MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER Review

Summary:

What we like: Handling, Warranty

What we don't like: Rearmost seats cramped

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MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER review in detail:

Too often Mitsubishis end up on the fringe of major vehicle segments. Whether it's due to oddball styling, modest engine output and/or unimpressive cabin decor, they're relegated to alternative status when pitted against the mainstream players. So it was with the first-generation Mitsubishi Outlander, which struggled to find a niche even as the small-SUV segment expanded. The styling of the new Outlander, however, has been softened from the look of the previous model. It's larger than before and now offers a seven-seat option.

Inside, everything comes together in comfortingly normal fashion: Sight lines are good, controls are simple and seats are comfortable. The centre seats have a clever folding function operated by pushing a button on the side of the cargo area which retracts the headrests, folds the seats back, slides the seats forward and then rolls them flush against the rear of the front seats.

The two rearmost seats are suited to children only and fold manually under the load area.

The 2.4-litre engine used in the previous Outlander has been upgraded, with a slight increase in power and torque. Cleverly, weight has been reduced by the use of resin components to improve fuel consumption. There's the option of a V6 engine for the first time and this provides good performance.

All but the lowest spec model have paddle shift Tiptronic controls mounted behind the steering wheel on their automatic transmissions. A five-speed manual gearbox will be added to the options list later in 2007, but only with the four-cylinder engine.

While the four-cylinder CVT was competent enough in most situations, the V6 was clearly the better performer, especially on the moderate gravel roads that were included on the test.

Driving the Mitsubishi Outlander is more fun than you might expect, as its well-tuned chassis gives it sporty reflexes around corners and transmits considerable feedback to the driver. Noise suppression has improved noticeably and the new Outlander has a lovely refined feel on the road.

In frontal-offset crash testing, the new Outlander earned the top rating of "Good."