history, a V8. The underpinnings may be all Dodge but the exterior design is definitely Mitsubishi. Its flared fenders and aggressively rounded shape sets it apart from the sharply angled edginess of the Dakota. The Raider comes in two styles, the extended cab which has rear-opening access doors and a 6-foot-6 bed, a more spacious crew cab (called Double Cab) which has four full-size doors and a 5-foot-4 bed.
As mentioned it does shares some DNA with its Dodge cousin, both being built on a fully boxed steel frame with a coil-over independent front suspension and rack and pinion steering. Also mentioned, the powertrains come from the Dakota too. Firstly, a standard 3.7-litre V6 provides
210-horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque, while a 4.7-litre V8 produces 230-hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. The V6 comes mated to either a six-speed manual or a four-speed automatic, while the V8 is available with a five-speed automatic. Missing from the lineup is the Dakota's 250-hp high-output version of the 4.7-litre V8.
The Raider's only downfall is that the 230-horse V8 is actually outclassed by the big V6s offered in the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier, at least for total horsepower. In the trucking world, however, torque is king and the Raider's V8 delivers substantially more.
Overall, what sets the Raider apart is its unique racy styling, solid performance and brilliant warranty. While no 10-year, 160,000 km powertrain warranty is offered, due to its deal with DaimlerChrysler which prohibits such a competitive advantage, Mitsubishi is still offering a best-in-class 5-year/100,000 km bumper-to-bumper warranty.
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| The Sportback is said to be returning to Canada next fall, but Mitsubishi hasn't said whether it will be in its current form or whether an all-new Lancer-based wagon is on the way. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America) |
As mentioned it does shares some DNA with its Dodge cousin, both being built on a fully boxed steel frame with a coil-over independent front suspension and rack and pinion steering. Also mentioned, the powertrains come from the Dakota too. Firstly, a standard 3.7-litre V6 provides
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| What sets the Raider, already available in the U.S. but due to arrive in Canada next fall, apart from its pickup truck rivals is its unique racy styling, solid performance and brilliant warranty. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
The Raider's only downfall is that the 230-horse V8 is actually outclassed by the big V6s offered in the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier, at least for total horsepower. In the trucking world, however, torque is king and the Raider's V8 delivers substantially more.
Overall, what sets the Raider apart is its unique racy styling, solid performance and brilliant warranty. While no 10-year, 160,000 km powertrain warranty is offered, due to its deal with DaimlerChrysler which prohibits such a competitive advantage, Mitsubishi is still offering a best-in-class 5-year/100,000 km bumper-to-bumper warranty.