For 2006, the Mitsubishi Endeavor receives a mild freshening-up, with a new chrome grille, redesigned front bumper and chin spoiler, new rear bumper and bumper extension, interior beige colour trim, new chrome instrument panel accents, bright silver metallic finish on the inner door levers, and new Platinum Pearl exterior coat. All models now receive anti-lock brakes, a full-size spare wheel, side impact airbags and a towing prep package, and two-wheel-drive models receive traction control.

Click image to enlarge Images courtesy: Mitsubishi

Based on a platform also used by the Galant sedan, the Endeavor feels more like a big car than a midsize SUV. Trim lines are LS and Limited, and both are available in front-wheel or all-wheel-drive. The AWD system splits torque evenly front and rear under normal driving conditions, and distributes it where necessary when the going gets tough. All models come with a 3.8-litre V6.

The LS features intermittent rear wiper, rear privacy glass, roof rails, power mirrors, 17-inch aluminum wheels, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and locks, cloth seats, 60/40 folding rear seat and CD/MP3 player with six speakers.

The Limited adds fog lamps, roof rail crossbars, colour-keyed mirrors and handles, automatic climate control, “sport-touch” steering wheel with audio controls, six-way power driver’s seat, premium cloth seat fabric, cargo cover and net, power sunroof, and six-CD/MP3 player with seven speakers.

The Endeavor is a pleasure to drive; it’s very powerful, and its four-wheel independent suspension and manual-mode transmission made it much sportier than most SUVs. The styling is quirky, both inside and out. As nice as the Endeavor is, however, Mitsubishi’s scanty dealer network may prove problematic; the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander are very worthy and more accessible options.