The Hyper Sports Gear R trim package in Japan used the drivetrain of the first Mitsubishi Galant VR-4; the "4G63T" 2.0 L 16V DOHC turbo straight-4 mated to either a four-speed auto or a five speed manual which was not offered in North America. Open front and rear differentials were used on vehicles equipped with 4WD. Power output was rated at . In Japan, the RVR saw competition from the Nissan Rasheen, the Toyota RAV4, the Honda CR-V, the Subaru Forester, and the Suzuki Escudo.