- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
3.0i, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
136kW, 265Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 13.4L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4XD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
1998 Mitsubishi Challenger V6: owner review
A little while ago, I got bitten by the 4x4 bug. Beach drives and camping in my friends’ trucks proved to me that I needed my own piece of that action.
Owner: Alex
A little while ago, I got bitten by the 4x4 bug. Beach drives and camping in my friends’ trucks proved to me that I needed my own piece of that action. I bought my Challenger, affectionately nicknamed Crash Bandicoot, as a weekender – but since then it’s earned daily driver duties as well. It beats me why these aren’t more common.
Exterior
Wheels magazine described the styling as “acceptable” back in 2004. I’d go much further than that – I still think it’s one of the best-looking 4x4 wagons out there, even 27 years after its release. It’s clean but purposeful; handsome but tough.
The Magna-esque slatted grille gives it some old-school Mitsubishi charm, while the flared wheel arches give it some muscle. The rear is nice too; the tail-light bar is a nice '90s touch. Mine is finished in Fraser Beige (presumably named after Fraser Island – somewhere I dream of going in the Challenger).
Interior
First of all, props to Mitsubishi on the build quality. Seriously. It’s a quarter of a century old and there’s not a single rattle or squeak, no matter where you look. And everything in the interior works perfectly. The quality of materials actually feels quite nice for a base-model car of this era too. Nicer than second-gen Challengers I’ve driven, which feel a bit more plasticky and more like a Triton wagon than a smaller Pajero.
The dash top has soft plastic on it, while every other high-touch surface is trimmed in cloth. Some of my favourite features are the six storage cubbies beneath and to the side of the boot – meaning I can carry spares, tools and camping gear at all times out of sight. Neat.
It’s quite well equipped given its age and the fact that it’s a base-model 4x4. As standard, you get a preset radio/cassette/CD player with a (surprisingly good) four-speaker stereo, A/C, power windows, power mirrors, dual airbags and central locking. All I’ve done is plug in a 12V Bluetooth transmitter – and that’s all I need on the daily.
On the road
The engine is Mitsubishi’s long-lived and trusty 6G72 3.0 V6, in SOHC 24V guise, producing 136kW at 5500rpm and 265Nm at 4500rpm. The 6G72, in various N/A and turbocharged forms, appeared in just about every Mitsubishi you could think of from the late 1980s to mid-2000s, with good reason. It delivers strong performance, with particularly good mid-range punch, making overtaking and freeway on-ramps no trouble. It definitely feels quicker than a lot of modern 4x4s I’ve driven. Sounds great too.
Its five-speed manual transmission is also very sweet. The ratios are well matched to the engine, the clutch is light, and the shifts are smooth and accurate. An older, manual 4x4 has no business being this easy to drive every day.
The recirculating-ball steering has that typical elastic, boaty feel, but it is well weighted and easy to use around town. The chassis on pre-2000 model Challengers copped some criticism for its firmness on rear leaf springs – these were changed on the first facelift for coils, which is worth considering if comfort is your main priority.
There’s no question it is firm, especially on A/T tyres at high pressures, but it’s still perfectly tolerable every day. The trade-off is excellent body control, with no bouncing or wallowing, and quite well contained body roll. It also makes short work of dirt roads.
I usually get fuel consumption around 12–13L/100km on my combined city/highway/hills cycle – really not bad considering that usually includes rush-hour traffic and a long freeway ascent.
Off-road
I’ve consistently been amazed at the Challenger’s capability off-road. Given that mine is completely stock, with only standard-size A/T tyres, it’s beaten every trail and beach I’ve thrown at it so far. It feels light-footed and agile on sand, with the strong mid-range and sharp throttle response keeping things moving where heavier trucks regularly get bogged.
On trails it delivers plenty of chassis articulation, with a lower centre of gravity minimising lean and helping you stay planted on the ground. Even with its lack of front or rear diff locks, it tackles steep, rutted tracks with aplomb and is easy to place. The Easy Select 4x4 system, which allows you to change between 2H and 4H at up to 100km/h, is a huge bonus in changing surface conditions too.
Ownership
I’ve only had it over about six months so far, and have the benefit of it being very well looked after by its original owners. But, even so, the quality and reliability show. The interior is as tight as a drum, everything works perfectly, and the drivetrain, chassis and brakes are all rock solid.
I get the impression that will remain the case for as long as I own it, which will be some time. Servicing intervals arise every 15,000km/nine months, but it’s also very easy to do basic maintenance on yourself.
Summary
No prizes for guessing what I think of the Challenger. I adore it – to me, it’s a criminally underrated 4x4 wagon. It’s fun on the road and capable off it – and is as easy to use every day as it is adventure-ready on the weekend. Challengers are also exceptional value – you won’t find anything with a Toyota badge on it at this price point (at least not without about 500,000km on the clock).
We’ve already had plenty of adventures together, and there will be countless more in the future.
Owner: Alex
MORE: Everything Mitsubishi