- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
3.0i, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
140kW, 255Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 8.9L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
1997 Mitsubishi Magna Wagon review: Quick drive
Date of publication: August 10, 1997
The Sun-Herald
CAR: Mitsubishi Magna wagon
PIGEONHOLE: Family beast of burden.
PHILOSOPHY: A carry-all as suave as any sedan.
WHO'S BUYING IT: Magna's traditional audience of cargo-carrying cardigan wearers, plus a growing number of canny shoppers.
WHY YOU'D BUY IT: Good build, good looks, a good drive.
WHY YOU WOULDN'T: Magna's daggy image and reputation for depreciation.
STANDARD EQUIPMENT: Equipment levels vary from basic to luxurious. The least expensive Executive has remote central locking and little else of note. Same for Executive V6. Advance model adds anti-skid brakes, dual air bags and cruise control. Altera loses the anti-skid and air bags, but gains standard air-cond. Top of the range Altera LS gets the lot, plus alloy wheels.
SAFETY: Size and sturdiness of Magna wagon's body is a good basis for safety.
Rates well in consumer crash tests. All Magna wagons have a superb safety feature: a lap/sash seatbelt in the centre of the rear seat.
CABIN: Dash is neat enough, but very plain on passenger side. Front seat room is generous. Luggage compartment is big and flat-floored.
SEATING: Front seats are excellent. Big, well-shaped and with a range of adjustment to suit most physiques. Rear seat is wide and comfortable, but not quite wide enough for three XL adults.
ENGINE: Imported (from Japan) 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine of the base model Executive struggles with a car this big and heavy. And that's when it's empty. Australian-made Mitsubishi-designed V6 powering all other Magna wagon models is a much better choice. This 3.0 litre is a smoothie, well up to the job of hauling a heavily laden wagon.
TRANSMISSION: There's little wrong with the five-speed manual, but most Magna buyers opt for auto. The imported Mitsubishi four-speeder is one of the best.
STEERING: Powered rack-and-pinion system is very good. It's not as feather light as Japanese imports, thanks to Australian engineering input.
RIDE: Not too soft, not too hard.
HANDLING: Just like the Magna sedan. Which is brilliant for a wagon.
FUEL: Varies by model. Four-cylinder Executive can get as low as 9.5 litres/100 km on the highway. Stop-start city driving in V6 auto may exceed 13.0 l/100 km. Considering the wagon's size and weight, not bad.
BRAKES: Four-wheel discs are well up to the job.
BUILD: Looks and feels like it is built in Japan, even though it's made in Adelaide. Early poor paint and annoying cabin faults have been solved.
WARRANTY: Three years/100,000km.
ANTI-THEFT: Immobiliser, tamper-proof steering lock and other measures make Magna hard work for thieves.
AUDIO SYSTEM: Even the base model sound system is impressive. Altera and Altera LS have extra speakers and optional CD player. Magna is a very quiet car, which improves listening pleasure.
COST: The price list begins at $29,050 for the four-cylinder manual and goes up to $42,100 for the V6 and auto-only Altera LS. The $31,600 Executive V6 auto and $33,340 Advance auto are the popular pick. Strong demand have meant paltry discounts but the arrival of a new Camry and Commodore will see dealers trying harder. Tough shoppers should get $1,500 off a six-cylinder model now, maybe more later.
VERDICT: Made-in-Japan quality, made-in-Australia price. Drives like a sedan, but has genuine bulk carrier ability. The smartest, best-value big wagon buy on the market.