CLINTON —
The new Mitsubishi Outlander seems to defy its compact crossover status offering generous cabin space while delivering a smooth ride under all sorts of driving conditions.
You won’t ignore this SUV on the road. Its protruding front snout gets attention, good or bad. Its aggressive stance stands out in a crowded field of competitors including the KIA Sorento, Toyota RAV 4 and Honda CR-V.
Two of its three models, the base ES and SE, are powered by four-cylinder power plants producing 168 horsepower while the high end GT comes with a powerful six-cylinder engine that develops 230 ponies.
A six-speed automatic transmission is standard on the GT while the two entry models are equipped with continuously variable transmissions. Steering wheel mounted paddles allow driver to upshift or downshift manually without need of a clutch on the GT test car I drove for a week.
The GT also includes an all-wheel drive system that provides three adjustable traction modes from a console mounted dial. Pretty nifty feature. Tarmac setting is used for dry, paved conditions. Snow is self-explanatory and Lock provides all-wheel control. I found the latter really made a difference in road-hugging ability on wet and snow-covered pavement.
Performance is surprisingly agile for such a heavy SUV. Weighing in just under 3,700 pounds, the GT gets high marks for performance, braking maneuvers and tuned suspension with minor roll detected in cornering.
With acceleration tests, the GT moved from zero to 60 mph in a respectable 8.5 ticks. Not so respectable was the 16 miles per gallon average fuel economy recorded during test week.
Some interior cabin noise is evident at higher speeds. Its dual-piped rear chrome exhaust tips go along with its frisky appearance and handling.
Upgraded materials are plentiful inside the GT cabin. Double-stitched door panels provide a rich look and padded dash material rounds out an upscale look that you might not see on other $28,000 SUVs.
For audiophiles, there is a 710 watt Rockford Fosgate punch sound system including a 10-inch subwoofer and nine speakers to hear your tunes with mega-base. It’s part of a $2,900 Touring Package that includes heated, leather seats and satellite radio. It rocks, literally.
Navigation with rearview camera adds another $2,000 but includes a 40GB music server to watch your favorite movies and hear a variety of audio discs.
A number of auto manufacturers, including Mitsubishi, include touch screen controls in place of knobs when the latter seems less of a distraction while changing radio station settings and manipulating navigation steps while driving.
One unique feature is a dashboard dial that allows five adjustable height levels for headlight beams. While many cars accomplish this task with automatic levelers, the Mitsubishi allows the driver to notch up or down the beam height so as not to blind oncoming traffic. A thoughtful touch when the car is loaded with five people and lots of cargo.
I’m not sure about the functionality of a stowable, standard equipment, third row seat that folds flush with the rear floorboard. The seating surface is not cushioned and is nearly flush with the floorboard when positioned. The back support, when upright, rests just below the rear tailgate window. It seems too small and unsafe for small children and too awkward for adult use. Best to leave the seat folded and out of sight.
Heated seat controls are tucked away on the insides of each front seat toward the back of the center console. You have to be looking for them but once located they do their magic in cold climates.
While not the biggest seller in its class, the Outlander did move just over 26,000 cars during 2011, similar in sales to the GMC Suburban and Nissan Pathfinder. This compares with 130,000 KIA Sorento’s and 132,000 Toyota RAV 4’s sold during the same period.
The Outlander does offer good value in a unique sporty look and feel at a reasonable price.
CNHI News Service Originals
Related Photos
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No mistaking the aggressive front end of the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander, a compact crossover SUV with plenty of inside room. Photo by Len Ingrassia
Discussion
Outlander offers an agile ride
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