The 2006 Mitsubishi Raider was the last attempt of the Japanese brand to sell a re-badged Dodge onto the American market.
Even though the design was far from Dodge, it couldn’t convince buyers.

Chrysler and Mitsubishi built more than a car together. The Mitsubishi 3000/Dodge Stealth or the Mitsubishi Eclipse/Eagle Talon were just two examples, where the cooperation between the two car-makers had proved successful. But the Dodge Dakota/Mitsubishi Raider was a flop, especially for the Japanese brand.

Since the car was a body-on-frame pickup truck, it was easy to change the exterior styling with a more aggressive bumper, headlights, fenders, and hood. The Raider look was closer to Mitsubishi products even though it wasn’t a Mitsubishi. And that was more obvious on the inside.

The dashboard was taken directly from the Dakota, but behind the styling found in other pickup-trucks like the Ford F150 or the Toyota Tundra. It was good and practical but without the same amenities and, more important the good look. Since the Raider was a light and medium pickup-truck, it was used more by families than for work only. In that segment, the look is more important than the payload.

A wide variety of engines and bodyworks were available, but the Double Cab was the most sought after by small entrepreneurs and it was the only pickup in its class that featured a V8 engine. The Raider and the Dakota.