HEARTS AND MINDS
OUTLANDER’S HANDSOME NEW LOOKS ARE WINNING US OVER EARLY
IF YOU WERE to list the factors that drove people to buy the old, third generation Mitsubishi Outlander, we doubt ‘desirability’ would feature near the top. Value and a fuss-free ownership experience, plus the security of a long warranty, would likely be the primary (and very worthwhile) attractions.
So why am I so captivated by how this all-new fourth-gen model looks? I find myself turning back for a quick glance every time I park it and, honestly, if I was the kind of person to let out a low whistle of appreciation, I’d have done just that when it arrived in the Wheels garage. I know design is subjective, but to my eyes, the new Outlander is a seriously stylish family SUV.
The spec of ‘our’ long-term Outlander is especially handsome. Finished in Cosmic Blue (a $740 option), it’s the second-from-top Exceed AWD and sports a price tag of $47,990. If that sounds a little pricey, you can slide your bum into a brand-new, front-drive Outlander ES for as little as $34,490. The two share the same powertrain so examining whether the Exceed is worth the additional $13,500 is one of the priorities with this longer loan. Initial impressions suggest yes, but more on that soon.
We have bigger plans for the Outlander, too. Currently the only engine/gearbox combo available across the range is the rather uninspiring 2.5-litre atmo paired with a CVT. Road-tester Scott Newman singled this powertrain out as a weakness in a recent group test against the Kia Sportage and Subaru Forester, in which the Outlander finished in last place. Check the March edition for that full test.
But while the atmo petrol engine is a little underwhelming, a flagship plug-in hybrid version of the Outlander is due soon. It will boast a 98kW/195Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol assisted, rather promisingly, by twin electric motors and a 20kWh battery pack capable of 87km of electric-only driving. Mitsubishi isn’t sharing total system outputs just yet, but the two motors produce
85kW/255Nm and 100kW/195Nm respectfully, so performance and efficiency should both see appreciable gains. As soon as the PHEV arrives Down Under, we’ll swap this Exceed for one to see if it can deliver on that promise.
So it’s a positive start for the new Outlander, and just like the exterior, the interior has been treated to a revolutionary overhaul. This is easily the nicest Mitsubishi cabin I’ve ever sat in. The design is simple and elegant, the materials feel a step up for the brand, and equipment levels are high. Every Outlander scores wireless CarPlay and ’Droid Auto but mid-spec variants and above gain heated leather seats, a head-up display, surround-view camera and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The digital dials are paired with a large 9.0-inch central touchscreen and while they mightn’t be the slickest systems on sale, they’re intuitive to use and feature clear graphics. The Exceed trim adds a panoramic sunroof, rear-passenger blinds, memory front seats, an excellent 10-speaker Bose sound system and tri-zone climate. This new Outlander shares a platform with the equally fresh, and soon-to-arrive, Nissan X-Trail. It’s longer and wider than before and its wheelbase has been stretched, with the result being an increased sense of cabin space.
The second row slides and folds 40:20:40, plus there’s the extra flexibility of a third row that folds neatly into the boot floor. The additional two seats are a boon, however it’s more of a 5+2 than a genuine seven-seater. In fact, for family duties, overall space is adequate rather than commodious. We’re a young family so my wife sits in the second row to keep Baby Inwood company and behind my seating position (I’m 6ft2) her knee room is a little tight. The boot doesn’t swallow the pram as easily as I expected, either. With the third row folded the capacity is 478 litres, so around 100L less than you get in a Toyota RAV4, and I have to fold the pram’s footrest up and angle it at 45 degrees to fit. Not a deal-breaker, but it’s starting to become a little annoying.
A minor quality concern has also appeared. The leather lining of the centre console has untucked itself where it joins with the piano black near the gear shifter.
These are small gripes, though, and so far the Outlander experience has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s certainly shifting my opinion of the nameplate. I used to consider it an SUV you bought with your head more than your heart, but this stylish new model is winning me over.