PROS ›› Distinctive seems to be, spacious entrance and second rows, beneficiant gear, 10-year prolonged guarantee CONS ›› Agency journey, unrefined and simply sufficient engine, small infotainment display with outdated software program, cramped third-row seats
For a lot of the previous decade, Mitsubishi has had one of the vital outdated and uninspiring line-ups of automobiles of any legacy automaker. Whereas different producers have been pushing the envelope, Mitsubishi was content material to let its designs and applied sciences stagnate. Nevertheless, in recent times, the model has began to get its act collectively, most notably with the launch of the fourth-generation Outlander and, extra not too long ago, the sixth-generation Triton.
In Australia, the newest Outlander has confirmed to be an enormous success for the model, constantly showing among the many nation’s high 5 best-selling new vehicles each month. However is the fanfare actually deserved? To reply that query, I spent a couple of days dwelling with one to see if it lives as much as the hype.
Fast info
Photograph Credit: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
The Outlander shares its CMF-CD platform with the Nissan X-Path/Rogue, a car we’ve pushed on a handful of events and been very impressed by. Down Underneath, costs begin at AU$41,930 (~$27,300) for an entry-level two-wheel drive Outlander ES and high out at AU$79,630 (~$51,800) for the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid EV GSR. All up, there are 14 totally different trim ranges/powertrain configurations for buyers to decide on between. We examined the AWD Exceed, which sits in the direction of the highest of the AWD vary, beginning at $AU57,420 (~$37,400) and coming normal with seven seats.
There’s no mistaking the Outlander for every other car on the highway. In a world the place so many SUVs look related to one another, Mitsubishi needs to be applauded for doing one thing totally different with the automotive’s design. I’ve at all times discovered it a bit an excessive amount of, significantly from the entrance, however gross sales figures show the automaker’s designers have been on to one thing when sketching it up.
A pleasant Mitsubishi inside, who would have thought?
Mitsubishi has additionally accomplished a nice job with the Outlander’s inside, which I used to be fairly stunned by. Similar to the current-gen X-Path/Rogue, the cabin of the Outlander is much improved from its predecessor. It’s not excellent, however it completely feels becoming of the value level, significantly in Exceed specification.
Photograph Credit: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
First, the dangerous. The infotainment display is under par. It’s a small 8-inch unit that’s the identical fundamental one which was used within the up to date X-Path/Rogue when it launched. Nevertheless, whereas Nissan shortly ditched that display in favor of a far-superior 12.3-inch show, Mitsubishi has caught with the smaller unit throughout the whole vary. Luckily, the brand new 2025 mannequin, because of arrive in Australia quickly, receives the Nissan’s new show.
Like different Mitsubishi merchandise, the software program used may be very outdated, not solely in comparison with its Nissan sibling, but additionally to different SUVs within the phase. The graphics are boring, the decision is poor, it’s gradual to reply, and it has few attention-grabbing options. Luckily, it does have wi-fi Apple CarPlay, though Android Auto stays a wired affair.
The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is healthier. It’s clearer than the infotainment display and gives a decent quantity of customization. A head-up show comes normal throughout many Outlander variants and is a welcome addition.
Learn: Mitsubishi Teases Two New Renault-Primarily based SUVs, Will Launch In Europe In 2025
Past the dodgy central display, there’s a lot to love in regards to the Mitsubishi’s cabin. Firstly, it feels extraordinarily spacious, extra so than the X-Path/Nissan. Our take a look at car got here normal with an enormous panoramic sunroof and was bathed in quilted white leather-based throughout the seats and door panels. A few of the plastic buttons on the steering wheel really feel a bit low cost, however different vital controls, like these for the HVAC, the shifter, and the driving mode selector, are nicer.
Different good touches embrace a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system, tri-zone local weather management, rear sunshades, a heated steering wheel, and reminiscence seats.
House within the second extra is greater than ample. There’s loads of legroom and headroom, plus the comparatively small transmission hump means it’s potential to squeeze three adults in. The third row is far tighter and greatest suited to babies solely. Cargo capability is sweet, with 478 liters (16.8 cubic-feet) of house with the third-row folded away and 1,461 liters (51.6 cubic-feet) with the second row additionally folded flat.
Ample however unrefined powertrain and a agency journey
The go-to powertrain choice for the Outlander is the plug-in hybrid. It makes use of a 2.4-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder working alongside two electrical motors – one on the entrance axle and one on the rear. The Outlander we examined had the entry-level non-hybrid 2.5-liter, which isn’t fairly as compelling.
This engine is sweet for 181 hp (135 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 244 Nm (180 lb-ft) of torque at 3,600 rpm and is coupled to a constantly variable transmission. It’s the identical engine as discovered within the Nissan and but, it feels barely much less refined within the Mitsubishi. It sounds strained if you get on it and is a bit louder than we’d like. For on a regular basis driving, it’s sufficient and gives nearly sufficient grunt for a seven-seat SUV of this dimension. The CVT additionally does a stable job of transmitting energy to the bottom, though it’s a little uninspiring.
Photograph Credit: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
I used to be significantly keen on the sunshine steering of the Outlander, because it makes it straightforward to navigate by way of tight metropolis streets. Suggestions is considerably missing, significantly when cornering in a extra spirited method, however that is par for the course of many trendy SUVs.
The journey high quality, then again, isn’t so good. Whereas the Nissan rides properly, the Outlander feels noticeably firmer. This may be partly defined by the actual fact the Exceed we examined had the bigger 20-inch wheels. It’s not a harsh journey by any means. Nevertheless, it may develop tiresome for second and third-row passengers, and means the Mitsubishi doesn’t really feel as premium as a few of its rivals.
Driving modes and gasoline financial system
A slew of various driving modes are provided. For highway use, the SUV performs greatest in both the Eco or Regular modes, the place Mitsubishi says it’ll use 8.1 l/100 km (29 US mpg). Our common was nearer to eight.5 l/100 (27.6 US mpg), which is stable, albeit removed from exceptional. Mud, Snow, Gravel, and Tarmac modes are additionally provided, tweaking varied parameters, together with the all-wheel drive system to greatest go well with totally different circumstances.
All 2024 Outlander fashions are bought with Mitsubishi’s MiTEC suite of security and driver help options, though solely the PHEV Exceed, Exceed Tourer, and GSR are bought with Lane Maintain Help. Among the many key options normal throughout the vary embrace rear cross-traffic alert, rear computerized emergency braking, lane departure warning, ahead collision mitigation, blind spot warning, adaptive cruise management, and visitors signal recognition.
Standout guarantee
One of many key promoting factors of the Outlander in Australia is the guarantee. As normal, it’s bought with a five-year, 100,000 km (62,000-mile) guarantee. Nevertheless, if clients go for a 10-year capped worth servicing plan and get their car serviced yearly at a Mitsubishi dealership, the guarantee is prolonged to 10 years and 200,000 km (124,000 miles). The one different model that provides a 10-year guarantee domestically is MG.
Verdict
After spending per week with the 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed, I can see why so many individuals are shopping for them. The inside is well-equipped, spacious, and genuinely appropriate for households, with ample room for everybody. The driving expertise, whereas not significantly thrilling, is greater than sufficient for many conditions. Nevertheless, I nonetheless choose its platform sibling from Nissan, the X-Path (bought because the Rogue in North America) for its barely nicer cabin, extra refined journey and higher total efficiency.
