Spacious, Family-Friendly 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor Now Includes Navigation System, Rearview Video Camera, Power Sunroof Free of Charge on SE Edition

Last year, the already very affordably priced 2010 Mitsubishi Endeavor crossover utility vehicle (CUV) saw numerous premium features such as a hands-free Bluetooth® system with voice recognition added across the entire model lineup. But for the 2011 model year Endeavor, this capable crossover receives its most upscale, value-packed equipment package added to two of its most popular models completely free of charge: Both the 2WD and AWD versions of the Endeavor SE now include the Navigation & Sunroof package that consists of a touch-screen DVD-based navigation system, rear view back-up camera, power sunroof and a cargo cover at no cost to the consumer.

In addition to the front- and all-wheel drive iterations of the Endeavor SE, the 2WD Endeavor LS model that features a lower sticker price than its big brother but still packs a long list of standard equipment along with the same potent V-6 engine under its hood is also available for the 2011 model year.

New for 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor

Free Navigation & Sunroof Package (Endeavor SE 2WD & AWD)

The very convenient and richly-appointed Navigation & Sunroof package is now included as standard equipment on both 2WD and AWD variants of Mitsubishi's top-of-the-line Endeavor SE model crossover. Lavish accessories included in this package are an informative and easy to use DVD-based touch-screen navigation system, a rear view back-up camera, a power sunroof and a cargo cover for the rear storage area.

Spacious and Stately

The 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor mid-size crossover is an excellent combination of roomy versatility and capability with an impressive amount of welcome niceties.

Capable of carrying up to five people, all occupants will find the Endeavor's comfortable and spacious seats, crisp handling and quiet cabin to be welcome relief from the cramped and/or noisy confines of some of the similarly-sized sport utility vehicle (SUV) competitors of this well-engineered Mitsubishi crossover that don't possess its solid unibody construction and confident handling capabilities.

Whether carrying groceries, a full complement of camping gear for a weekend in the woods or picking up several sheets of four-foot-wide plywood, the 2011 Endeavor can easily accommodate it all, thanks to hand its 60/40 split/fold-flat rear seat backs and a full 76.4 cu. ft. of cargo capacity (a plentiful 40.7 cu. ft. is available in the rear cargo section with the rear seat backs in the up position).

Endeavor owners and their passengers are further put at ease by the car's impressive list of included features, among them air-conditioning (automatic climate control in the Endeavor SE); premium fabric seating surfaces (rich-texture leather seating surfaces in the Endeavor SE); and exquisite sounding 6 speaker AM/FM/CD sound system with MP3 playback capability (the Endeavor SE's sound system is an even more amazing 360-watt Rockford-Fosgate® 6 CD/MP3 sound system with digital sound processing and 9 speakers including an 8-in. subwoofer; steering wheel-mounted audio controls and a 3-month pre-paid subscription to SIRIUS® satellite radio) and other convenient touches including a hands-free Bluetooth® system with voice recognition; steering column-mounted cruise control; and numerous cupholders, front and rear map lights, a pair of 12V power outlets, carpeted front floor mats and, in the upscale Endeavor SE, heated front seats.

Other welcome no-cost features included on all Endeavors are eye-catching ice-blue LED illumination of instruments and controls; 17 x 7-in. 7-spoke alloy wheels (larger 18 x 8-in. 5-spoke alloy wheels on the Endeavor SE); large, easy to read gauges with chrome trim; auto-off headlamps; parabolic fog lights; alarm system; variable intermittent windshield wipers; tubular roof rails; chrome front grill; and an anti-theft engine immobilizer.

Refined and Able V-6 Engine

With its polished performance and proficient power, it's no wonder that Mitsubishi's engineers elected to use a single engine across the Endeavor line.

The 3.8-liter SOHC 24-valve V-6 that powers the 2011 Endeavor provides plenty of power to this stylish crossover vehicle with virtually no vibration, harshness or noise detected within the nicely-appointed cabin. Consisting of an extremely strong cast-iron engine block with light weight aluminum cylinder heads and featuring a compression ratio of 10.0:1, this 3,828 cc normally-aspirated powerplant produces a welcome 225 hp at 5,000 rpm and an even more generous 255 lb.-ft. of torque at a lower 3,750 rpm from its sublimely smooth operating six cylinders. Running on unleaded fuel, this engine has been granted the very clean Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) status for all 50 states. This engine's bore and stroke measure 3.74 x 3.54 in. (95.0 x 90.0 mm).

All the 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor engines have been paired with an equally quiet and silky 4-speed Sportronic® automatic transmission with INVECS-II technology that allows the driver to manually make gear changes with the gearshift lever when so desired. The FWD Endeavor LS and SE, along with the all-wheel drive version of the SE, engage identical gear ratios within their transmissions, save for the final drive ratios (the front wheel drive Endeavor has a final drive of 4.011 to the all-wheel drive model's 4.316).

Ready and Willing Chassis - On- or Off-Road

The Endeavor is equally at home on smooth ribbons of pristine asphalt on the way to the office as it is tackling a rough-and-tumble dirt road when venturing off the beaten path. A great deal of this on- or off-road driving aplomb is no doubt due to this crossover's excellent, well-damped suspension design that features independent MacPherson struts with coil springs up front (including gas charge strut inserts) along with a coil spring independent multi-link with trailing arms suspension design and gas charged shocks at the rear of the vehicle. Further aiding the vehicle's fine handling at speed on freeways or city streets are front and rear stabilizer bars that help diminish body roll that measure 24.0 mm thick at the front and 20.0 mm at the rear (an even thicker 22 mm anti-roll bar for the all-wheel drive Endeavor SE).

