Used Mitsubishi Outlander review: 2012-2021

Is Mitsubishi Outlander a good car?

The Outlander definitely has its fanbase and there are plenty out there to choose from. Perhaps the biggest hurdle is that, as a relatively low-cost family car, plenty of Outlanders were hammered to death early in life at the hands of families.

There are also some question marks over the driveline, but ride comfort and interior space are both up there with the best of the rest.

The other problem the car has is that there was just so much competition at the time, some of it a lot sexier than the Mitsubishi to look at and to drive. An image problem that plagues a new-car, however, is a lot less important once it’s a used car.

Mitsubishi Outlander reliability

The biggest reliability question mark hanging over the Mk3 Outlander revolves around the longevity of the CVT transmission. Even with proper servicing, the CVT is not bullet-proof and plenty of owners have found out the hard way that replacing this component is not cheap and, in some instance, will cost more than the retained value of the vehicle.

On the flip side, the engines seem pretty robust. The turbo-diesel offers the best performance, although the simplicity of the non-turbocharged petrol engines (there was a 2.0-litre and a 2.4-litre) is also appealing. These engines also used a timing chain rather than a timing belt which requires periodic replacement. As such, the timing chain should last the life of the engine. But they’re bland units to actually drive.

The PHEV used the same 2.0-litre petrol engine, but it's journey has been less trouble-free despite not using the same CVT transmission as other Outlanders. Some owners have had electronic issues causing the engine to stop for no good reason, sometimes traced back to the ECU. Other examples have given their owners a scare when and onboard notification pops up to warn of increased battery degradation. The PHEV has also been involved in its share or safety recalls, too, which we'll deal with below.

Mitsubishi Outlander problems

As well as the CVT transmission failures, the unit was criticised for laggy acceleration (there was actually a recall for this). So just buy the conventional automatic or the manual, then? It’s not actually that simple, and the automatic suffered fluid leaks, while the five-speed manual could suffer a failed shift mechanism. Both are better long-term prospects than the CVT, however. Also, unless you wanted the turbo-diesel variant or a manual transmission (and most didn’t), the CVT was the only transmission offered in the Outlander.

All Mitsubishi engines require proper servicing and a neglected one can easily be a ticking time-bomb full of sludge and ready to empty your wallet.

One batch of the 2.4-litre (sold here between 2014 and 2016) was prone to leaking oil from around the rocker cover. The problem was caused by a production line error, but it’s an easy fix.

Interior plastics weren’t universally of a high standard in the Outlander. So make sure the trim pieces are not too scuffed or scratched.

The PHEV version's major problem was that it was okay when used in an urban environment for short runs where the hybrid driveline could do its best work, but on longer trips, the extra mass of the motors, battery and an underpowered petrol engine meant it could be pretty thirsty on a highway journey.

Mitsubishi Outlander recall

The Outlander has been the subject of plenty of safety recalls, but that’s partly because the vehicle was on sale for so long. Some of the recalls such as for a label on the key-fob to warn of the existence of a button-battery inside, and another to reflash the CVT for a more spritely launch, seem less compulsive than some of the others.

Those include a park-brake that could seize, a rear camera fault, a software problem affecting some of the driver aids, a door latch that could fail mid-corner, water inside the wiper motor, a wiring harness for the tow-bar, a brake-light switch failure, a problem with the manual gearbox shifter mechanism, transmission fluid leaks, and a potential power-steering failure.

The PHEV variant has its own specific recall problems, including one for a petrol engine that could stop without warning, leaving the vehicle able to travel only on electric power and whatever charge was in the battery at the time. The PHEV was also recalled for a forward-collision warning system that could continue to brake after the emergency had passed, and an incorrect eat-belt assembly system form the factory.

Mitsubishi also recalled PHEV Outlanders to ensure that the proper battery (the 12-volt one in the luggage compartment) was fitted and had not been changed to an incorrect type at the dealership.

