2007 Mitsubishi 380 VRX Series III review
November 6, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
2007 Mitsubishi 380 VRX Series III Review
The recently released Series III has made an already appealing package, even better.
CarAdvice Rating: 
Recommended Retail Price: $38,990 – five-speed auto
Options fitted: Metallic Paint $350, Sunroof $2,000
- by Alborz Fallah
If you’ve bought a base model Commodore or Falcon in the last 12 months, I want you to tell me why. Apart from the rear-wheel-drive vs front-wheel-drive argument, you won’t be able to convince me the other two are any better than Mitsubishi Australia’s only child.
With the shrinking market for large family cars, Mitsubishi Australia – with a limited budget – has produced arguably the best car in the segment. Great reviews followed, but sales didn’t eventuate as expected. So Mitsubishi has tried again, with the Series III.
The Series III update includes a rework of the car’s interior appointments, multiple external styling updates and specification upgrades.
After driving the 380 VRX around Brisbane for a week, I really do wonder why Mitsubishi, with the best warranty in the business, is struggling. Compared to the current VE Commodore, BF MKII Falcon and the Toyota Aurion, you would be hard pressed dismissing the Mitsu as inferior.
Powered by a 3.8-litre 24-valve SOHC MPI V6 engine which manages 175kW of power (at 5250 RPM) and 343Nm of torque (at 4000 RPM), the 380 is behind its competitors as far as power goes (Toyota Aurion – 200kW, Holden Commodore – 180kW, Ford Falcon – 190kW), not that you would notice it. It goes from 0-100km/h in just 7.6 seconds, ahead of the base model Commodore and Falcon, losing out to the 200kW Aurion by just 0.2 of a second.
Before we get to the drive, let me tell you where the 380 actually sits. Starting from just $28,990 for the ES manual sedan, the 380 undercuts the competition considerably. To be fair, we’ll compare the entry model automatic ES Sedan which retails for $30,990 to its entry model auto competitors.
The ES auto is $4,000 cheaper than the Aurion AT-X, $5,000 cheaper than the Falcon XT and $3,500 cheaper than the VE Commodore Omega. Better yet, the auto ES makes use of a five-speed INVECS II “Smart Logic” automatic transmission with Sports mode, this is compared to the Falcon XT and Commodore Omega’s dinosaur four-speed gearbox (the Aurion betters the 380 with a six-speed sequential auto).
The 380 also wins on standard equipment across the range with standard dual front and side SRS airbags, ABS brake system with EBD, automatic climate control air-conditioning, power windows and mirrors, remote central locking, cruise control, power adjustable driver’s seat and steering wheel audio controls.
Power options aside, the dual front and side SRS airbags are both an option on the Falcon and Commodore. The 380 ES also comes standard with 16” alloys while others will charge you even more. I can go on and on pointing out why the 380 is better on paper than its competitors, but there has to be something about the car that reflects the sales figures!
TOYO PAUL… Have to say your answer was bit short answering my concern.
Steve – I don’t get you mate. You have a problem with Mitsubishi’s image. So the years of building the phenomenal EVO cars, which most folks in the know, consider to be one of the world’s best performance cars has blown their image for you. Oh, and what about the 11 outright wins in the Paris/Dakar, Dakar races? still not sorted with that image problem.
Mate, cut the crap, and do something sensible and go drive a new 380 and then tell me you don’t like the way it drives. If it should happen to break down, who gives a shit, they come with a 5/10 year warranty!
it is abvious that umm well holden and ford have something to hide considering they dont offer such a good warranty compared to mitsubishi. if Holden or ford tried to extend the warranty for such a long period of time im pretty sure they would go broke, cause well they are no where near as close in reliability sense as the 380. and dont try and rebut this by saying it has a bad reputation, that was 15yrs ago +.
sorry about the spelling mistake!!!!
WHO CARES AS UGLY AS! HOW CAN YOIU LIKE THAT BUTT – no butts about that it is butch as!
Great warranty……..but yep still ugly!
Yes the warranty. I remember an ad where a woman talks about the way her husband has has a company car, “A big ugly Ford” and it shows a picture of a Commodore wagon outside.
Driving a Series 3 VRX manga is the best alternative in a boring and ugly australian car manufactuters market.
They are not by any means an ugly car. I’ve seen more Fords and Holden’s that need to be removed from the road and never seen again.
Boo Hoo, the sales havent been good, boo hoo people think they ugly, boo hoo its a Mitsu. Tears and wahhhh don’t cast any judgement until you have gone out and driven a 380.
If you learn about the history of cars in Australia, and you’ll see theres absolutely no doubt about the fact that its always GM Holden that always set the standards in design, safety and engineering technology while the others have got no other choice but to follow the lead. Holden drivers in the 80’s where driving around in nicer shape cars where everyone else was driving around in a box. And who had the first SRS airbag fitted to a vehicle sold in Australia? Look at the shape of the current 380. Doesnt it resemble a Commodore VT 10 years ago? And I have driven a 380 and is not really all that spectacular, I would prefer to be driving a Commodore or Falcon anyday.
I have owned a TJ (2001) Magna Solara since new. Before that I owned many Holdens over the years. I would NEVER buy another Holden, or Ford for that matter. My Magna has given me sterling service since I’ve owned. It has heaps of power, handles and rides superbly (…you’d have to be an idiot to get into handling trouble in this car…), is very comfortable and well-finished throughout. A real credit to the workers at Tonsley Park. I, for one, hope that Mitsu can do a re-design of the 380 and gain some sales and popularity for a much-underrated car. As to that famous Australian car magazine and its opinions and annual awards…Pfft!
Anybody running the 820 on LPG moded with vapour injection ?
Is the tank still fitted inside the booth ?
Views and comments appreciated.
I meant the 380 moded for LPG,
The III Series 380 VRX is a great car. I cannot see why you would buy a Camry or a Ford if you can get such a great looking car in the 380 and it drives very well…spacious easy to drive and great road holding…
It is a great looking car i reckon, but there is a limit of how many cars they can produce in Adelaide and the sales are dropping badly and Mitsubishi might be thinking of making a whole new large car……..again. If they do continue to make the 380 id like them to do a facelift on it and more power in the V6. And it would be nice if they made a Supercharged V6 for extra power, but make it RWD before doing that, so u dont follow in Toyotas footsteps. Or even better they should make a RWD V8 380 for the GT!
The car is finished.
Mitsubishi opened a 380 plant in california to produce them in the US, since most of them were being exported there anyway.
Making 270 of the 380 a day and 225 exported.
Us aussies now get the mediocre Holden and Ford that we deserve.
This may be a stupid question, but I’m actually considering upgrading my Lancer MR to a 380 (most likely GT Series II or III). My main concern is that because they are not producing this car anymore will that make it difficult 5-10 years down the track when trying to access parts etc? Also how will this affect insurance premiums? I have been told by my insurance company that if you have a car that requires parts to be imported or they are not easily sourced it can increase your premium. Apart from this I have no issues with the 380. I drove an 2005 Base model around for work when my car was out of action late last year and I loved it!
MEGAN^^
By the S3 model, all *issues* would have been long gone.
Parts are not imported, it was made here in Oz, wont be a issue.
They are OUTSTANDING value for money 2nd. hand if you need a V6 large car.
Seen a black one the other day with nice wheels, real head turner!!
All up to you really, so much choice on the market
Cheers
F-0
Thanks F-0
That’s made me feel a bit better. Will have to get out there and test drive a few different models and see how it compares.