Mitsubishi 380 Review Australia | Features, Specification, Price

• Car Reviews,
• Sep 24, 2020

There are seldom any cars that have seen so much heat as the Mitsubishi 380. Indeed, it had a critical role in the company’s operations in Australia, with a pivotal point. It was meant to be a car that could either make or break the business in the country. Needless to say, the Mitsubishi 380 was required to maintain a healthy local supplier industry.

 

Initially, Mitsubishi had forecasted yearly sales of almost 32,000 when the car was launched in 2005. Unfortunately, the 380 could not live up to the expectations and the sales for the first year were a total of 5,000 cars sold. Compared to the competitors like the Ford Falcon and the Holden Commodore, the Mitsubishi 380 fared poorly.

 

Thereafter, Mitsubishi knew they had to make some revisions to boost the sales. It was decided to make some pricing adjustments to start with, which gradually improved the sales percentage. The yearly target was still far off, but there were considerable improvements from where they started off. Dive into our Mitsubishi 380 review to find out the factors that are attributed to its sales. And the reason why it is a good buy today.

 

Produced by Mitsubishi Motors Australia as a mid-size car. The Mitsubishi 380 was only available as a sedan body type. Production started in 2005 and ended abruptly after only three years in 2008. Incidentally, the 380 also marked the end of Australian production by the Japanese car manufacturing company.

 

Today, the 380 is hailed as a great local car. It is robustly built and has excellent NCAP safety ratings. The running costs are reasonable and many Australian motoring clubs have the 380 as their good books.

And when Mitsubishi readjusted the prices, things further improved for the better. The base model saw changes in price since that was the model aimed at lifting most of the sales. But the top end models like the Mitsubishi 380 VRX and GT also got reductions in their prices.

 

Design and Production:

The Mitsubishi 380 was meant to be a replacement to the Mitsubishi Verada and the Magna cars. These cars had been in production since 1985, also available as only sedans. The 380 was given the model designation DB. It is estimated that a whopping $600 million were spent on the design and production of the 380.

 

The design is heavily based on the ninth generation of the Mitsubishi Galant. Which was available in the United States. As per Mitsubishi’s tradition, the 380 applied the same front-wheel drive in the sedan. Their main rivals were the Toyota Aurion, Ford Falcon, and the Holden Commodore range.

 

Before the launch of Mitsubishi 380, the car was prophesied to make or break Mitsubishi Motors Australia. The initial reception resulted in slow sales and hence Mitsubishi decided to revamp things. The line up was updated in 2006 with the Series II and the subsequent Series III in 2007. Sales improved, but not much, and in 2008, production ceased.

 

Mitsubishi 380 Engine:

The Mitsubishi 380 is powered by a 3.8-liter single overhead cam V8 engine. The engine is capable of producing 175 kW of power and 343 Nm of torque. Thanks for the strong mid-range torque, the 380 offers some great drivability. It applies a front-wheel drive, which gives a strong grip on-road. If driven sensibly, you can be sure to yield a respectable fuel economy.

 

Driving Experience:

The drive is very exact and goes from lock to secure a sensibly snappy 2.8 turn. However, this is halfway because of the reality the wheels do not turn all that firmly. The turning circle is no superior to 11.2 meters.

 

With its 215/55R17 tires, the 380 GT offers a great grasp to coordinate the immovably controlled ride. It is not exactly an Audi regarding driving elements. But it is still better than some other comparable size nearby front-wheel drives we have encountered.

 

The dealing with is a front-drive safeguard, which implies it favors understeer when stretched. Be that as it may, this is set at levels past what you will typically encounter. So the overall sensation is one of brisk, sharp reactions in pretty much all conditions. Electronic soundness control still cannot seem to discover its way into the 380.

 

The all-ventilated plates brakes, with four-channel ABS and EBD, are awesome as well. In-house testing showed the Mitsubishi pulls up from 100km/h in 43 meters contrasted.  And 47 meters for the current Ford Falcons.

 

As far as driving dynamics there are no doubts. What with the multi-flexible games seat, lumbar change, and additional horizontal cushioning. -Yet some arrive at alteration for the controlling wheel would have been pleasant. Furthermore, we still can't seem to encounter the 380's capacity to convey a significant driving experience.

 

Fuel Economy:

Mitsubishi 380 fuel consumption is quite good, considering that it has a powerful V8 engine. However, it requires premium fuel which means that it is not cheap to maintain and run. Reportedly, the 380 can do 15L/100 km in the city. And is more reasonable on the highway, doing 11L/100 km.

 

Mitsubishi 380 Problems:

If you talk about recalls, there were none in regard to the 380. However, there were some minor issues that nagged the 380 along with its life. People found it difficult to park and the steering wheel was heavy at low speeds. There was no stability control to speak of. The interior was also not the best of quality, with the material scratchy.

 

Final Verdict:

The Mitsubishi 380 offers an excellent drivetrain and dynamics. Which can be expected from Mitsubishi. Even though the prices were high in the start, the readjustment took care of that. The price became achievable for many buyers and today, the 380 is a great option if you are looking for a local second-hand sedan.

 

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