2009 Mitsubishi Raider

The 2009 Mitsubishi Raider certainly fits into the manufacturer’s line in terms of unique and appealing looks – bulging fenders, an aggressively gaping grill, tubular steel sidesteps, available parabolic foglights complimented by stylishly square halogen headlights. And if you’re in the market for a truck that handles like a car, the Raider is certainly worth a look. The truck – which borrows heavily from the midsize Dodge Dakota – also offers ample towing (maximum capacity between 2,950 and 4,100 pounds, depending on trim). But if you want a monster under the hood, this may not be your truck.

The Raider comes in two styles – an LS Double Cab with four full-size doors and an LS Extended Cab with two reverse-opening rear doors and a longer bed. The Double Cab comes in two- or four-wheel drive, while the Extended Cab is only available with 2WD. The Extended Cab 2WD can be paired with a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive or a six-speed manual transmission with overdrive. The Double Cab, whether 2WD or 4WD, is married to the automatic.

Whatever shape the Raider takes, it comes with a 3.7-liter V6 capable of 210 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. With a manual transmission the Raider’s mileage is 16 city/20 highway mpg, with the automatic and 2WD it gets 15/20, and with the automatic and 4WD it gets 14/18.

The Raider’s smooth ride owes much to its suspension - upper and lower “A” arms, coil springs over gas-pressure shock absorbers, and a link-type stabilizer bar in the front with a live axle, multi-leaf two-stage longitudinal springs, staggered gas-pressure shock absorbers, and a link-type stabilizer bar in the rear. A fully boxed steel frame also gives the driver more control of the Raider, whether its 46.6 cubic feet of cargo space in the bed (38.2 for the Double Cab) is filled to its maximum hauling capacity of 1,720 pounds or not. The shift-on-the-fly 4WD is both easy to use and effective on rough terrain.

All Raiders come with 40/20/40 three-passenger front seats with two headrests. The Double Cab is advertised as a three-passenger rear seat as well, but it’s probably better suited to two passengers, and the Extended Cab’s rear certainly won’t be comfortable for three adults. Overall, however, it is a spacious cabin, and the rear seats for both body styles fold up to reveal built-in storage.

Air-conditioning, a four-speaker audio system with CD and an auxiliary jack, and tinted glass are the most prominent features that come standard on all trims. Power windows and locks, cruise control, and a height-adjustable steering wheel are all standard for the Double Cab and optional for the Extended Cab.

Airbags for the front seat and antilock braking are both standard for the Raider, but there aren’t any other safety features that really jump out at you. However, the Raider earned the maximum five stars in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s frontal crash test for the driver and passenger, five stars for both driver and rear passenger in side crash testing and four stars for rollover resistance.

By Tim O'Sullivan