Mitsubishi Magna 2004 Review

With little warning, the road took a fairly sharp turn to the left.

There was just enough time to have a strong dab on the brake as the tyres sought firmer ground through the dirt surface still slightly muddy from earlier rain.

The sequential shift Sports Mode automatic transmission lever was bumped back two gears and the leather-clad steering wheel turned towards the fast-approaching corner.

We'd been watching rally cars in action all day, on dirt tracks not far from this spot near the Barossa Valley, so now perhaps it was our turn for a bit of excitement. On wet, loose roads it's not that hard to end up in a sideways slide, winding on plenty of opposite lock when the tail skids out; or risk sliding head-first off the road if understeer takes hold.

But what an anti-climax. The thing just went around that greasy corner like it was on rails.

I couldn't believe this from an Aussie family sedan – I even stopped and went back to find those two neat "rail" marks tracking around the corner as evidence that there had been no slide at all.

Wow. This all-wheel-drive stuff really works.

Mitsubishi – yes the Adelaide southern suburbs car maker which is unfairly ignored by car buyers who apparently haven't properly tried the products and considered the prices – was the first Australian car maker to produce a sedan with all-wheel drive.

Tested was the sporty Magna VR-X in its all-wheel-drive version. This is not a high-set four-wheel-drive but a normal-ride-height, 4860mm-long four-door sedan that just happens to have that wonderful extra grip, and therefore surety and safety, on slippery or loose-surface roads.

Magna is arguably the best value Australian sedan. But the all-wheel drive, also available in less-expensive LS trim as well as the luxury Verada GTVi version, gives another dimension to its abilities.

The Magna AWD comes only with the five-speed Invecs II sequential shift automatic. Again, Mitsubishi was the first to offer a five-speed automatic in an Australian sedan. It can be left in orthodox automatic or the driver can "bump" up and down the gears manually.

It feeds to an all-wheel-drive system called QuadTec which has been developed locally from the system used in the Mitsubishi Ralliart Lancer Evo rally cars.

QuadTec is designed to deliver torque evenly to all four wheels. If any slip is detected, the central viscous coupling differential regulates the torque to help stability.

"Calibrated for Australian conditions, the system enhances drive-away acceleration, overall stability, grip and cornering control for safer, more spirited driving on all road surfaces," explain Mitsubishi's technicians. And as we've seen, it works in the real world.

Magna AWD models get a higher-output version of the 3.5-litre, overhead camshaft, 24-valve V6 engine. It means 159kW of power at 5500rpm and a smooth 318Nm of torque at 4000rpm.

In LS trim, the Magna AWD starts at $38,990, the sporty VR-X at $42,490 and the Verada GTV-i at $46,990, all including the sports mode five-speed automatic. These are list prices; most Mitsubishi dealers are more than keen to talk turkey on doing a better deal.

The VR-X includes leather-wrapped steering wheel, handbrake lever and gearshift knob, while full black leather trim is a $2000 option. There's a six-way power adjustable driver's seat, and driver and front passenger each get frontal and side airbags.

VR-X also has cruise control, power windows and a six-stack dash CD with premium audio unit and 10 speakers. As on other Magnas, it has climate-control airconditioning.

The VR-X AWD gets a slightly more sporty suspension setting for the front MacPherson strut and rear coil design. It wears high-performance 215/60 tyres on distinct 16in diameter alloy wheels, including the spare.

The VR-X stands out with a subtle but purposeful body kit of a low-line rear spoiler, special front and rear bumpers, fog lamps and a large, round chrome exhaust outlet.

Its 1687kg weight – the AWD is about a 100kg penalty – means acceleration is not eye-popping. Another difference in the AWD is a smaller fuel tank, at 65 litres. We averaged a fair 11.3 litres/100km on a trek which included a fair bit of rural, dirt-road driving. Cruising at 110km/h needs 2400rpm.

But Magna VR-X AWD excels as an all-road vehicle – a five-seater with a big 470-litre boot that can maintain good point-to-point times wet, dry or dirt.

When you are going for a play on dirt roads, there's another surprise from the VR-X. It simply sails over corrugations and sharp-edged potholes that in many sporty cars would have you grimacing. A distant thump is the only evidence and there is no harsh jarring.

Understeer can be discovered by really putting the power on in tight corners, but generally it just grips and goes. The AWD gets bigger ABS disc brakes than the standard Magna, and all four are ventilated.

For buyers who need the image of motorsport success and therefore lean to Falcon or Commodore, the Magna AWD can hold its own, too.

It won the Aussie Cup class of the Australian Rally Championship this year, having win after win at each round in the hands of former champion Ross Dunkerton in a VR-X AWD that was virtually standard, complete with the five-speed automatic. "It's strength is phenomenal," Dunkerton says. "It's been a real buzz coming back to drive a bigger, all-wheel-drive car and to have the Aussie Cup in the bag. These Magnas are near-standard."

Sure, Rosco. But just about any mug could drive a Magna AWD around dirt corners.