Road test: Mitsubishi Magna VR AWD

By Feann Torr & Peter Maniatis

Mitsubishi's AWD Magna is a great idea in theory, and a simple one too - you take a common Aussie family sedan with plenty of V6 grunt, then plonk an AWD transmission in there.

Forget about costly 'rugged' extras such as bumping up the ride height and adding flared wheel guards and a plethora of so-called 'offroad' necessities: this is exactly what the name states, an all-wheel drive Magna.

We've all read about how Mitsubishi Australia is tenaciously working as hard as it can to maintain a hold on its Australian operations, and it goes to say that the same tenacity to keep ahead of the pack (with minimal resources) can be seen in the locally produced AWD Magna.

So what will it achieve? Who will buy it? And why is that unpleasant front end still there?

It may take a small amount of market share away from the likes of AWD stalwarts Audi and Subaru, and will appeal to families or large car lovers who want a vehicle with serious road holding abilities, and those who like to get up to the alpine regions or who spend lots of time on long stretches of unsealed road.

But at the end of the day, the controversially styled 2004 TL Magna's front end has cost Mitsubishi a lot of business, with Magna sales down by about 30 per cent compared to the same mid-year period of 2003, so it's not likely to cause either Audi or Subaru any great problems.

It's no bush-basher, this Magna, but it's biggest achievement will be that it has beaten its arch-rivals to the punch, where the likes of Holden, Ford and Toyota are yet to offer standard sedans with an all-wheel drivetrain.

Indeed, even if your product isn't the most advanced or the prettiest thing on the market, sometimes being a pioneer can pay off big time. Let's find out.

Drive

The Mitsubishi Magna VR AWD has scads of grip

We got to drive the sports model 'VR' AWD Magna that comes with with an rear wing, alloy wheels, sunroof and all the mod cons most drivers could want.

First and foremost, these extras confirm that the 4x4 Magna is a bitumen battler at its core, and in general the AWD Magna felt much like a standard 2WD model, only with a little more weight.

The VR AWD weighs a portly 1670kg, compared to the FWD VR's kerb weight of 1508, and the extra 162kg is felt more in the hip pocket when you fill up with fuel, rather than any great performance losses.

But where the front-wheel drive Magna would start to get a somewhat jittery under hard acceleration (thanks to torque steer), the AWD just grips -and keeps on gripping- no matter how hard you tromp on the throttle. Suffice to say, Road holding is sensational on dry tarmac.

The extra weight is slightly offset by 318Nm of torque @ 4000rpm, which compares well with the VR-X's 317Nm @ 4500rpm. The torque arrives earlier in the rev range and this characteristic works well with the AWD transmission, though compared to Ford's 6-cylinder mill it does feel a little sluggish at low revs, but the fat mid range compensates nicely.

It handles off-road and gravel expeditions quite confidently, as long as you keep in mind the fairly low ride height, and on wet roads it's a hands down winner.

The AWD Magna navigates wet roads with supreme confidence

Mitsubishi should be selling this car in Europe where the weather is much more inclement. And who knows, maybe the new front end would be regarded in a less offensive light in Europe?

The AWD Magna tracks round corners nicely, and more confidently than its 2WD cousins, and is quite forgiving if you get into trouble.

The suspension tune is fitting in the VR AWD model - not so stiff so as to make everyday driving harsh and unforgiving, but also without great levels of bodyroll through corners.

The AWD Magna inspires a good deal of confidence in the driver, but it still feels as though it's missing that special something, and this may be explained partially in the neither-here-nor-there feedback through the steering wheel.

Uprated brakes form part of the AWD package and, in addition with the retuned 159kW engine that the sporty VR AWD Magna gets, they proved to be reliable stoppers, and the ABS worked well in damp and greasy conditions. The traction control isn't too intrusive either and can toggled on and off.

Engine

The standard 3.5-litre V6 that Mitsubishi offers in the entry level AWD Magna outputs 154kW and 310Nm of torque.

The model we tested, the slightly dearer VR AWD, ups the ante somewhat, with 159kW of power @ 5500rpm and 318Nm @ 4000rpm.

Beyond the smooth revving characteristics of the engine and the 5-speed automatic 'tiptronic' transmission that combines nicely to extract good performance from the V6, the exhaust note has a deliciously subdued burble at idle, that loses some lustre as the revs rise.

One of the most impressive aspects of the powertrain is the job Mitsubishi has carried out in bolting the AWD components, which were sourced from Japan, on to the local Magna.

