I also appreciated that the Endeavor’s four-speed automatic transmission has Sportronic, so drivers can manually shift up and down in the forward gears themselves for sporty performance. The Highlander and Pilot don’t have this feature.

Easy entry and exit makes the car platform-based Endeavor comfortable to get into.

At 5 feet 4, I opened the driver door and found the seat already positioned about butt level. So I just turned and sort of set myself on the seat.

I just wish Endeavor’s seats had a bit more support for long-distance drives. I found after five hours that the lower part of my spine was fatigued.

The tester was the top-of-the-line Endeavor Limited model with nicely gathered, black leather on the seats.

But a cheaper-looking, silver-colored, large plastic piece in the center of the dashboard dominated the interior. It’s where the audio and ventilation controls are congregated and evidently is designed to appeal to youthful drivers who want some flair.

While I appreciated that the buttons and knobs here were easy to use, I thought this large silver piece looked almost bolted on, not cleanly integrated.

The large display screen atop this area puzzled me, because it seemed perfect for an on-board navigation system, but none is offered. So riders can set the screen to display a sizable compass or sizable ventilation setup or just the time.

Be sure, though, to see the blue sketch of the Endeavor that appears on this screen each time the vehicle is started. It’s cool looking.

The ride, overall, is pleasant with a bit of road noise as tires roll over highway expansion cracks, for example.

Road bumps are felt only mildly in the Endeavor.

And thanks to large-sized windows and noteworthy back-seat legroom of 38.5 inches, there’s a spacious feeling for just about any kind of passenger, even astronauts and astronomers.

Click here for more information on the Mitsubishi Endeavor.
For the Mitsubishi 2004 Model Guide: Click Here

(...BACK)