More information is available at https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/.

That’s a long list, but you can check whether a particular Outlander was affected and, if so, whether it’s been corrected by contacting Mitsubishi’s customer service department, or a Mitsubishi dealer and quoting the car’s VIN.

Mitsubishi Outlander years to avoid

Even though Mitsubishi messed about with equipment levels and exterior styling on more or less an annual basis, the basic platform and mechanical package didn’t change much.

So, beyond that – and assuming all else being equal – the best year of Outlander production is the most recent one that falls into your budget. Because Mitsubishi added new safety gear and tech so regularly, the newest Outlander will be the best and safest.

Mitsubishi Outlander how many kilometres

It’s pretty rare to see an Outlander for sale with more than 300,000km on its odometer. With that in mind, we’d look for something with less than 200,000km showing, and, to be honest, the fewer kilometres the better. On higher mileage examples, check the car’s history to see if major components (the transmission for one) have been replaced or reconditioned.

We'd be even more concerned about a high-mileage Outlander PHEV thanks to the chance of the hybrid battery being degraded in performance over the years. Ultimately, this would require replacement at no small expense.

Mitsubishi Outlander best model

They might use a little more fuel and require slightly more complex servicing over its lifespan, but the all-wheel-drive variants would be our pick. Like many such systems, the Mitsubishi AWD operated like a front-wheel-drive vehicle until the computer detected any wheel slip. But the big advantage here is that you could also select AWD-Auto mode which meant you were driving in all-wheel-drive all the time, even in dry bitumen. For towing or gravel roads, this is a great feature.

Engine-wise, we’d take a turbo-diesel and six-speed conventional automatic over the rest any day. It’s just a better performing, more economical vehicle. Servicing will cost a little more, but the diesel’s relaxed feel and ample torque really suits this application. Choosing the turbo-diesel also got you away from the entry-level car and into something with that AWD platform.

The one we'd probably pass on is the PHEV. Frankly, there are better PHEVs out there even though Mitsubishi was an early adopter of this tech.

Mitsubishi Outlander resale value

On our sister website, Gumtree Cars, you can get into an early version of the Outlander Mk3 for as little as $5000 or $6000. But you won’t be buying a high-spec car, nor will it be a low-kilometre unit at that price.

There’s better value to be had by spending a closer to $20,000 to $23,000 for a late-model (2019 or 2020) turbo-diesel with between 100,000 and 130,000km showing. That also gets you all-wheel-drive, the superior transmission and more of the tech that families appreciate.

If you’re looking for a high-grade, late-model example with low kilometres, the starting price is around the mid-$30,000s, and the very best cars are somewhere between there and the high-$30,000s.

PHEVs start at about $20,000 and go through to around the low-$30,000s.

Mitsubishi Outlander parts

The Mitsubishi dealer network in Australia now numbers just over 210 outlets. That means you should be able to find genuine parts and service pretty easily, even in some fairly remote areas.

Most independent workshops will be able to cope with normal servicing and repairs of the Outlander, as it was not a complex or unconventional car in any real way. A global fanbase for Mitsubishis generally means there’s good online parts supply, too, but as always, be careful when dealing with overseas online sellers as you have fewer consumer protections with them.

If you do need to replace a hybrid battery from the PHEV version, don't rule out a second-hand battery-pack form a wrecked vehicle. As it stands, Outlander PHEVs are hitting recycling yards at a greater rate than their batteries are wearing out.

Mitsubishi Outlander sales

When the new-car market was really firing here in 2015 and the Outlander was still a relatively new design, Mitsubishi was selling anything up to 1000 or more of them a month. That had shifted to about half that number by 2020 when the Outlander was seen as a very old design and Covid-19 had kicked the stool from under the economy.

But that still means there are plenty to look at as second-hand buys and, in fact, right now on Gumtree Cars, there are as many as 450 Mk3 Outlanders on offer both privately and through dealerships.

Verdict