2004 Mitsubishi Magna Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the Mitsubishi Magna and 380 from 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 as a used buy.

These big Mitsubishi family cars have a well-deserved reputation for being smooth and refined and in its early days the Magna made Holden’s Commodore and Ford’s Falcon rather ordinary in the noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) stakes.Mitsubishi Verada was the name given to upmarket versions of the Magna and is sometimes regarded as a different model, though in reality, it’s just a Magna with plenty of extra kit stuffed inside.All were built in Adelaide. The first Magnas were very much Australian products, later they became more closely allied to Japanese Mitsubishi models. The Mitsubishi 380 was based on an American Mitsubishi model and was larger and plusher than the Magna.This once successful line of cars came to an abrupt end in April 2008 after slow sales of the 380 caused Mitsubishi to pull out of Australian manufacturing. In hindsight if the company had simply called the 380 the next generation Magna, the Adelaide factory might still be in operation today.Body types are four-door sedan and five-door station wagon in the Magna/Verada, but the 380 was only built as a sedan. Rear-seat width isn't quite as good as that in Commodore and Falcon, but the Mitsubishi’s seats can handle three adults in reasonable comfort.The big Mitsubishis have reasonably good handling for family cars, with the 380 feeling nice and sharp on the road. Engine performance from the old-style four-cylinder 2.6-litre engine is reasonable, but only just. The later four-cylinder models had a 2.4-litre unit with a much-improved design.Four-cylinder models slowly declined in popularity over the years and were finally removed from the Magna range in 1999. Those on the used-car market now are likely to be near the end of their lives, though it must be said they are tough old units. A 3.0-litre V6 engine was released in the Mitsubishi Verada in 1991 and the Magna in 1993.It was joined by a 3.5-litre V6 in some upmarket variants in October 1996. The bigger engine gradually spread to the rest of the range. In the later-model Magna Sports and VR-X, the 3.5 engine has additional power over the standard unit. The Mitsubishi 380’s 3.8-litre engine is a stretched version of the 3.5-litre unit.There is good torque throughout the normally used zone of the rev range and the 3.8 is very pleasant to sit behind. Magna is offered with a five-speed manual gearbox, but the great majority of the original cars came with a four-speed automatic. A sequential shifting was first fitted on four-speed Magna Sports models from September 1997.An advanced five-speed automatic transmission with a sequential shifter is fitted to the sporty variants sold from August 2000 and made its way to the other models over the next couple of years. Mitsubishi 380 came with a five-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual gearbox.The auto was by far the most popular and the manual could be a problem to resell in years to come as the number of drivers interested in doing their own gear changes continues to decline. Mitsubishi’s Magna offers the extra traction of all-wheel drive in some sports variants to give the car a real sporty feeling.These all-wheel drives are a real pleasure to punt hard and fast and keen drivers love their feel and grip. But they were never popular and could be hard to resell. These big Mitsubishis are spacious in their under bonnet area so servicing is relatively easy for amateur mechanics to carry out. Make sure to get a professional mechanic for safety-related work. Mitsubishi continues to operate strongly in Australia despite no longer being a local manufacturer. Spare parts for cars up to 10 years old are still carried by Mitsubishi dealers. Prices are generally reasonable and we seldom hear of any real availability problems. Insurance charges are usually moderate and most companies charge much the same for four and six-cylinder engines. There may be an increase in the premiums for the Sports model if the driver is young and/or inexperienced.WHAT TO LOOK FORRust is seldom a problem but in a few cars it gets into the bottom edges of the doors, boot lid and or tailgate, and the fuel filler flap. Look for signs of damage to seats, carpets and trim, including inside the boot. Examine the top of the dash panel and the rear parcel shelf for faded, or cracked, plastic caused by constant exposure to sunlight. Automatic transmission problems have dogged these Mitsubishis but troubles are less frequent in newer models than in older ones. Watch for an automatic that shifts gear when it doesn’t need to or suddenly shifts into neutral of its own accord. Look at and feel the front tyres for uneven wear, which can indicate front suspension problems. Check the paint and bumper bar around the exhaust tailpipe for an oily film, indicating engine problems. Make sure the brakes pull the car up in a straight line and that ABS, if fitted, sends a pulsing back through the pedal on hard application. Don’t forget to check your mirrors first!CAR BUYING TIPWhen checking out a car aimed at the family buyer make sure to spend plenty of time looking over the back seat and the luggage area. 

