1 Jun 2003
By CHRIS HARRIS
Look beyond the outrageous facelift (courtesy of Mitsubishi’s international design boss after interfering with a local effort that would have beaten it to market by many months apparently), and you’ll find the familiar and ageing TE/KE era Magna/Verada.
Now in AWD, Ei, GTV/GTVi and Xi models, the Verada still remained competitive dynamically, and had its gutsy 155kW/316Nm 3.5 V6 on its side.
The Xi version is the well-equipped flagship model, while the 154kW/310Nm AWD (all-wheel drive) sedan versions really had no peer for the price.
But two things weighed against both Magna and Verada twins: their basic familiarity, and a radical nose that alienated more people than it attracted. Times were tough for Mitsubishi indeed.
