Mitsubishi Outlander LS 2WD 2.0 manual 2017 review

It might not offer the most sleek and modern design, but neither does the LS look like an entry-level model from the outside.

Standard 18-inch alloys feature, along with more silver plastic than a tarpaulin factory. The 'Diamond Shield' (Mitsubishi's SUV design language) front end is a little plasticky for our tastes, but it's undoubtedly bold, while the DRLs and standard roof rails are a nice touch, too.

Inside, the cloth seats carry a cool 3D-style pattern, while the carbon-look inserts lift the feel of a simple dash layout. Elsewhere, a liberal dose of gloss-black plastic in the steering wheel and centre console add a hint of premium feel, too.

That said, the blanked out option buttons that sit under the touchscreen are a major sore point, and serve as a constant reminder you didn't spring for a more expensive model.

Opting for five seats in a car that can fit seven can only be good news for luggage space, and the Outlander LS boot is unsurprisingly accommodating. Expect 477 litres in five-seat models, though that number climbs to 1608 litres with the 60/40 rear seat folded flat.

Elsewhere, you'll find two cup holders shared between front seat passengers, and huge pockets for bottles in each front door pocket. The centre console bin is massive, too.

Backseat riders will find their surroundings fairly sparse, though there's ample head and leg room. There are two cup holders hidden in a pull down divider, and that's about it. There are also two ISOFIX attachment points, one in each window seat.

While the LS can be had with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and seven seats for $30,500, or even with a bigger engine and all-wheel drive (AWD) for $33,500, the cheapest option is a simple five seat, front-wheel drive (FWD) affair in which you'll be changing gears yourself.

It might not offer the most sleek and modern design, but neither does the LS look like an entry-level model from the outside.

But thanks to a 2017 refresh, the bargain-basement Outlander still offers up plenty of kit for your cash. Expect a 7.0-inch touchscreen that's Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-equipped that will pipe that Spotify playlist through six (albeit fairly ordinary) speakers. Cloth seats are expected, of course, but niceties like dual-zone climate control, cruise control, power windows and keyless entry also make an appearance.

The cheapest way into an Outlander is via a 2.0-litre petrol engine good for 110kW at 6000rpm and 190Nm from 4200rpm. It's paired with a spongey five-speed manual gearbox, and sends its power exclusively to the front wheels.

The Outlander's 2.0-litre petrol engine's fuel consumption is pegged at a claimed (combined cycle) 7.0L/100km. Its 63 litre tank will take cheaper 91RON fuel, too.

If manual gearboxes are all but dead across Australia's new car market, they've been long buried in the mid-size SUV segment. Sure, hardcore off-roading types will still opt to self shift in their toughest of trucks, but there's little point having a third pedal in a FWD urban warrior.

But we're convinced the manual is the only way to squeeze any meaningful performance out of the Outlander's 2.0-litre engine, and that means its a must for us. Force it to hold gear and you'll find the engine is angry enough, but in-gear acceleration is lacking. All-in-all, the engine lacks the across-the-board poke required to really haul the 1985kg Mitsubishi along.

The biggest and most important improvement is the in-cabin technology, with the 7.0-inch touchscreen loaded with features.

The steering is something of a disappointment, too, with a strange and artificial dead weight on-centre feel, and not a lot in the way of communication with the driver. But the suspension is comfortable, absorbing pockmarks and imperfections, and road noise is commendably banished from the cabin.

The gearbox, while anything but surgical, is plenty forgiving, but the clutch feels a touch heavy after a lot of use, and it's tedious in heavy traffic.

But the biggest and most important improvement is the in-cabin technology, with the 7.0-inch touchscreen loaded with features. Vision is good too, and the Outlander's comparatively diminutive dimensions make negotiating the CBD easy.

The Outlander range was crash tested in 2014 and was awarded the maximum five-star ANCAP rating. Expect seven airbags (dual front, side and curtain airbags, as well as a driver's knee airbag), along with a reversing camera and rear parking sensors.

Unfortunately, you do have to spring for the LS Safety Pack model ($32,000) to unlock critical safety gear like AEB, active cruise control and lane departure warning system.

Like all Outlanders, the LS is covered by Mitsubishi's five-year/100,000km warranty and will require a trip to the service centre every 12 months or 15,000km.

It also arrives with four years complimentary roadside assistance and three years capped price servicing, with service and maintenance costs published on Mitsubishi's Australian website.