Mitsubishi Outlander (2012)

After several years competing in the Indian premium SUV market with the Pajero and Montero, the Mitsubishi Motors launched the Outlander recently few years ago with great expectations. The Outlander is now offered with a face-lift and comes with a manual transmission option too. The styling cues are from the aggressive Evolution X and the SUV tries to mix the perfect blend of sportiness and luxury. The SUV is derived from the Outlander GT concept prototype and its state of the art features have already created buzz in many countries. Mitsubishi Outlander is built with a great exhibit of supremacy, style and power. With its huge body statement and the bold colours and high levels of driver-oriented features, it surely is a choice of many.

The exterior has a jet fighter type radiator grill with chrome moulding. Adaptive Front Lighting System, LED Tail lamps, Anti Pinch Power Windows, front fog lamps, high-mount LED stop lamp, 16" alloy wheels give a very impressive look of the Mitsubishi Outlander. The interior of the car is done very lavishly for the comfort and ease of the passengers. The remote folding rear seats, chrome plated inner door handles, very versatile seating, split tailgate with Park Bench Lower Tail Gate all add up to the convenience factor of the car.

The key-less operation system is very driver-friendly making the whole thing very simple and accessible. The Mitsubishi Outlander is available in different colours like Catwalk Silver, Haute red, Chic Black, Vogue White, Primavera Purple, Shimmering Ash, Aqua Metallic and Runway Grey. The 710 W Premium Rockford Fosgate Sound System with electronically designed 9 speaker system and steering wheel audio controls offer a outstanding sound and music experience. The dual Airbags, ABS with EBD, rigid body with aluminium roof panel, Collision safety Body and Security alarm along with Engine Immobilizer make the Mitsubishi Outlander very safe yet thrilling to ride.

Mitsubishi Motors has launched the much-awaited 7-seater version of Outlander in India. It is priced at Rs. 20.55 lakhs (ex-showroom New Delhi). The third row of seats is strictly for kids, the leg-room is very poor. Mitsubishi has added just a thin jump seat at the back to accommodate two extra passengers. The third row can be folded to increase the cargo space.

Exterior

The new Mitsubishi Outlander is muscular, aggressive and stylish with the all-new jet fighter front grille, which evokes the sporty DNA of its stable mate the Lancer Evolution X. The chrome accents surrounding the grille add character to the stunning looks and accentuate the sporty tune. The chunky wheel arches, deep-set headlamps and a thick bumper, with pushed-in fog lights integrated on it is interesting. On the sides, the sills and the door mirrors are redesigned and the 18-inch alloys manifest both muscles with elegance. In the rear, the mirror is nicely matched to dynamic D-pillars and the LED treatments on the tail lamps are attracting.

Interior

Sense of space and luxury is innate to the Outlander. The dashboard layout is upmarket but very formal. The instrument cluster is graceful and clear, especially the chrome dials. The seats are proportionally huge and capacious to hold people and legroom is decent. The cabin gets ample boot space, but only when the third-row seats are folded. Otherwise, the boot is small yet decent.

Comfort, Convenience and Features

The seats are upholstered in beige leather, which looks good and adds to the overall appeal of the cabin. The car gets a premium feel with stitched synthetic leather on the dashboard and upper front and rear door trims. The 7-seats arrangement is flexible, yet does not compromise on comfort. The driver seat is power assisted for optimum customisation. The second row seats can be adjusted too. Split tail gate with park bench enables easy stowage of even larger items into the boot. The dashboard aims at passenger utility and convenience. You get a chilled glove box for thirsty summer trips and cup holder on the passenger side panel along with a bottle holder on both driver and companion’s side. Anti-pinch power windows with child locks, automatic door locking system, adaptive front lighting system and automatic headlamp turn off, cruise control, automatic climate control AC, reverse parking sensors, Auto-folding Outside Rear View Mirrors and the Key-less Operation System (KOS) which helps to open the doors by just touching the door handles are enchanting features. The system also allows engine to be started remotely without the key.

Music System

The 710W premium Rock Ford Fosgate sound system is guaranteed and assured to inspire first-time occupants. The system includes 6-slot MP3-compatible CD changer and FM/AM radio. There are 9 speakers in 7 positions engineered for optimum quality. Driver gets steering mounted audio controls. There are USB and Aux-in ports as well.

Engine and Gearbox

The SUV boasts the mighty 2.4-litre 16 valve MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing and Electronic Control system) Petrol motor that churns out 170 Bhp of power at 6000 rpm and a torque of 226 Nm at 4100 rpm. It is mated to a CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission), with 6-speed Paddle Shifts on steering wheel. There is no diesel option, but you get a manual transmission option.

Acceleration, Performance and Fuel Efficiency

Turn on the ignition and push hard, the Outlander reaches 100kmph in just 13 seconds and a top speed somewhere around 200 kmph! The pick-up is excellent and quick, best suited for city driving. Cruising on highways will also be just fine, thanks to the CVT and the paddle shifts on the steering wheel. The manual option must be a bit quicker in reaching speeds, of course. The sporty performance is apparent and driving is very exciting. As an added benefit, Sports Mode provides the sporty driving enjoyment of a manual transmission. The average fuel consumption is 9.7 km per litre of petrol; in city driving it may plunge to a low 7.2 kmpl and 10.3 kmpl at highways. Considering the size and performance, the fuel efficiency is decent and comparably good considering its rivals.

Ride and Handling

The stability of the Outlander is awesome, thanks to its lightweight aluminium roof panels and the suspension setup. The combination of McPherson strut suspension - in the front and multi-link suspension enhances ride quality and takes on bumps and potholes with ease. This improves handling on city driving and on highways. The SUV also offers an option of four-wheel drive for off-road fun. Chunky tyres and a whooping 215mm ground clearance hints its off-road character and highly rugged terrain is reserved for the Outlander precisely.

Safety features

The Japanese SUV comes loaded with safety features and technologies. ABS (Anti-locking Brake System) with Electronic brake Distribution (EBD), active stability control (ASC) which helps tackle unfavourable driving tarmac and slippery roads, Airbags for driver and front passenger standard at all trim levels and Security alarm and engine immobilizer are the notable ones. The Outlander is made of rigid body with lightweight aluminium construction inspired from the Evolution and RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) body design enhances collision safety.

Shades and Variants

The Mitsubishi Outlander is available in 4 colour shades - Sparkling Gold, Chic Black, Vogue White and Runway Grey. There is only one trim level. All other features are standard for both the options. The SUV is toned to BS4 standards and is a petrol only model.

Verdict

The new Mitsubishi Outlander is elegant, robust, and luxurious and adds the sporty, powerful and aggressive character perfectly. It is an SUV that is ready for anywhere to go without any hesitation. It's high-tech engineering with the style and performance brings out a luxury offering. Yet, it is unfortunate that there is no diesel option and is quite expensive to own. Competing with the likes of Honda CR-V, Chevy Captiva and Renault Koleos more appropriately, the Outlander is one of the most eyed models of the fleet till date. It is a powerful machine with superb performance, making it one of the best buys of the lot. But it is worth the time to wait for the next-generation Honda CR-V to take into account.