The Mitsubishi Outlander has a lot to prove in a
heavily competitive crossover segment. There are some heavy hitters from Ford,
Nissan and Toyota. Does Mitsubishi have what it takes to lure buyers away? Or is
it all too late to save the ailing brand?
ES and SE trims both only come with the 2.4-liter
four-cylinder which produces 166hp. The SE trim offers optional
all-wheel-drive. While the top of the range GT offers a 3-liter six-cylinder
producing 244hp. It’s nice that Mitsubishi offers the six-cylinder but we
question if it is really needed. Unless you are looking at the more spec’d up
versions of the Escape and Rogue, the SE trim is the pick of the range. It
comes with just enough kit without being too expensive and offers
all-wheel-drive optional.
The Outlander just doesn’t feel as composed to drive
as a Ford Escape. The ride comfort however isn’t as firm as the Escape. But ride
is too easily upset over some road surfaces, which causes the ride to feel
bouncy especially at higher speeds on the highway. At least there’s plenty of
grip, but the steering doesn’t really weight up at highway speeds. At least
road and wind noise are well suppressed and you won’t really hear much from the
engines at relaxed speeds.
There’s plenty of space for passengers to get comfortable.
Drivers won’t struggle to find a comfortable seating position. All but the
third row seat which is best left for children. With the third row seat folded
down the boot space opens up and offers plenty of space. The dashboard is
somewhat easy to navigate through. We dislike the fiddly to operate touch
screen display which is too distracting to use on the go.
The ES trim comes with auto-off headlights, keyless
entry, power windows and a hill start assist. Our favorite trim SE comes with
climate control, alloy wheels, touch screen display with rearview camera,
keyless start and an eco-mode switch. Top of the range GT trim adds HID
headlights, all-wheel-drive and Sirius-XM satellite radio.
The Outlander is priced competitively among its keen
rivals like the Ford Escape and Nissan Rogue. Even though you get more kit than both
vehicles, we think you’re better off picking one of the two. Running costs with
the Outlander should be average but resale value should be a bit of a worry. Reliability
is above average though.
The Outlander is a great option for those who want
something with good value for the money. However the Outlander just isn’t as
polished as its keen rivals and resale isn’t great. But if you want something a
little different from its rivals and you really want seven seats at a discount
this is your best option.
Likes: Seven seat crossover at a reasonable price,
running costs with four-cylinder are decent. The kit level is very impressive
at this price range
Dislikes: Resale value is questionable. Exterior design
is on the bland side. This is not the halo car Mitsubishi desperately needs.
Devon’s Choice: SE trim offers optional
all-wheel-drive, and comes standard with alloy wheels, keyless start and a
rearview camera. It’s the only trim that makes the most sense without over
paying for the GT trim.
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