The Endeavor is a very good vehicle. It has an impressive ride/handling compromise, good acceleration and fuel economy, and a comfortable interior. Considering that, and considering the fact that its off-brand nature suggests a low price, why didn’t it finish closer to the top of this comparison? With a low price, it would have, probably in the top three. Considering Mitsubishi’s inability to convince shoppers to purchase or even consider their products, one would expect them to dangle a tempting price advantage in front of midsize SUV buyers. But a free-gas offer is the best they have done so far, and even that is simply a renamed rebate that voids the existing $500 rebate; after restrictions the actual amount is disappointingly low. Perhaps if demand continues to slacken they will try a bit harder, but for now it is a good vehicle that lacks a price advantage to set it apart from its competitors.

The Endeavor rides very comfortably, absorbing road imperfections very well and remaining free of unwanted ride motions. The Endeavor also handles commendably by this group’s standards. It can hold its own even against most midsize passenger cars and against the group’s handling benchmark, the Nissan Murano. The steering is responsive, accurate, and delivers decent feedback. The 3.8-liter V6 offers strong acceleration, and does not sound strained as it does so. Road noise is well-suppressed, but wind rush is audible. Fuel economy is decent for this group.

Inside, the Endeavor offers large, roomy, and very comfortable front seats. The high-mounted rear is roomy as well, and is well-shaped and comfortable. There is no available third row. The dash is of unimpressive build quality, with hard, low quality plastics that don't always fit together well. The wide instrument panel is coated with false aluminum material that feels fairly solid and distracts occupants from the rest of the dash's quality. Some instruments are too small, and are hard to distinguish from the shiny plastic around them. The gauges, at least, are large and clear. Entry/exit is easy, thanks to large door openings, wide footwells, and a fairly low ride height. The driver sits very comfortably, and has good visibility overall despite thick rear pillars. The Endeavor lacks the cargo volume of many competitors, but the cargo area is reasonably well-shaped.

The Endeavor did very well in crash testing. It earned five stars for the driver and four for the front passenger in the NHTSA frontal crash test, and five for both the driver and the rear passenger in the NHTSA side crash test. NHTSA has yet to evaluate the Endeavor's rollover resistance. It earned a Good rating in the IIHS offset crash test, but its head restraints were rated Poor.

The Endeavor reviewed here came as the least-expensive vehicle in the group while equipped with the fewest features. The vehicle’s unfortunate pricing only allows one version to fit this group’s price range: a base XLS model equipped with an expensive options package. This car lacks safety features like head-protecting side airbags, traction and stability control, and such premium items as power seats, a sunroof, leather, automatic climate control, or seat heaters. All of those are available on the high-end Endeavor Limited, which was too expensive to fit into this group. It does include a DVD entertainment system at this price, as well as a 6-disc CD player, but that is the full extent of the vehicle’s list of noteworthy features.

Overall, the Endeavor is worth a look based on its merits as a comfortable SUV with impressive driving dynamics. But the lack of a third row seat, mediocre cargo volume, and unimpressive interior quality are strikes against it that only value pricing could truly offset. And this vehicle lacks a price advantage against its competitors, too many of which have their own advantages. With a lower price, the Endeavor could be a top choice in this class for whoever does not need a third row seat, but as it is, it is only one of the better options rather than the best.