Mitsubishi Outlander cuts itself an individual space in a segment marked by models vying to fit into a garb of elegance and refinement. The compact family SUV from Mitsubishi flaunts an aggressive presence but welcomes you into a cabin that is marked by class and convenience.
Design and dimensions
If Outlander sounds like an adventurer, it does put up an aggressive face with prominent headlights with large protective frames in chrome on both sides. Lurching forward and sloping, the bonnet reminded me of the old Discovery Sport for some reason.
Conveniently finding a sweet spot between a compact SUV and a midsize family SUV, the 7-seater is 3.5 cm longer than the Nissan X-Trail, elements of which the Outlander hides under its skin, thanks to shared genes from the recent induction of Mitsubishi into the Nissan-Renault alliance. It is longer than the RAV4 too, for that matter.
Mitsubishi Outlander: 4709 x 1897 x 1745 mm | Nissan X-Trail: 4680 x 1840 x 1725 mm
The new generation of the Outlander launched a couple of years ago was completely redesigned. It is now wider and looks more muscular with sculpted and flared fenders. The brand badge spread across the hood comes as an option. The Outlander I drove was befittingly fitted with 20” alloys which added to its aggressive stance.
Mitsubishi Outlander’s boot must be a mystical thing. Different numbers denote its boot space at different sources – however, up to 463 L as a 7-seater and 959 L with the second row folded seems to be acceptable figures.
The Drive
The familiar 2.5L DOHC direct injection engine of the Nissan alliance makes an appearance in the Mitsubishi Outlander in conjunction with a CVT featuring an 8-speed Sport mode. The four-pot produces 184 PS / 181 hp at 6,000 rpm and 245 Nm at 3,600 rpm, as it does in the X-Trail and is available in 4WD and 2WD formats. The output has improved by more than 8%.
Mitsubishi is a name we’ve seen splashed across TV screens making dives and leaps – the model benefits from lessons learnt from rally roads and so the Outlander gets Super-AWC (All Wheel Control) technology for quick torque response. As it wasn’t available in the model I tested, I can only admire it on paper. The 4WD mode comes with 6 automatically configured drive modes – mud mode is new.
The numbers are good enough for a clean climb across the speedo and the CVT is pleasant to drive even when the power plateaus out in the end. The fuel economy lived up to the promise of 13.7+ kmpl with 10.5 km returned on a regular drive and up to an astonishing 15.0 kmpl on my night drives amidst thinning traffic.
Comfort
“Shocking luxury” first came across as exaggerated marketing talk but the experience within the cabin did convey some element of truth – which is a long way anyway for a brochure claim! Noise and vibration reduction due to double pane front windows and wind screen as well as a tri-zone air-conditioning in the premium trim belong to the luxury segment while Dual Zone AC is standard for all.
The Bose speaker system with 10 speakers and a subwoofer adorn the Premium trim but the treble was not up to the mark. (The lower trims offer 6 speakers.) The cabin is also equipped with a wireless charger, a 9” Navigation System and power front seats with massage in the premium trim. The driver info display is a conveniently large 12.3” wide.
Advanced Driver Assistance System
In the new Mitsubishi Outlander, Adaptive Cruise Control comes as standard while the Premium trim is equipped with a line up including Blind spot monitor and Active blind spot assist (brakes if it isn’t safe to change lanes), Rear automatic emergency braking with alert while backing up as well as Forward Collision Mitigation with car or pedestrian detection.
MI-PILOT is a driver assistance feature that displayed a level of autonomy and adjusted speed according to the road limit through navigation and traffic sign recognition, and also maintained lane centering.
Besides the advanced features, there is a bunch of regular safety features like Auto tilt mirror to see parking lines, a trailer stability system that applies brakes on one or more wheels to adjust and minimize trailer sway. The cameras capture visuals from the front, side and rear for surround view in premium while rear camera is a standard inclusion. The premium trim offers Head Up Display for the driver to stay safely and conveniently updated.
Mitsubishi Outlander offers the outstanding protection of 7 standard airbags – Passenger, Driver Knee, front Seat mounted side airbags and Side curtain. In a collision, the front center airbag deploys between the driver and front passenger seats in an insightful development to improve person to person collision safety.
Mitsubishi Connect
New technologies are kept relevant in the Outlander cabin with Mitsubishi Connect – which can remotely start the car using Alexa or a smartphone. Similar practical aid includes parental control, access to your garage door from the touch screen and car finder service. By staying ‘connected’, the car affords you safety services like Automatic collision notification, SOS emergency assistance and roadside assistance.
The essential Mitsubishi Outlander
There are many features in a car that I think should be made standard. Tyre Pressure Monitor is one of them, just like Daytime Running Lights and a Rear Camera. The extra-wide sun visors in the Outlander is perhaps a simple thing but still a thoughtful improvement. The Outlander sets an example by including many safety and comfort features as standard and offering several custom-made options that provide even more value than when you buy stock.
5 trim levels ranging from approx. AED 119,000 – AED 155,000. 2024 models can save you more than AED 10,000 if they are still available.
Outlander 2.5L 2WD Medium Line Fabric seats: AED 119,070
Front Wheel Drive /
AED 130,600: Black roof + Leather + 2 rear screens + 6 airbags
Outlander 2.5L 4WD High Line synthetic leather seats with sunroof:
AED 145,845: Modified version with body kit + black roof + black exteriors
Outlander 2.5L 4WD Premium edition: AED 154,770
The information provided above is simply indicative of the options available. They are available with a 5-year warranty. For a clearer picture, check current models and their price at the showroom.
