For the first time in ten years, Mitsubishi has stepped up and added a new truck to its lineup – though the 2006 Mitsubishi Raider is really a thinly disguised Dodge Dakota. Mitsubishi has taken a Dodge Dakota and re-skinned it to give the Raider a new, aggressive look. The addition of a truck is a good move by Mitsubishi. Traditionally, truck buyers might not consider a Mitsubishi when shopping the likes of Chevy, Dodge, Ford, and Nissan. But with the great incentives Mitsubishi typically offers, a better warranty, and a truck with an aggressive look and proven Dodge components, a buyer’s eye might start to wander from the proven players. If Mitsubishi plays its cards right, the new Raider could become a real asset to their lineup.
The 2006 Mitsubishi Raider is available in several trim levels. Pictured here is the sporty Durocross model.
What’s New? Sheet metal and plastic! That’s basically what’s new. The 2006 Mitsubishi Raider is simply a re-skinned Dodge Dakota with styling coming from Mitsubishi’s in-house design center. The Raider also offers an optional 4.7-liter V8 producing 230 horsepower and 290 lb.-ft. of torque.
Styling Styling for the new 2006 Mitsubishi Raider comes from the folks at Mitsubishi Motors Design in Cypress. Large flared fenders front and rear and a thick lower front bumper give the Raider a powerful appearance and stance.
Engine The 2006 Mitsubishi Raider touts the fact that it is the only mid-size import-brand pickup to offer a V8 engine. That might be, but the horsepower delivered by the V8 doesn’t even measure up to a couple of its competitors’ V6 engines. The Toyota Tacoma V6 delivers 245 horsepower while the Nissan Frontier punches out 265 horses. Mitsubishi also offers a 3.7-liter V6 in the standard model that offers up only 210 horsepower.
BrakesThe 2006 Mitsubishi Raider’s brakes are dual-piston, vented discs up front and drum at the rear. ABS is offered as optional equipment, except on the XLS where it is included as standard.
SuspensionCoil-over shocks handle the bumps up front, while the 2006 Mitsubishi Raider’s live axle and leaf spring arrangement manages ride and body motions at the rear. Both front and rear suspensions benefit from stabilizer bars.
InteriorAside from the Dodge Dakota, the 2006 Mitsubishi Raider is the only crew cab in its class to offer seating for six. We found this configuration to be cramped and would only recommend it for short trips. We also noted the lack of grab handles for rear passengers, making it harder to get into the back seat due to a high step-up height. Inside, the Mitsubishi Raider incorporates built-in steering wheel controls, large knobs, and easy-to-read controls.
Safety Standard on all 2006 Mitsubishi Raiders are dual-stage front airbags with occupant sensing technology. Optional on Double Cab models are side curtain airbags for both rows.
Seating The 2006 Mitsubishi Raider is available in both Extended Cab and Double Cab styles with either two- or four-wheel-drive. The Raider Extended Cab offers seating for five while the Double Cab offers seating for six.
Fuel Economy EPA fuel economy ratings for the 2006 Mitsubishi Raider are 16/22 mpg for the 2WD-V6 manual and 16/20 mpg for the 4WD-V6 manual. Automatics come in with 15/19 mpg for 4WD-V6, 15/20mpg for the 2WD-V8, and 14/19 for the 4WD-V8.
Interior CapacityCab cargo volume of the 2006 Mitsubishi Raider Extended Cab is 30 cubic feet of space, while the Double Cab increases that figure to 37.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The Raider Extended Cab offers 39.6 inches of front and 36.5 inches of rear headroom, while legroom measures 41.9 and 32.1 inches respectively. The Raider Double Cab bests that with 39.9 / 38.4 inches of head room and 41.9 / 36.4 inches of legroom.
Towing and Payload The new 2006 Mitsubishi Raider pickup offers a maximum of 6,500 lbs. of towing capacity and a maximum payload of 1,200-1,700-lbs. That’s enough to tow a small boat or trailer and pick up any home improvement supplies you might need.
Selling PointsIn its favor, the 2006 Mitsubishi Raider offers muscular styling, an optional V8 engine, and is capable of six-passenger seating in the Double Cab. Plus, it’s got a better warranty than the competition.
Deal BreakerThe biggest disappointment with the 2006 Mitsubishi Raider has to be the power plants. The Raider’s V8 makes less power than competitors from Nissan and Toyota equipped with V6 engines. The standard V6 in the Raider is also underpowered and unrefined.
TransmissionThree transmission variations are offered on the new 2006 Mitsubishi Raider pickup. Versions with a V6 engine get either a six-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. A five-speed automatic is used on V8 models.
Wrap-up The new-for-2006 Mitsubishi Raider gets its foot in the door in a crowded truck segment thanks to an available V8 engine and maximum seating for six. But with underwhelming power and the fact that the Raider is essentially a Dodge Dakota, Mitsubishi has its work cut out convincing buyers to come its way.
Photos courtesy of Mitsubishi Motors
