Here I am behind the wheel of a burly and brawny crossover full of testosterone and manly attributes, starting with big 18” alloy wheels, a muscular hood, and a thin but confident-looking grille that means business.
The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander GT S-AWC is all that and more, but you know what? It's pretty simple and straightforward, too. No matter where the road takes you (or which road you take), the Outlander will get you there safely thanks to a remarkably solid, no-nonsense type of drive.
Legitimately understated
When an automaker offers one of the best warranties in the industry (including a 10-year/160,000km powertrain coverage) and a great all-wheel drive system, it can be forgiven for not being so fancy with the design. While the outer shell, interior console, and dashboard fail to arouse passion, the new Outlander is unapologetically focused on safety and capability. Of course, there's no shortage of compelling and stylish alternatives out there...
The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander comes in four trim levels including ES 2WD ($25,998), ES AWC ($27,998), SE AWC ($31,198), and GT S-AWC ($36,198). Only the last two get the 3.0L MIVEC V6, which officially achieves 11.5L/100km in the city and 8.4L/100km on the highway. On my watch, however, the lowest fuel consumption it averaged was 12.1L/100km, even with 90% highway driving and the ECO mode activated.
Plenty of strong attributes
I really appreciated the Outlander's surprisingly short turning radius, the crisp and easy-to-read 6.1” display (even when the sun gets in the way), as well as the super-effective climate control system and dependable rear-view camera. Let's not forget the firm yet comfortable seats with heated cushions -- how I love to keep my butt warm on chilly fall mornings!
The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander GT S-AWC also offers fairly quick takeoffs, outstanding visibility, plenty of storage, and seating for up to seven. What about cargo room? Well, you get 292 litres behind the third row, 968 litres behind the second row, and a generous 1,792 litres with all the rear seats folded.
Also, the new-for-2015 Rally Red suit that my tester wore definitely spiced things up.
On the road
I quite enjoyed the somewhat sporty dynamics, reassuring sure-footedness, and smooth transmission of the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander GT S-AWC. I'm sure it would have blown my mind had this road test taken place in winter conditions.
In any season, the Outlander knows how to please and protect occupants, especially with advanced safety features such as Forward Collision Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, seven airbags, and more.
Summing up the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander GT S-AWC
If styling isn't that important to you, then the Mitsubishi Outlander should absolutely appear on your list of must-drive CUVs. The aforementioned warranty and all-wheel drive system could very well make the difference.
Competitors include the Nissan Rogue ($23,798), Honda CR-V ($25,990), and Chevrolet Equinox ($26,405).
