Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Mitsubishi Challenger 2010 review

All-new Mitsubishi Challenger has a bold frontal look based around the marque’s diagonal-grille theme.

After being missing from the market for almost three years, the Mitsubishi Challenger has made a welcome return to the Australian 4WD scene. All-new for 2010, the latest Challenger again shares some components with the Mitsubishi Triton ute and pickup. That helps to keep the price down, but more importantly gives it the toughness required in this 4WD class.

Though it shares some front end suspension components the Challenger has a completely different rear suspension setup to provide the comfort to carry passengers rather than commercial loads.

Note that we used the term ‘4WD’, not ‘SUV’ in our opening remarks. That's because the Challenger is the real deal. Though it's elegant enough in its lines to make a statement in the suburban/school/cafe scene, it can play in the rough off-road stuff thanks to its strong ladder-frame construction. Challenger also features a two-speed transfer case with low-range to multiply torque in extreme driving and to let it crawl at ultra low speeds when the conditions are really harsh.

Up to seven can now travel in the Challenger, which is a major advance on the five seats in the previous model and makes it a genuine people mover. The rearmost row is probably best suited to children, though adults can be carried in emergency situations. A drawback of the ladder frame is that the relatively high floor means the seats can't be folded down into a recess as is possible in a monocoque body. They do fold flat and, in conjunction with the double-fold centre row can create a decent load area. Getting the seats down and up is quite a complex operation – but when you remember the advantages of having a real 4WD driveline you will soon forgive your Challenger for this.

Being aimed at a more conservative buyer than its smaller brother, the Mitsubishi Outlander, means the 2010 Challenger doesn’t have the single-frame grille we love so much in that model. But we do like the Challenger's take on the double-diagonal Mitsubishi grille theme. The rear end is square and practical to maximise passenger and luggage space, but the stylists have been clever in giving it an elegant shape that works nicely.

Mitsubishi has chosen the simplicity route in its driveline. Thus the all-new Challenger comes only with a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine and choice a five-speed manual or automatic transmission. The engine is a modern unit, with a power output of 131 kW. Peak torque is 400 Newton metres with the manual gearbox, but is slightly detuned, to 350 Nm, when it sits in front of the auto.

We found the engine to be more diesel-like in its sound and feel, with quite a ‘clatter’ from it during acceleration. But that sort of adds to the character of the Challenger, making it feel like a ‘real’ 4WD. So the typical owner may well find the relatively lack of aural refinement is a positive feature.

We tested the new 2010 Mitsubishi Challenger in the coastal and hinterland areas of Queensland's Gold Coast during an extensive program put on by Mitsubishi. On road it displays more comfort than the typical ladder-frame 4WD, yet manages to do so without being too soft in the handling department. It's certainly no sports SUV in the manner of the soft-road German vehicles, but it has more than enough in its dynamics to please the great majority of drivers. Our compliments to the suspension and body engineers for coming up with this excellent compromise.

Off-road the Challenger's performance is most impressive. We put it through its paces at a dedicated 4WD drive area and it crawled its way up steep hills, over rocks and across dried-out creek beds. It has a locking rear differential. The only minus, is the lack of engine braking from the diesel, probably because it's only running a 16.5:1 compression ratio. It was necessary to use the brakes on steep descents on more than one occasion. Comfort was pretty good on these roads, and we also appreciated its ride and handling on corrugated dirt tracks and regular fire trails. 

New Mitsubishi Challenger is a rare beast – a compact vehicle with three rows of seats, body-on-frame ruggedness and a stylish look. Buyers wanting a quality vehicle designed and built by a company that has been in the family 4WD business for many decades should have it high on their list of potential buys.

The 2010 Mitsubishi Challenger range

Challenger LS five-seater: $44,490 (manual), $46,990 (automatic)
Challenger LS seven-seater: $48,890 (automatic)
Challenger XLS five-seater: $56,990 (automatic)
Challenger XLS seven-seater: $58,890 (automatic

Pricing guides

$14,995
Based on 34 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months
Lowest Price
$11,497
Highest Price
$20,990

Range and Specs

VehicleSpecsPrice*
LS (5 Seat) (4x4) 2.5L, Diesel, 5 SP MAN $10,560 – 14,520 2010 Mitsubishi Challenger 2010 LS (5 Seat) (4x4) Pricing and Specs
LS (7 Seat) (4x4) 2.5L, Diesel, 5 SP AUTO $13,420 – 17,600 2010 Mitsubishi Challenger 2010 LS (7 Seat) (4x4) Pricing and Specs
XLS (7 Seat) (4x4) 2.5L, Diesel, 5 SP AUTO $14,630 – 19,250 2010 Mitsubishi Challenger 2010 XLS (7 Seat) (4x4) Pricing and Specs
XLS (5 Seat) (4x4) 2.5L, Diesel, 5 SP AUTO $14,080 – 18,590 2010 Mitsubishi Challenger 2010 XLS (5 Seat) (4x4) Pricing and Specs
Ewan Kennedy
Contributing Journalist

Share

Pricing Guide

$11,497

Lowest price, based on 30 car listings in the last 6 months

View cars for sale
Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication.  Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.