Compact pickup truck; Built in USA
  • crew cab
  • ext. cab
  • longitudinal front-engine/front- or 4-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $6,400 – $16,200*


2006 Mitsubishi Raider


2006 Mitsubishi Raider


2006 Mitsubishi Raider

Pros:
  • Front-seat room and comfort
  • Ride
Cons:
  • Acceleration (V6)
  • Rear-seat room and comfort
  • Steering/handling
  • Brake performance

Mitsubishi’s Raider and the similar Dodge Dakota impress for their refinement, available dry-surface 4WD, and curtain side airbag security. We advise a V8 model as a terrific choice if you tow or do heavy hauling, but don’t want the bulk of a true large pickup. Six-cylinder versions are best suited to light-duty chores, but any Raider or Dakota is rather big for easy daily commuting. Mitsubishi offered more generous warranty coverage than Dodge, but has been hampered by a spottier dealer network and uncertain resale value. Of course, meager resale value (especially for extended-cab Raiders) translates to better prices on the used-car market.

Overview

Mitsubishi added a compact pickup truck to its lineup for 2006, competing against the Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma. Pickups with a Mitsubishi badge had not been offered in the U.S. market since 1996.

Essentially a restyled Dodge Dakota, the Raider shared that model’s drivetrains and general dimensions. Raiders came in extended-cab and double-cab body styles; a regular cab was not offered. Extended-cabs had a 6.5-foot cargo bed and rear-hinged back doors that did not open independently of the fronts. Double-cabs had a 5.3-foot bed and four conventional side doors.

LS and DuroCross trim levels were offered in both body styles. An uplevel XLS model was unique to the double cab.

A 210-horsepower V6 was standard except on the XLS. Standard on the XLS and optional for the DuroCross was a 230-horsepower V8. A six-speed manual transmission was standard on LS; a four-speed automatic was optional for LS and standard on the DuroCross V6. Only a five-speed automatic accompanied V8 Raiders.

LS and DuroCross were available with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive with low-range gearing. The 4WD setup should not be left engaged on dry pavement. The XLS came standard with all-wheel drive that included low-range gearing.

Traction control was not available. Rear-wheel antilock brakes were standard; four-wheel ABS was available. Head-protecting curtain side airbags that covered both seating rows were standard on the XLS, but otherwise unavailable. Satellite radio and Bluetooth capability, which used the audio system as a hands-free link to cell phones, were available.

Yearly Updates

2007 Raider
Raider buyers no longer had the option of a V8 engine or all-wheel drive. All models came only with the 210-horsepower V6. A six-speed manual gearbox was standard, except for extended-cabs. Four-speed automatic was standard on Double Cabs, optional for the extended-cab. LS Double Cabs offered four-wheel drive that includes low-range gearing-not intended for dry pavement. Curtain airbags and leather upholstery no longer were available.
2008 Raider
The 2008 Mitsubishi Raider got a revised dashboard but was otherwise unchanged.
2009 Raider
The 2009 Mitsubishi Raider was largely unchanged.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/front- or 4-wheel drive

All Raiders except the XLS had a standard 210-horsepower V6. Standard on the XLS and optional for the DuroCross was a 230-horsepower V8. A six-speed manual transmission was standard on LS; four-speed automatic optional for LS and standard on the DuroCross V6.

ohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.7/226
Engine HP 210
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 235
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed manual
4-speed automatic
16/22
16/22
ohc V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 4.7/287
Engine HP 230
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 290
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed automatic

15/20

Road Test

Raider’s performance and accommodations echo those of similarly-equipped Dodge Dakotas. V8 models have good power with either transmission, but lack the expected passing reserve. The V6 Raider is underpowered for anything but daily commuting and light loads. Towing capacity ranges from 2800 to 6600 pounds.

Don’t expect smile-inducing gas mileage. Raiders figures are not available, but a test V8 Dakota Quad Cab with automatic transmission averaged a far-from-frugal 11.6 to 13.4 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. Regular-grade fuel is recommended for both engines.

Ride comfort is a plus, though. Smooth and composed in any configuration, Raiders suffer little of the bounding and jiggle typical of the class. Some choppiness is likely over broken surfaces in 4WD models.

Steering has direct feel and lacks typical trunk sloppiness. Body lean is evident in turns, but well controlled for a pickup. All test trucks wore 17-inch tires. Four-wheel ABS is a worthwhile choice over the standard rear-only arrangement.

Road noise is impressively hushed, but some wind rush occurs at highway speeds. Well-muted engines sound refined in rapid acceleration, though the V8 is quieter overall.

Dashboard design is shared with the Dodge Dakota. Controls are logically placed and readily accessible. Large gauges are easy to read. Interior materials look and feel low-grade. Hard, shiny plastic covers most surfaces, and some controls lack a quality feel.

Spacious cabins have plenty of front head and legroom. The front bench seat will accommodate three passengers in a pinch. Crew cabs offer three-abreast rear seating, but only two adults will fit comfortably. Rear head and legroom are adequate for adults under six-foot, but taller riders will want more leg space. The extended-cab’s available forward-facing jump seats best suit riders under five-foot-three, as little leg room is available.

Cabs contain ample center-console and door-pocket storage. Folding rear seats enhance extended-cab utility.

Ratings

Model Tested: Mitsubishi Raider 2WD ext.-cab V6 w/auto.

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 3
30%
Fuel Economy - 4
40%
Ride Quality - 5
50%
Steering/Handling - 3
30%
Quietness - 5
50%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 5
50%
Room/Comfort Front - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Rear - 2
20%
Cargo Room - 4
40%

Other

Value - 5
50%

Total: 43

Specifications

crew cab
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
131.3 219.9 71.9 68.6
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
1590 22.0 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.9 38.4 41.9 36.4
ext. cab
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
131.1 219.9 71.9 68.6
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
1700 22.0 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.6 36.5 41.9 32.1
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: N/A

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Front Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Brakes
Description: The brakes may shudder when applied requiring new rear brake shoes and adjuster assemblies. (2006)
Steering noise
Description: Popping or clicking noises can develop due to the intermediate steering shaft being out of alignment with the steering rack. (2006-07)
None
Description: Poor cold operation shift quality and a check engine light on vehicles with 3.7L V6 engine are fixed by reprogramming the powertrain control module. (2007-08)
Transmission problems
Description: The transmission may not go into gear immediately after the vehicle has been sitting overnight after the transmission fluid cooler filter is replaced due to a defective filter causing torque converter drain-back. (2006)
Transmission problems
Description: The transmission may occasionally go into limp-in mode (only second gear) upon engine start, but be fine if shut down and restarted unless the transmission control module software was upgraded. (2008-09)
Software problems
Description: The trailer lights may not work unless a software upgrade for the front control module was performed to assign the light relays properly. (2008-09)

Recall History

2006 w/four-wheel ABS
Description: Electronic control unit may cause loss of front-to-rear brake balance, causing rear brakes to lock-up prematurely under certain conditions.
2006
Description: In some vehicles, static electricity spark between operator and vehicle could cause turn signal, headlamps, or wipers to malfunction without warning.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

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