New Car Review of the 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavour Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle.

Description: Mid-Size SUV
Base MSRP Range: $25,597 - $33,197
Invoice Price Range: $23,747 - $30,796

Mitsubishi's new mid-size crossover wagon is easy to drive like a sedan because its rigid unibody structure and all of the handling hardware -- such as an independent suspension for all wheels and responsive rack and pinion steering -- match the mechanical equipment on a FWD car. Yet it resembles a sizeable sport-ute in format and can carry a wagon's load of cargo, while the spacious passenger compartment comes with plush and comfortable seats arranged in two rows for up to five riders and there are fancy amenities aboard.

Compared against the Outlander, Endeavor measures larger in scale. Also, it stocks a more powerful and sophisticated powertrain -- a V6 rather than Outlander's four-pack. Mounted transversely up front, Endeavor's V6 displaces 3.8 liters with a cam on top and four valves per cylinder. It generates up to 215 hp and works through a four-speed automatic transaxle with Sportronic manual mode.

All three trim variations for Endeavor are available with either FWD or optional AWD. Distinctive styling for Endeavor's exterior package features sharply chiseled forms in strong geometric shapes with undulating slabs around wheel wells forging character lines on the flanks and the face fitted with an imposing split-port grille plus big corner headlamp clusters.

The sculptural styling for Endeavor's exterior extends into the cabin with a dramatic design for the dashboard featuring metallic finishes on the jut-out central column of controls and an instrument cluster with large round gauges washed by ice-blue LED bulbs. Endeavor's three trim designations include the entry-level LS, mid-level XLS and lavish LTD.