Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire 2013 review: long term 3

"Driver assistance" is the buzz phrase in the motoring world right now as manufacturers scrabble to provide more help for the driver to make the act of driving easier, more satisfying, more comfortable, safer. It could be construed as being dangerous -- letting the car take over key functions, but drivers who aren't enthusiasts wouldn't give a hoot.

They would mostly like more driver assistance features. Mitsubishi's new generation Outlander medium SUV has plenty of them particularly if you start shopping further up the model range. Our long term Aspire Premium has all the driver assist aids you can get in the new Outlander and it's a better everyday vehicle as a result.

Technology

Absorbing all the things this vehicle can do takes a bit of getting your head around -- some come as a shock. Take the adaptive cruise control for example. Say you're driving along the freeway at 110kmh and you activate the cruise control system to save fuel and reduce driving pressure. Easy enough. In this case however, the car has a radar system that will keep it at a pre-determined distance behind cars directly in front.

Explore the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander range

• Mitsubishi Outlander 2013 review
• Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire 2013 review: long term 2
• Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire 2013 review: long term 3

If that car slows so does your Outlander. If it speeds up to 110kmh  so do you without touching a pedal or switch. If someone swerves in front of you, the radar cruise will apply the brakes to maintain that pre-determined distance between you and the car in front. Once you get used to it, radar cruise control is super handy.

That's only the start of the driver assistance story with Outlander Aspire Premium. There's also forward collision mitigation which also uses the radar system to determine if you are likely to crash into a vehicle in front. It warns you with lights and a buzzer, then applies the brakes to avert the collision.

Other goodies include keyless start, auto headlights and wipers, auto tailgate open and close, hill start control, active stability control and electronic brake force distribution for when you're towing or have a big load on board. This level of driver assistance usually only comes in cars well up on the Outlander Aspire Premium's $51,000.

Economy

Eco drive assist helps you squeeze the best possible fuel economy from your Outlander by coaching you on the best driving technique then scoring you as an incentive to do better. The Eco mode also optimises engine functions and the air conditioning system to glean optimum fuel efficiency.

Engine

It's a 2.2-litre diesel four with 110kW/360Nm output, the latter at 1500rpm. There's a six speed auto transmission with paddle shift, all-wheel drive and fuel economy down into the mid-5.0s for ‘combined’ driving mode. This powertrain offers plenty of punch even with all seven seats occupied.

Features

Luxury kit is generous including leather, premium Rockford-Fosgate audio with sub-woofer, 18-inch alloys, dual zone climate control, Mitsubishi multi communication system and a 7-inch touch screen with premium 3D satnav, wood grain and power operated heated front seats to name a few. The second and third pews are easy to lower for a huge load space.

Driving

Overall, the Mitsubishi Outlander has been a very capable performer, particularly once you get outside the suburban crawl and onto the highway. One criticism we would make is the Outlander's tendency to rush to top gear lugging the engine. It also changes down too soon on downhill runs. Needs a minor recalibration next time. Everything else is hunky dory --  it's the right size, looks good, has plenty of features, competitive price and excellent warranty. No wonder the medium SUV segment is booming.