Mitsubishi expects its new Outlander all-wheel-drive, all-round crossover recreational vehicle to appeal to the young at heart.Mitsubishi expects its new Outlander all-wheel-drive, all-round crossover recreational vehicle to appeal to the young at heart.
“The Outlander represents a fresh approach to motoring,” said Sascha Gaede, Mitsubishi Motors’ Divisional Manager. “It combines bold styling, all-weather capability, and urban utility in a compact package that presents an exciting alternative to a saloon car or a large SUV.
“In fact, we like to think that Outlander offers the best features of both sports utility vehicles and sporty sedans – the best of both worlds,” Sascha said. “We expect Outlander to appeal to the young-at-heart drivers – both male and female – who wants a spirited 5-passenger recreational vehicle that is both stylish and equipped to handle the challenges of an energetic city and outdoor lifestyle.”
The Outlander has flexible interior space which delivers comfort across a broad spectrum of vehicle uses, from everyday commuting to extended touring and exploration.
At 1,680 mm Outlander has generous headroom and its 650 mm front-seat hip-point is higher than that of a saloon, to provide contortion-free cabin entry and exit, while its seat-eight is 100 mm higher than the average for station wagons.
The Outlander’s 205 mm ground clearance will prove a major advantage to off-road adventurers, and the cabin’s expansive 2 400 mm overall length enables remarkable versatility, especially if the 6:4 split rear seats are folded down to accommodate long items.
The Outlander has an aggressive front grille design highlighted by Mitsubishi’s three-diamond logo. A two-tone body treatment offsets painted sheet metal with warm gray on the Outlander’s bumpers and chip resistant urethane side sills, while its clear rear tail light lenses add a dosage of urban-chic and tuner styling to the compact SUV class.
For those in pursuit of an adventure less urban, the tubular roof racks can be adapted to carry bikes, surfboards, skis or just about any equipment required.
On the inside, the Outlander is a compact SUV complete with all the conveniences and styling cues one would expect to find in a more expensive vehicle. The interior is covered in new, textured materials, and features intuitively laid out gauges and controls that are easily monitored from the ergonomically laid out design. The raised driving position assists with more self-confidence and reading the traffic easier.
The versatile rear cabin area, with reclining rear seats that are also split 6:4 and can be folded down to create a fully flat floor area, yields a generous luggage area that can solve a variety of stowage headaches. The hydraulically assisted rear lift gate can be operated with one hand and swings high to clear taller heads, while a knee-height cargo floor, which hides the space saver spare tyre, eases the lift-over and accessibility of loading bigger and heavier items.
The Outlander comes equipped with a reliable Mitsubishi power train: the torque-rich ECI-Multi 2.4-litre, 16-valve, in-line four-cylinder engine mated to an INVECS-II 4-speed automatic transmission with Sports Mode. The Sportronic transmission can operate in traditional fully automatic mode, or alternatively allows the driver to manually actuate clutchless shifts for more spirited driving.
The smooth-revving engine delivers 104 kW at 5 000 r/min, good for a claimed top speed of 185 km/h, and achieves its peak torque of 213 Nm at just 2500 r/min. Power to the four driven wheels is delivered through the same 4WD system with viscous-coupling centre differential proven in Mitsubishi’s World Rally Championship-winning Lancer Evolutions.
The Outlander’s four-wheel independent suspension uses McPherson struts up front and a multi-link, coil sprung arrangement at the rear for superb control and stability with sedan-like ride comfort. Powerful front ventilated disc brakes are backed up by reliable leading and trailing drums at the rear. ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) ensures safe, skid-free braking regardless of vehicle load.
The independent suspension supports the Outlander’s rigid, computer-designed monocoque body that also features a long 2625 mm wheelbase that improves ride quality and off-road stability without sacrificing handling. The unibody structure is carefully designed to optimise occupant safety in the event of an accident. The vehicle’s front and rear sections are engineered as crush zones to absorb impact energy, while passengers are protected by a high-strength cabin structure at the center of the vehicle. Standard-fitted driver and passenger SRS airbag systems and ERL seatbelts complete the comprehensive occupant-safety package.
The Outlander standard trim level includes a myriad of features, such as: full leather upholstery; power steering; tilt-adjustable steering column; electrically operated sunroof; driver’s side lumbar support; cruise-control; air-conditioning; a radio with front-loading CD-player and six speakers; cruise control; electrically operated window lifters, door locks and mirrors; keyless entry; electronic immobiliser; intermittent wiper for the rear window; 6:4 folding reclining rear seats; center arm-rest with cup holders; dual vanity mirrors; colour-keyed door handles; and grey painted bumpers and side sills.
In addition Outlander also features amenities such as a tubular roof rack, a rear spoiler, colour-coded side mirrors, fog lamps, 16-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels, and clear tail lamp lenses. The interior features a white-faced I/P cluster and matching white-faced analogue clock, see-through headrests, metallic painted climate control knobs, full leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.
The fully imported Outlander comes with a two-year/100 000km warranty.
