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2008 Mitsubishi Raider Safety Review

October 30, 2008

SAFETY | 5 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Raider’s lack of key safety features…make this truck difficult to recommend
ConsumerGuide

Raider no longer offers…four-wheel antilock brakes
Edmunds

Previously available side curtain airbags were eliminated for 2007.
Cars.com

Less--not more--safety equipment is provided for passengers in the 2008 Mitsubishi Raider than in years past.

A review of the Raider’s safety equipment should begin with what it doesn’t have rather than what it does: no side-curtain airbags available, check; no four-wheel anti-lock brakes standard or available, check. In a day and age where these items are expected safety features even in pickup trucks, their omission as, at the least, options seems like a surefire way to drive the Raider’s poor sales figures even lower. Rear-wheel-only anti-lock brakes, which the Raider does feature, are a ridiculous throwback to an older decade of pickup trucks.

Thankfully, the basic structure of the Raider is undeniably stout, and as Edmunds points out, “In government frontal-impact crash tests, the extended-cab version of the Raider's twin, the Dakota, achieved a perfect five-star rating for driver protection and four stars for front passenger protection. The Dodge also garnered an ‘Acceptable’ rating in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal-offset crash testing.”

Conclusion

A paucity of expected safety equipment, both standard and available, makes the Mitsubishi Raider tough to recommend.

SAFETY | 5 out of 10Expert Quotes:Raider’s lack of key safety features…make this truck difficult to recommendConsumerGuideRaider no longer offers…four-wheel antilock brakesEdmundsPreviously available side curtain airbags were eliminated for 2007.Cars.com Less--not more--safety equipment is provided for passengers in the 2008 Mitsubishi Raider than in years past. A review of the Raider’s safety equipment should begin with what it doesn’t have rather than what it does: no side-curtain airbags available, check; no four-wheel anti-lock brakes standard or available, check. In a day and age where these items are expected safety features even in pickup trucks, their omission as, at the least, options seems like a surefire way to drive the Raider’s poor sales figures even lower. Rear-wheel-only anti-lock brakes, which the Raider does feature, are a ridiculous throwback to an older decade of pickup trucks. Thankfully, the basic structure of the Raider is undeniably stout, and as Edmunds points out, “In government frontal-impact crash tests, the extended-cab version of the Raider's twin, the Dakota, achieved a perfect five-star rating for driver protection and four stars for front passenger protection. The Dodge also garnered an ‘Acceptable’ rating in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal-offset crash testing.” ConclusionA paucity of expected safety equipment, both standard and available, makes the Mitsubishi Raider tough to recommend. 2008 MITSUBISHI RAIDER STYLING | [7 out of 10] Motor Trend: “One of the better rebadging jobs” Kelley Blue Book: “Dynamic, carved physique” Edmunds: “A hint of panache” Among the 2008 Mitsubishi Raider’s few real positives are its handsome mug and pleasant interior, both more ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The mid-size pickup truck market is not a hotbed of competition these days. Interestingly, many who would otherwise want a mid-size truck upgrade to full-size because the cost and mileage differentials are often meager. If you decide to stick with a smaller truck, the 2008 Mitsubishi Raider faces off against smaller entries like the Chevrolet Colorado (and its twin, the GMC Canyon) and the Ford Ranger. These competitors offer greater choice when it comes to trim and options, but the Raider counters with its greater size and an impressive warranty. The Tacoma, Frontier, and Ridgeline are in a completely different class than the Raider. Each offers more choice, more power, and more refinement. However, they end up costing more too.

Next Steps:

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See the Mitsubishi Raider in Other Years:

2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

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