PA Challenger Series 1

MITSUBISHI’S PA Challenger was in fact based on the Triton light truck of the early 1990s.

Introduced to Australia in March, 1998, the four-door wagon with five-seats and a part-time four-wheel drive system was positioned below the larger Pajero and targeted the Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Prado competition.

Power came courtesy of a 136kW/265Nm 3.0-litre single-overhead cam V6 engine mated to a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual gearbox.

Although relying on a relatively low-tech leaf spring rear end, the Challenger offered reasonable off-road ability along with relatively car-like driving characteristics.

But all the 4WD gear underneath resulted in a high floor and a cramped passenger cell.