For even better handling and tractability in off-road driving, consumers would be wise to opt for the top-of-the-line Endeavor SE model with all-wheel drive. Its AWD system can provide an even 50:50 torque split between the front and rear wheels, thanks to a transfer case with a center differential that has a viscous coupling. In good weather or bad, on road or off, this all-wheel drive system vastly improves overall grip when compared to the levels of traction offered by a front-wheel drive vehicle.

5-Star Crash Test Safety Rating

The Mitsubishi Endeavor has achieved the highest test score of a 5-Star rating for both frontal (driver) and side impact (front and rear seat) crash tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Additionally, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the Endeavor its highest-ranking - 'Good' overall - in the organization's frontal offset crash test.

These well-earned scores from respected automotive safety agencies are the result of the company's commitment to engineering excellence as witnessed by Mitsubishi's patented Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) safety automotive body construction system that helps to minimize injury to its vehicle's occupants as well as its inclusion of advanced safety features and technologies as standard equipment on the Endeavor. These include an advanced dual front air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with occupant sensors; front seat-mounted side-impact air bags and rollover-sensing side curtain air bags; an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD); Active Stability Control (ASC) and Traction Control Logic (TCL); and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

by Mitsubishi

A mid-size crossover SUV produced by Mitsubishi Motors, the Endeavor was manufactured in their Normal, Illinois plant. The Endeavor was based on the PS platform and was the original vehicle built under Mitsubishi's 'Project America' which was a program that was aimed at introducing vehicles for North America ‘without having to compromise to accommodate other export markets'.

The design style behind the Endeavor can be searched back to the Mitsubishi SSU which was introduced at the 1999 North American International Auto Show. The Endeavor didn't share the SSU's mechanical underpinnings though. The prototype had been powered by a 305 hp version of the 6A13TT 2.5 liter twin-turbo V6 which sent the power to a full-time all wheel drive system through its INVECS-II five-speed semi-automatic transmission and AYC. The Endeavor was introduced with a 6G75 3.8 liter V6 offered 215 hp and 250 lb/ft joined to a four-speed semi-automatic transmission with an available all-wheel drive system that splits the torque 50/50 by default.

The Endeavor was introduced in 2004 and shortly after its debut the Endeavor was updated as a 2004.5 model. Halfway through the year, the vehicle received dual-stage front airbags, daytime running lamps, a tire pressure monitoring system and 10 more hp. LS two-wheel-drive models received an available anti-lock braking system. The Endeavor XLS was upgraded to receive standard front-seat side airbags and a leather steering wheel. The AWD Limited received new options that included a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and stability control.

The Endeavor featured smart snazzy style with plenty of room for five passengers and their luggage. For the 2005 model year, the Endeavor received side airbags as a standard feature, and antilock brakes as an option on base models until 2006.

For 2006 the Endeavor received a slight restyle. The seating position was elevated much like other crossovers and featured hauling ability of a traditional SUV with a smooth, carlike ride and better fuel economy. The Endeavor did lack the serious off-road and heavy-duty towing abilities of a truck-based SUV. In 2006 the XLS was dropped and the following year the Limited trim was replaced by as SE trim. For the 2007 model new available features included a navigation system and a Rockford Fosgate stereo, and the rear DVD entertainment option was deleted. Also this year, side curtain airbags were added as a standard feature, and traction control became a standard all the way across the lineup for 2008.

The two trim levels offered in the Endeavor lineup were the LS and the SE, and both trims were powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine that produced 225 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque. A standard option was a four-speed automatic transmission with a fancy manual shift mode. The vehicle was available with all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive models came with standard stability control which supplements the traction control, an option that is standard on all Endeavors. On front-wheel-drive models, stability control was not available. The Endeavor does come equipped with standard rollover-sensing side curtain airbags and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Endeavor did win points for crashworthiness in both government and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing.

The LS featured air-conditioning, a CD player, and full power accessories. Additional features that could be purchased as extras included leather, a navigation system, heated seats or a sunroof, high-end audio with satellite radio were available on the SE trim in a variety of available option packages. Unavailable options included keyless start, a rear entertainment system, a back-up camera, a panoramic sunroof.

The Endeavor earned a surprise award in an Edmunds comparison test when it first debuted. It won with a variety of good looks, smart handling and excellent off-road performance and torque-filled engine performance. The only complaints were minor styling elements and the choice of materials in the cabin.

Further updates and improvements were made by Mitsubishi over the years. The Endeavor didn't receive a third-row seat, a feature that really has become a ‘must-have' for this type of vehicle and it came with a disappointing 76.4 cubic feet. . It is also considered to be a bit ‘outclassed' in the area of engine power, transmission gearing and feature availability.

Unfortunately the Mitsubishi Endeavor failed to meet the high expectations set forward by Mitsubishi, despite favorable reviews on its release, only 32,054 units were sold by the end of its debut year, instead of the hoped for 80,000 units. Sales have continued to fall every year since. The Endeavor continues to receive good reviews for its strong engine, responsible handling and distinctive design.

by Jessican Donaldson