The main difference between the Outlander and its Peugeot/Citroën relatives is that the Mitsubishi comes with a 2.0-litre diesel engine sourced from Volkswagen. The Peugeot and Citroën will start with a 2.2-litre PSA diesel, which the Outlander will adopt later.
This engine used to be one of the benchmark turbodiesels, but that was a few years ago. There’s little wrong with the power and torque the 138bhp unit delivers – the 9.9sec 0-60mph time the Outlander posted is entirely respectable for a 1736kg car – but there’s plenty wrong with the volume at which it operates. At any revs this is a rattling, noisy engine and VW cars which use this unit are not this loud.
It also has a tendency to stall when pulling away from cold unless you load it with revs. VWs don’t suffer the same problem.
The fact that it’s one of the faster cars in this class isn’t enough to forgive the engine its dreadful crudeness. At least there’s no arguing with the economy. We returned well over 40mpg on a touring run and our test average of 35mpg is respectable for this kind of car.
The 2.2-litre PSA diesel, due to arrive in late 2007, can’t come soon enough. At the same time, a 2.4-litre petrol engine will also become available in the UK, as will an automatic gearbox. For now though, a six-speed manual is the only option. And it’s good, with a smooth, positive shift and progressive clutch feel.
The Outlander is suspended by MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear. Ground clearance is 178mm and the tyres are chunky Michelin Dueller hybrids, giving the car a modicum of off-road ability. But it’s at its best on asphalt. The ride is generally composed: soft enough to maintain comfort, but sufficiently well damped to retain body control on more demanding roads. It’s a compromise that generally works, though the low-speed ride could be better. It’s about equal to a Santa Fe, but a CR-V and Freelander both feel much more sophisticated.
