What is it?
The Outlander is significant for a number of reasons, chief of which is that it is the first step of Mitsubishi’s ‘next frontier’ which will drive the replacement of its entire range over the next four years. It is also the first series production model from a mainstream manufacturer to be designed with internal combustion and plug-in hybrid technology at the outset.
One variant will be available to UK buyers at launch; a 4WD, 2.2-litre diesel with a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual as tested here. The engine was launched in 2010 in the previous Outlander, but ditches the complex MIVEC valve timing system and sees turbo pressure and geometry recalibrated. With a small power and torque penalty, the new Outlander delivers improved emissions, and with a 100kg weight reduction it is 0.1sec faster to 62mph than the car it replaces.
What is it like?
Engine refinement is good, even when starting from cold. Occupants are effectively insulated from road and wind noise. The 2.2-litre is gutsy but the driver fails to benefit from the wave of torque usually associated with diesels; it is more like a petrol engine in that regard.
Steering is adequately responsive, and both ride and body control is improved over the old model. It features a MacPherson strut front suspension with a multi-link rear. Mitsubishi has introduced a twin subframe to increase stiffness and its passive rear toe-steer gives the handling a pleasing level of fluidity. A 4WD Eco mode shifts power fore-and-aft and incorporates a yaw rate sensor to sharpen the steering.
Interior fit and finish is far improved, and is the most polished in Mitsubishi’s range by some margin. Tactile soft-touch materials have replaced the patchwork of plastics, although a little low-rent materials remain. Mitsubishi will market the Outlander as a full seven-seater, rather than the 5+2 of the old car.
The rearmost seats pop up and drop easily, but as ever, legroom is limited. Better is the second row, which can split 60:40 and slide, but the sunroof fitted to our test car robbed a vital inch-and-a-half of rear headroom which will be a problem for six-footers.
Mitsubishi says the new Outlander is an engineers’ car, and it looks like one. The drive to reduce its drag co-efficient (down to 0.33 from 0.36) endows it with largely featureless lines. Equipment levels are yet to be finalised, but Mitsubishi claims a price increase of around £500-1000 will be offset by an increase in kit.
Should I buy one?
With the third attempt, Mitsubishi may have objectively cracked the D-segment crossover. It is decent to drive, comfortable and refined, but crucially it lacks that emotional spark. And although it has two fewer seats, the elephant in the room is the cheaper and more efficient Mazda CX-5. Roll on the plug-in hybrid.
Mitsubishi Outlander 2.2 DiD 4WD GX4
Price: £32,000 (est); 0-62mph: 9.7sec (est); Top speed: 124mph (est); Economy: 50.4mpg (combined, est); CO2: 146g/km (est); Kerbweight: 1590kg (est); Engine type, cc: in-line four cylinder, 2268cc; Power: 148bhp @ 3500rpm; Torque: 280lb ft @ 1750rpm; Gearbox: six-speed manual
