Mitsubishi iO 4x4

The Mitsubishi iO, or the baby Pajero as it will doubtless be known, was released in Australia in early 1999, and comes with a 1.6L engine in the SWB model and a 1.8L engine in the LWB. Mitsubishi Australia partially bowed to the inevitable, dubbing it the Pajero iO.

LWB SWB

The iO is plainly aimed at the Kia Sportage and Suzuki Vitara which share a dual-range transfer case with the iO, and at the Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4 which do not. The main weakness in Mitsubishi's plan is the lack of a 2 litre engine here in oz, particularly when the top rivals have 2 litres or more.

Interior room is good in the front but "cosy" in the rear seats. Luggage room in the LWB is "modest" and if you want to use one for the school-run, make sure that your offspring play no musical instruments larger than a violin; the cello is "out". The SWB might have trouble fitting even a violin behind the rear seats.

Air conditioning, central locking, electric door mirrors & windows, are standard on SWB and LWB. It is therefore a little surprising that there is only a driver's airbag and no option of one for the passenger.

Rear vision is good thanks to the designers having taken a chunk out of the rear bumper so that the spare tyre can be hung on the rear door a little lower than on most 4WDs, i.e. out of the line of sight; the modest diameter of the 215/65R16 tyres helps in this regard.

- 4wd.sofcom.com/4WD.html

Mitsubishi iO SWB 1.6

Manufacturer's specifications:

• hard-top, 5 seats, 2 doors, driver's airbag
• loa: 3710mm, width: 1680mm, height: 1700mm
• wheelbase: 2280mm (90"), track: 1435mm/1445mm, grnd clearance: 205mm
• approach: 33°, departure: 45°, ramp break over: 158°
• turning radius: 4.9m (kerb)
• weight: 1230kg (unladen), GVM: 1610kg, towing: 750kg (unbraked)
• 1584cc, petrol, 4-cyls, efi, 4-valves/cyl, sohc
• bore: 76.0mm, stroke: 87.3mm, c.r.: 9.5:1
• power: 75kW at 6000rpm, torque: 135Nm at 3500rpm
• transmission: 5m (3.967:1, 2.136:1, 1.36:1, 1.0:1, 0.822:1, rev 3.578:1), dual range transfer case (1.0:1, 1.548:1), central diff', final drive 5.111:1
• suspension: MacPherson-strut / live-axle&coils, brakes: disc/drum
• tyres: 215/65R16 (27" oad), fuel-tank: 53L
• monocoque (unitary) construction
• price: from $27K ($au 4/1999)

Mitsubishi iO LWB 1.8

• station wagon, 5 seats, 4 doors, driver's airbag
• loa: 4010mm, width: 1680mm, height: 1700mm
• wheelbase: 2450mm (96.5"), track: 1435mm/1445mm, grnd clearance: 205mm
• approach: 33°, departure: 38°, ramp break over: 159°
• turning radius: 5.2 (kerb)
• weight: 1310kg (unladen), GVM: 1780kg, towing: 750kg (unbraked)
• 1834cc, petrol, 4-cyls, efi, 4-valves/cyl, sohc
• bore: 81.0mm, stroke: 89.0mm, c.r.: 9.5:1
• power: 86kW at 5500rpm, torque: 165Nm at 4000rpm
• transmission: 5m (as above) / 4a (2.826:1, 1.493:1, 1.0:1, 0.73:1, rev 2.703:1), dual range transfer case, selectable 2WD or 4WD with lockable centre diff', rear limited slip diff'
• suspension: MacPherson-strut / live-axle&coils, brakes: disc/drum
• tyres: 215/65R16 (27" oad), fuel-tank: 53L
• monocoque (unitary) construction
• price: from $29.9K, auto' +2K ($au 4/1999)
• rivals: Kia Sportage, Subaru Forester, Suzuki Vitara, Toyota RAV4

LWB

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