10 feet short of a homerun
Mitsubishi is struggling for dear life at the moment in North America. The reason for this is not because Mitsubishi does not offer the required SUV, compact, sporty or midsize car. Other than the misgivings going on at the head-office in Japan, Mitsubishi offers an honest product. Somehow, it simply has not struck the same cord with the North American public as Honda or Toyota has.
This has not stopped Mitsubishi from creating niche models like the Outlander or the Lancer Evolution. Even with catchy marketing, the Outlander has not reached as many buyers as it probably should have. The question is: what is happening? I cannot explain the goings on at Mitsubishi but I can tell you more about this crossover vehicle.
The price range for the Outlander begins at $23,348 for a FWD LS and will top off at $33,046 for the Limited AWD which I tested.
Exterior styling
The Outlander's exterior look is what makes it stand out of the crowd of
compact SUVs. 2005 has brought a revised front fascia and rear end treatment. This vehicle would probably better fit the description of a tall station wagon over that of an SUV. The Outlander has many of the SUV attributes in a smaller package: fender flares, large wheel wells and a tall step-in. What I like is that these elements are matched to a very car-like hood, grille and tailgate.
Interior styling
The Outlander's cabin is elegant and very different from other compact trucks. The panel that crosses the dashboard combined with the
analogue clock give off a faux Infiniti styling impression. The interior trim pieces actually have some class and are adequately assembled. All the controls are ergonomically positioned and within easy reach thanks to the slopping center console. The Infinity audio system is a nice plus.
Both front and second row seats are comfortable. The rear seatback is adjustable and split-folds to increase cargo capacity. With a maximum of 1 707 litres, it is smaller than the Ford Focus Wagon's 2 067 litres and the Nissan X-Trail's 2 061 litres. The Outlander is still more capable than the Mazda3 Sport which can hold a total of 883.5 litres.
Technical
The lone engine available with the Outlander is a SOHC 2.4L inline
4-cylinder. It puts out 160 hp at 5 750 rpm and 162 lb/ft of torque at 4 000 rpm. The base LS can be delivered both as a FWD or AWD vehicle and with the choice of either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode called Sportronic. The XLS and Limited are solely available with AWD and the autobox. A fully independent suspension and 4-wheel disc brakes are standard features.
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This has not stopped Mitsubishi from creating niche models like the Outlander or the Lancer Evolution. Even with catchy marketing, the Outlander has not reached as many buyers as it probably should have. The question is: what is happening? I cannot explain the goings on at Mitsubishi but I can tell you more about this crossover vehicle.
The price range for the Outlander begins at $23,348 for a FWD LS and will top off at $33,046 for the Limited AWD which I tested.
Exterior styling
The Outlander's exterior look is what makes it stand out of the crowd of
 |
Interior styling
The Outlander's cabin is elegant and very different from other compact trucks. The panel that crosses the dashboard combined with the
 |
Both front and second row seats are comfortable. The rear seatback is adjustable and split-folds to increase cargo capacity. With a maximum of 1 707 litres, it is smaller than the Ford Focus Wagon's 2 067 litres and the Nissan X-Trail's 2 061 litres. The Outlander is still more capable than the Mazda3 Sport which can hold a total of 883.5 litres.
Technical
The lone engine available with the Outlander is a SOHC 2.4L inline
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