The Mitsubishi Outlander might have the outer proportions and seating layout of a 7-seater SUV, but don’t let that fool you. It is a spacious mid-size SUV with the option of two extra seats in the back, packing in a nice list of features and a balanced petrol engine powertrain which is more affordable than its plug-in hybrid variants.

Pros

• 10 year new car warranty and 10 years capped pricing service
• Practical interiors offer good value for money
• High-driving position and proper SUV stance
  

Cons

• Single engine option is low on power
• Uncomfortable ride, poor handling
• 7-seater variants lack space in third row
  

The Outlander competes with cars like the Toyota RAV4 and also the Nissan X-Trail, with which it shares its platform.

Exteriors

Styling Elements

The front end is huge! Like bigger than you’d want to flex, the front grille is somewhat honeycomb but flattened at the top and bottom pattern. Flanking the grille are chrome highlights that go up under the LED daytime running lights. It also has large headlamps housed deep inside the SUV’s chunky front end with slim fog lamps underneath. While this design does give it a lot of road presence - I don’t love the front end.

The backend of the Outlander is something more to my taste. Simple and not too pompous. The wraparound LED rear lamps are not connected to each other, but still sleek in design with a big Mitsubishi badge between them. The ‘rear’ lamps are more on the side than on the rear. Much of the rear bumper is body coloured with a black skid-plate like design underneath for some rugged design appeal.

Colour Options

The Mitsubishi Outlander is offered to the consumers in the following colours;

White | White Diamond | Sterling Silver | Graphite Grey | Red Diamond | Cosmic Blue | Black Diamond

Dual-tone colour options are; Black Diamond/ Sterling Silver | White Diamond/ Black Mica | Sterling Silver/ Black Mica | Graphite Grey/ Black Mica | Red Diamond/ Black Mica

The colours have 3 different lustres upon them, while there isn’t any flexibility there, do look at the colours before you invest the extra cash for the hue of your preference. The types are; Metallic (M) | Pearlescent (P) | Prestige (X)

Wheel Design

The wheel designs on the Outlander are sporty and powerful. The athletic contouring over the wheel arches complements the 18-inch alloy wheel which has a Black Diamond Cut, if you’re into bigger wheels, there is the 20-inch dual-tone alloy wheel which looks magnificent on the move and classy while still. The Black Edition trim gets the own 20-inch alloy wheels too but fully blacked out.

Interiors

Interior Layout & Space

The seats are shaped for comfort over all else, and front row passengers enjoy a heated and massage function available from above the Outlander Aspire variant. The dashboard is ergonomically positioned too, offering easy access for both driver and front passenger.

Coming to the second row, there is ample legroom, headroom and toe room as well. Just be mindful that due to the presence of the panoramic sunroof, there is a clear dip in the ceiling so you might bump into it if you’re not careful. The centre armrest doesn’t drop down from the middle seat, the centre armrest is the middle seat, just pull the drawstring and voila! A centre armrest.

Now Mitsubishi advertises the third row as an ‘occasional row’. What this basically means is that there is no space for adults,  and it is mainly for smaller humans, as even yoga instructors might have a hard time fitting into it. It also gets comically-tall rear headrests in the last row which you need to take out if you want to fold those seats down.

Comfort & Ergonomics

There are multiple upholstery for multiple variants, some are upgradable for a small fee some are exclusive to the variant. Take a look;

Upholstery Colours

Boot

What starts with a simple small boot of 163 litres in the Outlander with all seats up, extends up to 478 litres with the third row folded, and expands to around 1,460 litres with the middle row folded as well (varies depending on the trim level).

Technology & Infotainment

The Outlander packs a decent amount of tech for the price, but most of the cabin niceties are limited to the more expensive variants.

Technology Features

• 8-way power adjustable driver and front passenger memory seats
• Massage feature in front-row seats
• Heated seats (front and rear)
• Tri-zone climate control
• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Drive modes for both 2WD and AWD trims
• 10.8-inch head-up display
• Panoramic sunroof
• Handsfree powered tailgate
  

Connectivity Options

• 12.3-inch full digital driver display
• 10-speaker Bose® sound system
• Smartphone-link Display Audio with 9-inch* touchscreen
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• 2 12V sockets
• Wireless charger

Performance & Engine

Engine Specifications

Transmission & Drive System

A CVT automatic is notorious for being loud under acceleration and at highway speeds, but the Outlander tries to address it with stepped gears allowing the band to settle into different ratios depending on the speed and throttle input. It even has paddle shifters to try and help you have some manual control to switch between these steps. The same transmission is used for both the front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants, the latter featuring Mitsubishi’s unique Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system.

