NEW OUTLANDER A STANDOUT
The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander stands out from the compact SUV crowd with room for seven passengers and loads of advanced features that are usually only found on high-end luxury vehicles.
The new Outlander has a look that is both bold and refined with a redesigned grille, smooth exterior lines and rounded corners. Slight fender flares hint at the Outlander’s rugged capability.
The extra seating allowed me to help out with carpooling to and from my son’s baseball practices during my weeklong test drive. While squeezing seven into the Mitsubishi was doable, stowing backpacks, bats and water jugs was a challenge as the third row seats ate up most of the Outlander’s rear cargo area.
However, for work,
the Outlander was great for photography assignments. I had ample room for camera cases, lighting bags and tripods — which were easily stowed in the rear cargo area with the third-row seats folded down. A power remote liftgate made access a breeze.
I found plenty of storage space for sunglasses and personal electronics along the doors and center console. Cupholders were located throughout the Outlander’s cabin. The black leather interior was functional and utilitarian. Seats were firm and comfortable with an overall sense of durability.
The compact SUV with a fourcylinder engine that churns out 166 horsepower was quick off the line and nimble through Boston’s tight streets. Electronic power steering enhanced the Outlander’s handling and simplified parallel parking with the help of a rear-view camera.
The 2.4-liter engine, which is mated to a continuously variable transmission, did 29 miles-pergallon on the highway and 24 in the city.
The Outlander is equipped for New England driving conditions with Mitsubishi’s super all-wheel control. The feature, available on all Outlander models, is an enhanced allwheel drive system that distributes power between the left and right front wheels to provide additional traction.
My $33,095 tester included $5,000 in advanced features that included adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, one-touch start/stop button, power folding side mirrors, and rain sensing wipers. These features were included in a premium SEL touring package that also features a 710-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system with nine speakers. Volume and tuning control knobs located on either side of the Outlander’s 7-inch multimedia display were especially appreciated.
A front-wheel-drive base model Outlander starts at just under $23,000 and I recommend a test drive when considering the Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue or Volkswagen Tiguan. Mitsubishi does offer the Outlander with V6 version — which I’d consider for the increased engine muscle.