MITSUBISHI - ROAD TEST
Mitsubishi Outlander - Test Drive
The Mitsubishi Outlander shares its underpinnings with the Peugeot 4007 and Citroen C-Crosser. We put the Japanese version through its paces in the Highlands of Scotland. Will the record that Mitsubishi has for producing good off-road vehicles be hindered by its French alliance?
STYLING
For a 4x4 SUV, the Outlander is quite a good looking car. The lines are smooth, but at the same the 4x4 looks chunky, giving the vehicle plenty of charm to a variety of people. It may be a soft-roader, but the Outlander has plenty of ground clearance making driving on the rough stuff a breeze. Walk to the front of the vehicle and you will see that it has a prominent grille, venture to the side and you will see that the Outlander is quite a proposition. The car in Diamond specification comes with quite a lot of chrome, (roof rails, wing mirrors) this may not to be to everyone's taste, however we at IMN did not mind it.
INTERIOR
We had the flagship diesel on test which came in Diamond trim. This gets you a lavishly equipped seven-seat cabin. On the inside there is a brilliant roof-mounted DVD system, this should keep those in the rear very happy. This trim level is also equipped with climate control and a rear parking camera and privacy glass as standard.
PERFORMANCE
Under the bonnet, the Outlander has a 2.2-litre which we think is the best powerplant of its entire Outlander range. The diesel engines performs brilliantly on motorways, A and B-roads. Sluggishness is not in the Outlander's make-up unlike some rivals, the four-cylinder turbocharged unit produces 154bhp, while it has 380Nm of torque, this means get past slower traffic is a breeze.
In slippery conditions, drivers should switch to 4WD to get better traction, this will also improve acceleration. The Outlander seems to prefer the power being delivered in this way.
The Outlander has a smooth six speed shifting gearbox. For a car of this size, the performance figures are fair, the zero to 62mph sprint takes 9.9 seconds, while it has a top speed of 124mph. On the rough stuff, the Outlander is as good as any soft-roader, it will get you through the fields and with the 2.2-litre diesel unit under the bonnet, it has that extra muscle that you need it to mud-plug.
OWNERSHIP
Priced at £27,999, the 2.2 DI-D is the most expensive model in the Outlander range, However, this car is the best performer in the Outlander range, it returns a combined economy of 38.7mpg, while it performs quite well on the green front for a car of this size - it emits 194g/km of CO2.
AT A GLANCE
| Name/Price: | Mitsubishi Outlander/£27,999 |
| Engine/power: | 2.2 litre DI-D/154bhp |
| Co2 emissions: | 194g/km |
| Official Combined fuel economy: | 38.7mpg |
IMN VERDICT
An extremely well built SUV, which delivers good performance; the Diamond trim level may be expensive on paper but if you look closer there is a lot of gadgets for the money and you get a great engine to power you on your way.
Simon McBride