Fuel Economy & Efficiency

Depending upon which variant you choose, the Outlander offers an economy of 8.1 litres of petrol for every 100km in AWD variants. The number improves to as low as 7.6 litres of petrol for every 100km in the 2WD variants. Depending upon the driving situations like the city or the highway or loose-surface trails, the economy figures start to oscillate but never enough for you to sweat about it. With only a 55-litre fuel tank, that economy isn’t good enough for extended drives across the country.

Handling & Driving Dynamics

While the Outlander’s power plant is a bit low on torque for an SUV this size, the naturally-aspirated petrol engine does offer the benefit of linear power delivery. It is easy to find a comfortable driving position for most sizes and the high-seating offers good visibility ahead and offers confidence to the driver. Mitsubishi has equipped the Outlander with six drive modes, operable with a rotary switch in the centre console:

• Normal Mode
• Eco Mode
• Tarmac Mode
• Gravel Mode
• Snow Mode
• Mud Mode (AWD only)
  

Eco Mode really takes the life out of the drive for the benefit of fuel efficiency while Tarmac mode offers the peppiest drive experience. The other multi-terrain modes combined with the clever S-AWC make the Outlander more versatile than many urban-centric mid-size SUVs, combined with the 206mm of ground clearance, making it suitable for weekend family adventures too (but not for off-roading).

Even though we don’t expect SUVs to be nimble, the Outlander’s handling is particularly numb. With the larger 20-inch wheels, you find the limit of the suspension travel pretty easy as the ride quality feels rigid and transfers sharp jitters from potholes into the cabin.  The body roll is acceptable but the steering wheel needs more feedback to give confidence to the driver while rounding corners.

Safety Features

• 7 SRS Airbags
• Collision warning
• Electronic stability control
• Blind spot alert
• Rear parking camera
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Autonomous emergency braking reverse
• Lane-keeping assist
• Speed limiter
• Parking sensors
• Rear cross-traffic alert
  

Advanced Safety Features

• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Blind Spot Warning & Lane Change Assist
• Traffic Sign Recognition
• Rear Automatic Emergency Braking
• Multi Around Monitor
• Hill Start Assist
• Lane Departure Warning
• Rear View Camera
• Hill Descent Control
• Lane Departure Prevention
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Forward Collision Mitigation
• Driver Attention Alert
• Predictive Forward Collision Warning3
• MI-PILOT
  

Crash Test Ratings

The Mitsubishi Outlander was awarded a 5-star rating in the tests conducted by ANCAP in October of 2021. Here are some additional statistics to demarcate the safety ability of the Outlander.

• Adult Occupant Protection - 83%
• Child Occupant Protection - 92%
• Vulnerable Road User Protection - 81%
• Safety Assist - 83%

Ownership Experience

Owning a 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander can be a rewarding experience, especially for those seeking a spacious and comfortable SUV. Limited as the third-row space might be, the three-row seating configuration makes it a great choice for families with small kids, and the ample cargo space easily accommodates luggage or gear for outdoor adventures.

However, some potential drawbacks exist. The infotainment system, while improved, might still feel less intuitive compared to some competitors. Additionally, fuel efficiency of the gasoline engine might not be as impressive as some rivals, potentially leading to higher running costs. Overall, the 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander offers a practical and comfortable ownership experience. However, those prioritising a top-notch infotainment system or better performance and fuel economy might want to consider other options in the segment.

Major Drawbacks

• Tech-rich package impacted by not-so-intuitive infotainment unit
• Fuel efficiency is a bit high, and even on RON91, the running costs do get a bit high
• Stronger alternatives in the family SUV space, some with more technology and better performance
  

Major Strengths

• Spacious cabin, large boot and optional third row seats make it ideal for families
• Great road presence makes for confident driving experience
• Extensive after-sales coverage, best-in-class even
  

Maintenance & Warranty Information

Mitsubishi Motors Confidence is an integrated care program included in the price of each vehicle for all 2024 models:

• 2-Year/30,000-Mile Limited Maintenance (3 Oil & Filter Changes, 3 Tire Rotations and 1 Cabin Filter)
  
• 10-Year/100,000-Mile Powertrain Limited Warranty
  
• 5-Year/Unlimited-Mile Roadside Assistance
  

Verdict

The latest version of the Outlander may not have the off-road reputation of its predecessors, but

While the Outlander is bigger and better, it seems to just be able to pull through in the power department, I still would argue that it deserves a turbocharged engine, but till the time that happens, the Outlander has managed to be successfully considered for the next best family SUV.

Reference

Brochure

Owners Manual