The 2006 Mitsubishi Raider arrives with two Dodge-derived engines equipped with two valves per cylinder, single overhead cams, aluminum heads, and a cast-iron engine block. The 3.7-liter V6 delivers 210 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 235 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 rpm. The V8’s output measures 230 horsepower at 4,600 rpm and 290 lb.-ft. at 3,600 rpm. In Dodge clothing, this midsize truck also features a High-Output V8, with horsepower and torque in the 250/ 300 lb.-ft. vicinity – but Mitsubishi doesn’t get this version.

So just as Dodge lays claim to the only V8 engine in the mid-size domestic pickup segment, Mitsubishi boasts the only available eight-cylinder in the mid-size import segment – though the term “import” is loose at best. The numbers for the V8, however, do not necessarily back up the distinction, as the Toyota Tacoma's 4.0-liter V6 puts out a healthy 245 hp. and 285 lb.-ft. of torque while the Nissan Frontier's 4.0-liter six-cylinder boasts 265 horses and 284 lb.-ft.

The Raider's six-speed manual transmission is available on the V6 only. First and second gears benefit from triple-cone synchros, while third and fourth use double-cone synchros, all in an effort to provide smooth shifting. Both the four- and five-speed automatics get an electronically modulated converter clutch that helps lessen noise and vibration, while reducing transmission temperatures and improving climbing performance.

Four-wheel-drive Raider XLS models feature a full-time 4WD system that includes a center differential, while all other 4WD models use a less sophisticated part-time system. The full-time 4WD system’s center differential allows the front and rear drive shafts to rotate at different speeds, and the two-speed transfer case locks the axles together when greater traction is required.

Suspension duties are handled by a coil-over shock setup in the front and a live axle/leaf spring arrangement in the rear, with both ends benefiting from a stabilizer bar. Rack-and-pinion steering requires 3.18 turns lock-to-lock in an overall ratio of 17.4:1. Four-wheel-disc brakes are not offered – the rears are drums with standard ABS. The front discs are not supplemented with ABS, unless selected as an option or bolted onto an XLS Double Cab as standard equipment.