A CUV that looks oh-so pristine on pavement, but tempts you to take it off-road? That’s the beauty of the 2008 Endeavor. Mitsubishi’s popular Endeavor is a midsize crossover (CUV) that gives drivers the best of both worlds by combining the elevated seating position and hauling ability of a traditional SUV with a smoother, carlike ride and better fuel economy.
The Endeavor is available in two trims levels: the LS 2WD is equipped with a standard 3.8-liter 225 hp V6 engine with an EPA rating of 15 mpg/city and 22 mpg/highway. The SE AWD is also equipped with a 3.8 liter 225 hp V6 engine that is estimated to get 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. Both trim engines produce 265 lb/ft of torque, and are combined with four-speed automatic transmissions with trendy manual shift modes as standard equipment. The Endeavor is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. All-wheel drive models are equipped with standard stability control, a supplement to the traction control on all Endeavors. With an MSRP of $27,599, The Endeavor’s price tag looks good next to its competitors, too, not to mention you’ll likely be saving more money at the pump.
The exterior of the Endeavor is undeniably rugged and sporty. It looks like it’d be comfortable off-road, yet manages to emit a sense of class as well. As Motor Week declares, “The first thing we noticed about this crossover SUV is that it stands tall with an aggressive posture, a broad split grille like the smaller Outlander, pronounced fender arches, beefy 17-inch wheels, sturdy luggage rack and a hatch with separate opening glass above a step bumper.” The base LS models have body-colored bumpers with black door handles and side mirrors. SE models feature body-colored door handles and side mirrors for an even more refined appearance. Running boards and mudguards are optional.
Endeavor drivers and car experts alike praise the interior of this Mitsubishi as well. With more than enough room for five people, the Endeavor drives like a car, but feels like a much bigger vehicle on the inside. Shorter drivers, however, remark that Endeavor is still never too big to handle. The adjustable seating features give excellent visibility. Car and Driver notes the Endeavor’s ample room. "The seats are comfortable, legroom is good...and there are enough 12-volt outlets to power a cell phone, a computer, an XBox and a margarita blender." Also impressive is the trendy blue dashboard lighting and luxurious stitching on the leather shiftknob and steering wheel; a two-tone leather interior is also available.
As if the praise just won’t stop, the Endeavor has consistently earned high marks for safety. In addition to standard safety features such as dual-stage front airbags for both front-seat passengers, front seat-mounted side airbags, front seatbelts with pretensioners and side head-curtain airbags, all Endeavors also come with standard rollover-sensing side-curtain airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, Mitsubishi's Active Skid and Traction Control (ASTC) system and antilock braking with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Endeavor its highest score for passenger protection in frontal offset and side impact crashes, and government crash tests gave the CUV five out of five stars for driver protection in front-impact crashes.
Car and Driver describes driving the 2008 Endeavor as inspiring. "The big engine's initial torque moves the Endeavor with grace, and the transmission's behavior is about perfect. The steering is light and responsive, the ride is well mannered." Although this Mitsubishi may be well behaved, its rugged look lets you know that it can handle just about anything on the road.
