Mitsubishi Outlander Problems

It doesn’t take much to throw a modern engine off its game when it comes to fuel consumption. Modern electronics control just about every function of today’s engines and a single sensor that is giving the on-board computer incorrect information can throw the tune way out of whack without affecting the way the vehicle feels to drive.

The best advice is to have the car scanned by a workshop with the appropriate equipment to see if the car’s computer has detected any faults or glitches (which it will have logged). This is a vastly better approach than simply replacing parts at random and hoping that the problem will go away.

I agree that 14.5 litres per 100km is too much fuel for this car, so something is definitely wrong, especially if the consumption has suddenly increased without any change in your driving habits.

As most smaller caravans (two and four berth ones) weight between 800kg and 1300kg, you shouldn't have any problem towing one with a 2020 Outlander. The petrol-powered 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre models have a towing capacity of 1600kg, the diesel-powered ones can haul 2000kg and the PHEV plug-in electric vehicle version is limited to just 1500kg - so probably not that one if it's one of the heavier small caravans you're considering towing.

Please note that the towing capacity is the maximum the car can haul, which means if you have 300kg of luggage in the boot, and have a total of four people collectively weighing 300kg, you'll need to add 600kg to the weight of your caravan. Thus, with an Outlander 2.4L petrol, the maximum caravan weight including four people and luggage should not exceed 1000kg. 

While the Mitsubishi Outlander is spacious, reliable and easy to drive, our experience testing it against rival medium SUVs have found it to be noisy and a little too firm riding to be truly comfortable and relaxing. At your price point, there are better alternatives out there. 

Have you considered a Mazda CX-5? In petrol or diesel, we have found it to be a superior and more economical proposition, and is definitely quieter and more refined. Plus, the Mazda's all-wheel-drive system is more sophisticated and better at dealing with loose surfaces like sand.

A late-model (post 2014) S5-series Subaru Forester 2.5i petrol is far more economical than the earlier iterations, since it switched to a more efficient CVT continuously variable transmission. And there's also the 2.0D turbo-diesel which is economical. This, too, is a fine SUV on-road or for light off-road driving.

Finally, the Nissan X-Trail diesel is a roomy and capable choice, especially from 2017, when it received a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel to replace the older 1.6L unit.

It’s a fact of life, Ted, that fuel-efficiency has been a big focus for car-makers in the last decade. So, the most economical models tend to be the newer ones which tap into better technology (such as stop-start functions) and improved engine and driveline designs.

But beyond the improvements in petrol-engine technology, diesel engines have brought some big improvements, as have hybrid vehicles. The real headline makers have been, of course, the plug-in electric vehicles which are now available second-hand for sensible money. I’ve seen Nissan Leafs for sale for less than $20,000 and the plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV for similar money.

If economy is your number-one aim, stay away from all-wheel-drive cars as the extra driveline friction requires more power and, therefore, fuel to drive it. And don’t forget that how you drive, where you drive and even whether you check you tyre pressure regularly can also have a huge effect on your ultimate fuel economy.

There’s nothing to suggest the Outlander is a lemon. Just read up on all the reviews of the 2019 model. That should be enough to convince you it’s a decent SUV. The Black Edition is a variant of the Outlander with a long list of special features. I don’t see any reason to wait for the 2020 model.

There’s not much between them, but the Honda is regarded as being a little better than the Nissan overall. It’s well-equipped, good value, and practical. Another to consider is the Mazda CX-5.

Camper trailers typically weigh in the range of 850 kg to 1200 kg without the extra weight of things like food, bedding, clothes, etc. so it’s probably best to look at a compact SUV. A Mazda CX5 will tow up to 1800 kg, which would seem to fit your needs. Then there’s a Kia Sportage (1600 kg), Mitsubishi Outlander (1600 kg), or Suzuki Grand Vitara (1600 kg).

It appears to be an intermittent problem, and one that is very difficult to diagnose from a distance. If it went into limp-home mode then it is likely to be an electronic issue, and there could be any number of causes. Your best course of action is to persist with the dealer and trust that they will ultimately isolate the cause.