The eager 3.5-litre engine packs 159kW of power

Not only did Mitsubishi have to adapt the Magna platform to enable the fitting of the Japanese Diamante AWD components and floor plan, but extra changes to incorporate a new fuel tank and firewall underscore just how much ingenuity went into the AWD Magna.

The AWD setup, dubbed QuadTec AWD System, takes advantage of a rear LSD and a viscous coupling system and splits the torque even-Stevens 50:50 between the front and rear axles.

It can alter torque distribution as well, providing more grunt to the axle with most grip.

The 5-speed INVECS II automatic transmission shifts fairly smoothly, and even under hard acceleration the downshifts aren't too bad, and make Holden's 4-speed auto box look decidedly low-tech.

The 'Sports Mode' sequential gear shift is also a nice touch, giving drivers quasi-manual control, and though not as good as the Falcon tiptronic transmission, it'd be far less exciting without it.

All told, the Mitsu engine out performs Holden's soon-to-be-replaced 3.8-litre pushrod V6, and provides more than enough acceleration for most situations, including towing. Though you won't be squeezed into your seat Evo VI style, you will get many reliable kilometres from the engine, and the AWD system is real diamond in the rough, so to speak.

Exterior

From some angles -such as this one- the Magna actually looks quite nice

We're not quite sure how long it will take for people (including us) to get used to the new Magna front end. It just doesn't do it for us, and the general consensus was far from positive.

From some angles it looks nice, and the extra bodykit of the VR model does lend it an athletic image.

But from other angles it's not so nice.

Perhaps those people who have put off purchasing a Magna because of its looks can now sleep easily in the knowledge that Olivier Boulay, the man responsible for the styling, has now been fired from Mitsubishi.

In our opinion the front end loses significant appeal for the vehicle as it is otherwise quite a sound car for the price.

The sporty is better than no bodykit at all, but doesn't really conjur up much sex appeal or street credibility, but all in all it's not a total disaster, and in time it may mature in the car buying public's eyes.

Interior

This is where Mitsubishi is fighting on level ground with the Ford and Holden, and putting Toyota's Camry to shame. Interior space is prodigious, and the driver and front passenger are taken care of with generous, comfortable seats.

The seats are more than adequate for long journeys and the trim is good too

The AWD Magna measures 1785mm, or almost 1.8 metres wide, so even in the back seat three passengers will be able to ensure 2-hour plus trips, such is the head and shoulder room (and leg room is also impressive).

The 8-speaker CD stereo comes as a nice surprise, and there's also a few AWD badges here and there that will clue passengers in as to why you haven't skidded off the damp road yet.

It also gets electric windows and mirrors, a 10 function trip computer and plenty of handy storage bins.

Interior appointments and switchgear aren't brilliant, but nor are they lacking.

The white faced instruments and controls don't jump out at you as being of the highest quality materials, but they get the job done and are easy to operate - and for a lot of drivers this is more than enough.

The AWD Magna's boot space of 470 litres compares favourably with that of Ford's Falcon, which offers 504 litres, and can swallow a lot more cargo than we would have first guessed.

Overall: 3.5/5

First impressions (and the nose doesn't help) is that the new AWD is a bit of a could-have-been champion car. Not that it doesn't do all the functional things it's meant to, it's just that you don't feel great as a driver doing them.

For what you are paying - and the mechanical rig that you get - the VR AWD Magna is ideal for Australian conditions, and it's disappointing that such a unique vehicle often gets forgotten amidst the marketing might of the Falcons and Commodores.

It provides ample power, is easy to drive long distances and is a comfy car too, with plenty of room for the whole family. And many will be pleased to hear that the departure of Frenchman Olivier Boulay, the force behind the TL Magna's indifferent nose-job, has transpired.

Although it will probably always be seen as a meat and potatoes car - something to simply get the job done - we were quite impressed with the value on offer, and though the driver feedback wasn't amazing, most buyers are unlikely to be fazed by this, so it's a moot point really.

All the hard work that's gone into transforming the humble FWD Magna into a 4WD contender has not been in vain, as it has an impressive amount of road holding and will find favour with many customers. And for less than $2000 more than the two-wheel drive automatic VR Magna, the all-paw powertrain doesn't command a huge premium either.

Beyond the look of the car, which is often a very subjective issue anyway, the VR AWD Magna makes for an intriguing alternative to the other family cars on the block, and deserves to do well.