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By
MURRAY HUBBARD
2 December 2011
On our frequent trips on the Pacific Highway in south-east
Queensland we get to spot which are the vehicles of choice for the
thousands of grey nomads enjoying their retirement.
While there are many 4WDs towing caravans and camper
trailers there is another category again – 2WDs. These are
chiefly Australia’s own cars, Commodore and Falcon. The latter
niche market is one that Mitsubishi is hoping to crack by
releasing a 2WD variant of the Challenger.
Challenger has a number of advantages over both Commodore
and Falcon. Firstly the Challenger is diesel-powered meaning
better economy when towing than either of the petrol sixes found
in the local makes. Secondly, the Challenger has a massive boot
space with built-in 12 volt system for the refrigerator. Thirdly,
Challenger has the same ride-height as the 4WD variant meaning the
driver sits high giving a better driving position for long-haul
stints at the wheel. The ground clearance makes it possible to
explore dirt and gravel roads that don’t need the traction of
4WD.
The
next advantage is probably the most important. The maximum braked
towing rate for a Falcon is 2300 kg with an automatic, while the
manual versions vary between 1200 kg and 1600 kg. Commodore has a
towing rate between 1600 kg and 2100 kg for the 3.6-litre manual
and auto respectively. It’s no secret Australian caravaners like
to keep some towing capacity up their sleeve, so those using the
Falcon and Commodore are limited in the weight and size of the van
they tow. The new Challenger 2WD retains the 3000 kg towing rate
from the 4WD variants.
Our road test Challenger came with the Mitsubishi
‘convenience pack’ which adds 17-inch alloy wheels, fancier
radiator grille, fog lamps, rain and light sensors and roof rails.
On the inside this package adds side and curtain airbags, leather
steering wheel with audio controls, privacy glass, climate control
and six-speaker sound system. This will set you back $3640 on top
of the vehicle's bottom line of $36,990 plus on-roads for the
manual and $39,490 for the auto.
Challenger uses the same 2.5-litre, four-cylinder
common-rail diesel with inter-cooled turbocharger as found in
Mitsubishi Triton. It is available as either a five-speed manual
or five-speed auto. Fuel consumption is claimed at 8.2 litres per
100 km from the manual and 9.6 L/100 km from the auto. These
figures are for a vehicle not towing a van, so there will be a
fair increase if you hook up your home-away-from-home behind the
Challenger 2WD.
Mitsubishi
recently launched its 2012 upgrade of many models including the
new Challenger 2WD, with the standard inclusion in most vehicles
of a reverse camera, with the screen located in the rear view
mirror. The technology is great but does not mean children are
automatically protected. Think of it like a swimming pool fence
– you must keep your eyes out for little ones even with the
fence in place.
In addition Challengers gets the same safety package as the
4WD version: driver and front passenger SRS airbags, ABS brakes,
power brake booster, stability and traction control, emergency
brake assist and a raft of other protective measures.
The cabin is simple yet practical. The instrument binnacle
contains three chrome circles with tachometer, speedometer and
fuel and temperature gauges. There’s a basic trip computer,
audio and cruise controls on the steering wheel. There’s a USB
connection in the glove compartment and AUX connections in the bin
under the centre arm rest.
With the Challenger having a high ride height Mitsubishi
has retained the grab handles above each door. The seats are
covered in hard-wearing materials while the door inners are
plastic with a cloth insert across the top near the window. The
seats are a little to firm for our liking and rear seat head room
could be tight for six footers.
The rear seat is a 60/40 split fold and tumble which
dramatically increases the already large cargo area. The spare
wheel is located under the body with a wind-down mechanism located
inside the cargo area and is easy to access and, more importantly,
wind down should you have a puncture. The cargo area also has a
conveniently placed 12 volt outlet, handy for a refrigerator or
extra lighting. The cabin has a lot of handy storage spaces
including bottle and cup holders.
Those accustomed to driving a car will find the Challenger
a little agricultural. There’s a bit of body roll with the
high-riding body, and the handling is not as comfortable as say
Pajero. The 2.5-litre engine is willing and has excellent torque
for towing but will not break any speed records. We like the
five-speed auto which gets the best out of the engine and uses
INVECS 11 Smart Logic to read the driver’s input and driving
style.
The driving position is excellent and affords open forward
vision. We also like the rear view camera being located in the
rear view mirror, the obvious place to look when reversing. The
front seats are softer and more comfortable than the firmer rear
seats.
MODEL RANGE
Challenger 2WD 2.5 litre automatic: $36,990 (as tested
$40,730)
Challenger 4WD 2.5 litre 5-seat manual: $41,490
Challenger 4WD 2.5 litre LS 5-seat manual: $44,990
Challenger 4WD 2.5 litre LS 7-seat automatic: $49,390
Challenger 4WD 2.5 litre XLS 5-seat automatic: $54,490
Challenger 4WD 2.5 litre XLS 7-seat automatic: $56,390
Note: These prices do
not include government or dealer charges. Contact any Mitsubishi
dealer for driveaway prices.
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard
Air Conditioning: Standard
Automatic Transmission: Optional
CD Player: Standard
Central Locking: Standard
Cruise Control: Standard
Dual Front Airbags: Standard
Front Side Airbags: Optional
Stability Control: Standard
Traction Control: Standard
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE:
Capacity: 2.5 litres
Configuration: in line four
Head Design: DOHC
Compression Ratio: 16.5:1
Bore/Stroke: 91.1 mm x 95.0 mm
Maximum Power: 131 kW @ 4000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 400 Nm @ 2000 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: rear
Manual Transmission: five speed
Automatic Transmission: five speed
Final Drive Ratio: 3.917
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4695 mm
Wheelbase: 2800 mm
Width: 1815 mm
Height: 1790 mm
Turning Circle: 11.2 metres
Kerb Mass: 1910 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 70 litres
Towing Ability: 3000 kg (kg with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: independent double wishbone with coil
springs
Rear Suspension: 3-link coil spring
Front Brakes: ventilated discs
Rear Brakes: ventilated discs
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: N/A
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: diesel
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 9.6 L/100km
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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