Endeavor arrived last year as a midsize crossover vehicle, joining the Outlander entry-level SUV and Montero and Montero Sport sport-utes in the Mitsubishi lineup. For those drivers who have outgrown the sedan or coupe, Endeavor offers a nice introduction to the land of SUV’s. The responsive 3.8-liter V6 engine offers adequate power for most driving conditions, and as you climb the scale in trim level, can be adequately equipped or luxuriously equipped.

Available either as a front-wheel-drive or full-time all-wheel-drive vehicle, the Endeavor has a standard four-speed automatic transmission with Sportronic. There are three trim levels: entry level LS, XLS and top-of-the-line Limited. All three are available with either drivetrain. The LS pricing ranges from $25,000-$28,000; the XLS $28,000-$32,000 and the Limited, $32,000-$35,000.

We enjoyed driving the Endeavor and find its exterior styling pleasing. Seating is comfortable and all controls and knobs are easily reached. Reclining the rear seats is easy with Mitsubishi’s 60/40 split one-touch folding seats. We weren’t able to do it single-handedly, but at least we didn’t need to consult the manual. Not the case with other SUV’s we’ve test-driven.

Our test vehicle came equipped with three options: Security Plus Package (front side airbags, anti-theft alarm, $450); Full-size spare and towing prep (trailer hitch wiring harness, transmission cooler, full size alloy wheel, $300); Power glass sunroof, $900. While the competition may include side airbags in the standard equipment category, there are a lot of other standard features on the Endeavor. Seventeen-inch tires, tubular roof rails with cross bars, privacy glass, cargo cover, auto-off headlights, upgraded audio system and antilock brakes, among others.

The rear intermittent wiper/washer is a nice touch and came in handy when navigating Chicago’s snowy winter days. And although this may seem picky to some, the Endeavor’s rear wiper blade covers the entire window. This is a pet peeve we’ve developed over the years when driving an SUV or minivan with wiper blades that are less than adequate. At times we’ve wondered "why bother."

Exiting expressways at higher speeds didn’t seem daunting in the Endeavor. The vehicle handles fairly well while taking those sharp turns and there wasn’t any fear of rollover. Visibility out the rear is a tad compromised making backup tasks a little stressful. We enjoyed the power glass sunroof–on one of our fluke winter days of 50-degrees, but find the price painful ($900). Why is this option so costly?

Mitsu’s standard anti-theft system is an engine immobilizer so if you want more protection you’ve got to fork over more dough for the optional Security Plus Package with anti-theft alarm. Air conditioning, power driver seat, height adjustable steering column, remote keyless entry and cruise are all standard features, as one would expect today. The Endeavor’s sound system is good, a 315-watt Infinity AM/FM/6 CD Changer, in-dash with seven speakers.

The integrated compass/temperature display in the center LCD is conveniently placed and easy to see. These are two features we’ve gotten used to over the last few years and find them helpful.

Storage is plentiful in the Endeavor, from front door storage pockets, to dual front and rear cup holders. One other feature we like is the rear hatch with flip-up window. This is something we wish all SUV’s would incorporate. It makes it possible to haul longer-than-average objects while keeping the gate up, and also lets air in.

The front console in the Endeavor is over-sized, has a handy armrest and additional storage compartments. We stored a wallet, CD’s and other necessary travel items out of the way.

Our 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor XLS came in a stunning exterior color: Torched Steel Blue Pearl. With a black interior, it made window and mirror controls located on the door armrest difficult to see at night. The dashboard, on the other hand, is attractive and sporty, with a navigation-type screen that includes a compass.

Side mirrors are large on the Endeavor, making them very useful. This is a nice looking sport-ute, with a pleasing sculpted body.

The Endeavor is a welcome alternative to big SUV’s and the limitations of a four or five passenger sedan. If you’re looking for a comfortable car-like ride, yet, need space and like sitting high, this is a vehicle we think you’ll enjoy driving. Ii’s easy to handle, rides quietly and looks great.

Copyright 2004. Susan Frissell. Women With Wheels. All Rights Reserved.