Mitsubishi overhauls the Outlander
But it may not be enough to best its rivals
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif . — For some, no two English words are more harmful than “good job” or “good enough” — especially when talking cars.
Since its arrival in Canada in 2002, the Mitsubishi Outlander has scrambled to retain a toehold in the highly competitive compact SUV segment. Last year, the Outlander sold 5,330 units in Canada, and total sales here since its arrival are 56,000. Compare that to the Ford Escape, which sold 52,198 vehicles last year alone. This is one category where “good enough” barely cuts it.
For 2016, the Mitsubishi boasts more than 100 changes to its fourth-generation Outlander. The company aims to boost the Outlander’s presence by marketing it as a “premium” compact crossover.
It wears a fresh new athletic outdoorsy face, courtesy of Mitsubishi’s “dynamic shield” design language, which makes its debut with the Outlander. Where the last model was a half-hearted cross between a Range Rover Discovery and a Ford Escape, the current Outlander is bold and crisp.
LED daytime running lights appear across the model lineup and new LED headlamps flank the new front fascia on select models. Underneath, a skid plate-looking chin spoiler adds a rugged touch. Wheelarch mouldings and a lower-door garnish break up the side sheet metal, adding a sense of athleticism. The last interior makeover brought it up to the current standards, but again, this is one tough segment whose customers expect more than just “enough.”
The cabin gains some additional padding to the centre console, contrasting stitching, a more premium leather wrap on (unheated) steering wheels and cloth-wrapped A-pillars instead of plastic. Power folding side mirrors, wiper de-icers and auto- dimming mirrors have also been added.
The cabin is rather forgettable, but fairly comfortable. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes, and rear seats slide fore and aft to accommodate passengers and provide legroom. Folding the rear seats has been simplified, and provides a nice flat floor at an easy loading height, with an underfloor cargo storage box.
Rare in this segment are third-row seats, which is standard on upper-trim V-6 levels in the Outlander. Audio and navigation functions have been re-engineered, with the addition of more hard buttons to reduce the number of touch screens.
Contributing to improved refinement are increased chassis rigidity, improved front suspension and rear dampers, and more sound insulation.
The Outlander is still powered by a anemic, 166-horsepower 2.4-litre four-cylinder, which may later get direct injection. It’s mated to a continuously variable transmission that’s undergone a few enhancements to provide snappier performance while delivering better fuel economy. The transmission has been re-engineered to reduce torque loss by 26 per cent, improving the immediacy in which power is delivered.
A 3.0-litre, 224-hp V-6 is available in the GT model and pairs up with a six-speed automatic that can be controlled with paddle shifters. This makes the Outlander “Canada’s only compact crossover with available V-6,” said Peter Renz, Mitsubishi’s Canadian director of marketing. Some 70 per cent of Outlanders sold in Canada are V-6 models.
The use of more highstrength steel in the vehicle’s chassis helps improve handling and the resultant weight loss makes the Outlander feel quicker and more nimble, despite its humble power output. Noise, vibration and harshness have been tamed with additional sound insulation, acoustic glass and more than 30 small improvements throughout the vehicle’s body, says Mitsubishi.
While the base Outlander ES model is front-wheel drive, Mitsubishi’s all-wheeldrive system is standard on all other trim levels. Known as all-wheel control (AWC), power is channelled through the front wheels in normal use, but the system redirects torque to whichever wheel it senses is slipping, using electronic clutches. AWC uses an active front differential to help deliver that power.
There are three settings: 2WD for normal daily driving, 4WD Auto for enhanced traction and stability, and 4WD lock for slippery, snowy conditions. Fuel economy in four-cylinder, front-wheeldrive models is rated at 7.5 L/100 km on the highway and 9.5 in the city. Fourcylinder and AWD models are rated at 8.1 highway and 9.9 city, while the V-6 delivers 8.4 highway and 11.5 city.
Safety features include forward-collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control, hillstart assist, lane-departure warning, brake distribution and traction control.
Wandering up California’s sublime coastline from San Francisco, the Outlander’s improved sense of silence gave passengers more time to appreciate our surroundings. Starting out in a V-6-powered GT, we noted the greater attention to soft-touch materials in the cabin. Driver position is good, and seating comfort is adequate.
To compare the latest model and its predecessor, we spent about an hour in a 2015 Outlander GT. Noise reduction levels are dramatic; there was far more wind noise and the sound of rocks pinging off the underside of the 2015 model.
The Outlander was certainly more stable throughout the tight looping course. Suspension felt nicely damped, absorbing the broken pavement and potholes. The V-6 doesn’t feel overly powerful on the highway, but using the paddle shifters to drop down a couple of gears lets it move along smartly.
The CVT’s performance did indeed seem much improved, doing an admirable job of emulating a typical automatic transmission instead of the characteristic moaning and rubber-band hesitation common to many CVTs. However, the smaller engine was on the buzzy side when pushed.
There are four basic trim levels for 2016. The base front-wheel-drive ES with the 2.4-L four-cylinder engine and CVT starts at $25,998 and tops out at $38,498 for the V-6-powered GTS-AWC with GPS navigation. AWD is available throughout the lineup and three packages are available: the $4,000 ES Premium, the $1,600 SE Touring and the $2,000 GT Navigation. Mitsubishi’s 10-year, 160,000 kilometre powertrain warranty is still a staple of the Outlander lineup.
The 2016 Outlander is to arrive in Canadian showrooms by the end of August. In a cutthroat segment filled with overachievers, the Outlander amounts to a “good job” by Mitsubishi.