Used tow car: Mitsubishi Outlander
You could bag a real bargain here, says Euan Doig, as long as you carefully check the condition inside and under the bonnet
Check the condition with care and you could get yourself a real bargain
OUTLANDER. THE VERY name conjures up images of adventures in the back of beyond, sitting out at night by the campfire, listening to the wildlife and knowing that tomorrow holds only more escapades in the wilderness. Well, yes, the reality for most of us is that ‘the wilderness’ is likely to translate to ‘a campsite in Thurrock’, but nevertheless, you need to know that your car is going to be capable in any scenario, and the Outlander title certainly conveys that. The second-generation Outlander, launched in spring 2007, sported a front end that was much the same as that of the Mitsubishi L200 pick-up of the time, to give them a family resemblance. The only engine available at launch was a Vw-sourced 138bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel. However, by the end of the year, this had been joined by a 154bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel from the PSA Group, and Mitsubishi’s own 2.4-litre petrol engine. All versions had four-wheel drive. When the Outlander was given a facelift in 2009, it became available with a 175bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine, as well as Mitsubishi’s corporate ‘jet fighter’ front-end styling, to make it look more like the Mitsubishi Evo.
Model history
The second-generation Outlander was the Japanese firm’s take on an SUV developed jointly with the PSA Group, and it is something of a jack of most trades. For a start, it looks half-way between a full-on 4x4 and an estate car with extra ruggedness, and will appeal to fans of both as a result. Inside, there’s a fair amount of head- and legroom in the front seats, and a similarly generous level of space for those in the second row. All models are well kitted out, with air-con, alloy wheels, electrically adjustable door mirrors and cruise control standard on even base models. However, the interior looks neither luxurious nor rugged, so it’s worth checking carefully.
Some trim levels endowed the car with two ‘occasional’ seats in the boot, but these are definitely for children, or short trips if you’re an adult wishing to avoid deep vein thrombosis. But space is luxury, and to that end, the Outlander is pretty luxurious, because it has an impressive 541 litres of boot space when the second-row seats are raised, and an echoing 1691 litres with them down. So if you need to carry any holiday items in the car, the Outlander can easily cope. The early 2.0-litre diesel provides a good blend of performance and economy. However, it’s also rather too keen to let you know about how hard it’s working, which, combined with the generally high level of wind and road noise, makes the Outlander quite noisy at a cruise. If you can stretch to it, the stronger 2.2-litre diesel, introduced in 2009, is even stronger and much quieter. At this time, Mitsubishi also introduced its Sports Shift Transmission (SST), which had already been seen on the Evo. Certainly it takes the strain out of driving, but it isn’t the finest example of a dual-clutch transmission, and isn’t worth paying extra for. In 2011, a new 2.2-litre diesel appeared, and Mitsubishi also introduced a new two-wheeldrive Outlander. Although this is more economical than the four-wheel-drive variants, it will be less adept on the grassy slopes of many sites. We’d avoid the petrol model, which isn’t strong enough and likes a drink too much.
Trouble spots
The Outlander is pretty reliable on the whole, but it has been subject to eight manufacturer recalls. The first was to replace the fuel return pipe on models with the 2.2-litre PSA diesel, which could be damaged by abrasion on the inlet manifold. Secondly, the same engine could stall after a downchange at high revs. Next up was a recall for a shortage of brake servo assistance if the car had been stationary for a while. At the same time, some were recalled because of faulty brake lights. Following this, the Outlander was one of a number of Mitsubishis recalled because of a faulty clutch hydraulic pipe fixing, which could lead to clutch failure. In 2010, it was recalled because the engine wiring harness could chafe through vibration against a bracket, and the next year, it was recalled because faulty rear wheel hubs could fail and become detached. The final recall concerned a faulty parking brake cable, which could fail. As always, make sure all of these have been carried out on any car you’re looking at. Even the later Mark 2 version is getting middle-aged now, which means condition is key. It’s wise to have it inspected.
Verdict
If you’re after towing ability on a bargain-basement budget, you won’t go far wrong with the Outlander. The diesels are strong and the car copes well when hitched to a trailer. It’s roomy inside for people and their belongings. However, the sheer age of even later examples means you should approach with caution (and mechanical knowledge). Still, if you go in with your eyes open and ensure the numerous recalls have been carried out, you’ll end up with a spacious and capable tow car that won’t cost a fortune to run.