With little warning, the road took a fairly sharp turn to the left.There was just enough time to have a strong dab on the brake as the tyres sought firmer ground through the dirt surface still slightly muddy from earlier rain.The sequential shift Sports Mode automatic transmission lever was bumped back two gears and the leather-clad steering wheel turned towards the fast-approaching corner.We'd been watching rally cars in action all day, on dirt tracks not far from this spot near the Barossa Valley, so now perhaps it was our turn for a bit of excitement. On wet, loose roads it's not that hard to end up in a sideways slide, winding on plenty of opposite lock when the tail skids out; or risk sliding head-first off the road if understeer takes hold.But what an anti-climax. The thing just went around that greasy corner like it was on rails.I couldn't believe this from an Aussie family sedan – I even stopped and went back to find those two neat "rail" marks tracking around the corner as evidence that there had been no slide at all.Wow. This all-wheel-drive stuff really works.Mitsubishi – yes the Adelaide southern suburbs car maker which is unfairly ignored by car buyers who apparently haven't properly tried the products and considered the prices – was the first Australian car maker to produce a sedan with all-wheel drive.Tested was the sporty Magna VR-X in its all-wheel-drive version. This is not a high-set four-wheel-drive but a normal-ride-height, 4860mm-long four-door sedan that just happens to have that wonderful extra grip, and therefore surety and safety, on slippery or loose-surface roads.Magna is arguably the best value Australian sedan. But the all-wheel drive, also available in less-expensive LS trim as well as the luxury Verada GTVi version, gives another dimension to its abilities.The Magna AWD comes only with the five-speed Invecs II sequential shift automatic. Again, Mitsubishi was the first to offer a five-speed automatic in an Australian sedan. It can be left in orthodox automatic or the driver can "bump" up and down the gears manually.It feeds to an all-wheel-drive system called QuadTec which has been developed locally from the system used in the Mitsubishi Ralliart Lancer Evo rally cars.QuadTec is designed to deliver torque evenly to all four wheels. If any slip is detected, the central viscous coupling differential regulates the torque to help stability."Calibrated for Australian conditions, the system enhances drive-away acceleration, overall stability, grip and cornering control for safer, more spirited driving on all road surfaces," explain Mitsubishi's technicians. And as we've seen, it works in the real world.Magna AWD models get a higher-output version of the 3.5-litre, overhead camshaft, 24-valve V6 engine. It means 159kW of power at 5500rpm and a smooth 318Nm of torque at 4000rpm.In LS trim, the Magna AWD starts at $38,990, the sporty VR-X at $42,490 and the Verada GTV-i at $46,990, all including the sports mode five-speed automatic. These are list prices; most Mitsubishi dealers are more than keen to talk turkey on doing a better deal.The VR-X includes leather-wrapped steering wheel, handbrake lever and gearshift knob, while full black leather trim is a $2000 option. There's a six-way power adjustable driver's seat, and driver and front passenger each get frontal and side airbags.VR-X also has cruise control, power windows and a six-stack dash CD with premium audio unit and 10 speakers. As on other Magnas, it has climate-control airconditioning.The VR-X AWD gets a slightly more sporty suspension setting for the front MacPherson strut and rear coil design. It wears high-performance 215/60 tyres on distinct 16in diameter alloy wheels, including the spare.The VR-X stands out with a subtle but purposeful body kit of a low-line rear spoiler, special front and rear bumpers, fog lamps and a large, round chrome exhaust outlet.Its 1687kg weight – the AWD is about a 100kg penalty – means acceleration is not eye-popping. Another difference in the AWD is a smaller fuel tank, at 65 litres. We averaged a fair 11.3 litres/100km on a trek which included a fair bit of rural, dirt-road driving. Cruising at 110km/h needs 2400rpm.But Magna VR-X AWD excels as an all-road vehicle – a five-seater with a big 470-litre boot that can maintain good point-to-point times wet, dry or dirt.When you are going for a play on dirt roads, there's another surprise from the VR-X. It simply sails over corrugations and sharp-edged potholes that in many sporty cars would have you grimacing. A distant thump is the only evidence and there is no harsh jarring.Understeer can be discovered by really putting the power on in tight corners, but generally it just grips and goes. The AWD gets bigger ABS disc brakes than the standard Magna, and all four are ventilated.For buyers who need the image of motorsport success and therefore lean to Falcon or Commodore, the Magna AWD can hold its own, too.It won the Aussie Cup class of the Australian Rally Championship this year, having win after win at each round in the hands of former champion Ross Dunkerton in a VR-X AWD that was virtually standard, complete with the five-speed automatic. "It's strength is phenomenal," Dunkerton says. "It's been a real buzz coming back to drive a bigger, all-wheel-drive car and to have the Aussie Cup in the bag. These Magnas are near-standard."Sure, Rosco. But just about any mug could drive a Magna AWD around dirt corners.

All wheel drive is available in the current model and is a derivative of the system in Lancer Evo.If you want a sporty Magna right now, it's got to be the VRX in front wheel drive or all wheel drive.The VRX is better to look than regular Magnas and has other touches that will appeal to drivers who enjoy their wheel time.The all wheel drive model is especially handy for our varied driving conditions. Has impressive engine performance from the 3.5-litre V6 – about 160kW. Exhaust note is great, wind down the windows and enjoy if you're that way inclined.AWD model isn't the most frugal medium /large car on petrol (regular) possibly due to driving two axles and the extra weight of the AWD system. Weighs 1700kg.But grip and additional safety benefits are difficult to ignore.Absolutely rock solid on wet roads. No slip, plenty of drive, confident feeling.The five speed auto should be adopted across the Magna range – neatly taps into all available power and torque, gives excellent response across broad rev range.Tipshift sequential gear selection system is fun but the auto is so good as to render it unnecessary.Handling feels trim, firm, jiggly on some roads but benefits when really cornering hard.Could do with lower profile 17in tyres and wheels on AWD version. The wheel selection is pretty staid.Good to know the AWD version has proven itself in rally competition, something the other medium large and large Aussie efforts haven't done.Interior room is for five with adequate rear room for three. Boot is large, seats are comfy and well shaped, offer plenty of adjustment.Leather in test AWD auto was "super kewl" dark grey with silver stitching. Goes well with metallic look dash and other facets of interior.Premium sound offers great tones, plenty of discs and a good radio range.Test car was shocking gold metallic – like Holden's old Tiger. Made people's eyes pop out. Caused plenty of pointing, especially from kids.