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BMW 6-Series Review
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By Christopher Nagy
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Review: |
Using the chassis and powertrain from a Dodge Dakota pickup, this marks a reversal of platform-sharing that occurred when the Dodge Ram 50 was based off a small Mitsubishi truck chassis. Equipped with a proven package for mid-sized haulers, the Mitsubishi Raider has the key ingredients to becoming a serious player. The downside to the Mitsubishi Raider has been its inability to attract pickup truck buyers by offering unique advantages over the competition, selling just under 7,500 Raiders during its peak year of 2007. Without being a major factor in the pickup truck market, the effects of high fuel prices in 2008 eroded sales to even lower levels.
Strongly suggested to be the last year for this jointly-produced vehicle, the 2009 Mitsubishi Raider presides in a category where fuel mileage is a neglected issue. Providing four-wheel drive capabilities and larger truck attributes, the Raider’s fuel distance limitations are really not surprising.
Sold in a slim trim lineup, the 2009 Mitsubishi Raider arrives in two-wheel drive extended cab or a four-door double cab in two and four-wheel drive. Built overtop of a tough, hydroformed frame, the Mitsubishi Raider’s rigidity and sizes is reflected with heavy overall weights. On the heaviest available Mitsubishi Raider, the LS Double Cab 4WD, the scales are tipped at 4,628 pounds. In comparison, a base two-wheel drive version of the full-sized Dodge Ram pickup weighs 111 pounds less than the top trimmed Raider.
The sole engine equipped on the Mitsubishi Raider in 2009 continues to be the 3.7 liter, 210 horsepower PowerTech V6. A single overhead cam truck engine, the PowerTech V6 lacks fuel saving technology elements such as variable valve timing or direct injection in order to supply simple performance. Briefly in the past, the Mitsubishi Raiders were also sold with Chrysler’s 4.7 liter PowerTech V8 (known more affectionately as the Magnum V8). However, this V8 engine option was discontinued before high gas prices would make these Raider models an ever harder sell. Standard on four-wheel drive Mitsubishi Raiders and optional on all two-wheel drives, a four-wheel automatic transmission is included. Unable to grant any abilities to claim improved fuel economy over more advanced transmissions found in the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma, four-wheel drive delivers unenviable gas consumption of 14 miles per gallon city or 18 highway miles in best case scenario. Without the 4WD equipment, expect rear-wheel drive Raiders with automatic transmissions to achieve a slightly better 15 miles per gallon city or 20 highway miles per gallon. With the V6-engined rear-wheel driven Raider, buyer’s choice of a six-speed manual gearbox presents itself as a chance to gain an additional mile per gallon.
http://www.mitsubishicars.com |
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