2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Reviews

Mitsubishi has been a leader in affordable 4WDs in Australia for almost four decades, and has continued its expertise into the SUV market. Witness the completely revised Mitsubishi Outlander, with its many practical features.Depending on your tastes and needs the 2013 Outlander can be anything from an affordable ($28,990) 2WD with a petrol engine, manual gearbox and five seats, to an upmarket seven-seat automatic turbo-diesel with the sort of bells-and-whistles generally only offered in top line European models for $50,990.On-road costs have to be added, but these are very reasonable prices and in most cases are slightly down on the recommended retail of the outgoing models.Pragmatism makes a lot of sense in today’s fragile vehicle market, so Mitsubishi has gone away from the radical shape of the previous Outlander, opting instead for a neat, elegant look that will gather buyers from a much wider group in automotive taste than the superseded model.Inside, the all-new Mitsubishi Outlander continues the elegant look of the exterior. The materials are of high quality and the way they are installed is immaculate. The front seats offer good space, the centre row has more legroom than you would expect in a car of this size and the third row of seats, not fitted to all models, is good for children, though adults can use it without being too cramped.A full redesign of the centre-row seat means it now folds flat in a single motion to add to luggage space. Previously, the seat was tumble-folded in two stages, meaning that when it was down robbed the rear of some cargo length.The new Outlander has achieved an ANCAP safety rating of five stars. Active Stability Control is standard across the range and can recognise understeer and oversteer, then applies braking force to the diagonal wheel to try and keep the Outlander on-line through corners. Reverse sensors aid the driver when reversing.Mitsubishi Outlander is not only easier on the eye, but also easier on the air it cleaves through. Measurements show the co-efficient of drag has been reduced from 0.36 to 0.33 to cut fuel consumption and emissions, as well as interior noise generated by air rush past the body.Fuel consumption has been trimmed by an impressive 22 per cent when averaged throughout the range. Aerodynamics play a big part, but the reductions in emissions is due not only to the sleeker body but also by extensive modifications to the engine, transmission suspension and steering.Engines are 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre petrol and 2.2-litre turbo-diesel. Our first drive was in a 2.4-litre petrol. It has the advantage of a CVT to let it operate at its best revs and we enjoyed the performance, particularly the way it gets up to speed to minimise time on the wrong side of the road when overtaking.The turbo-diesel is a quiet unit with plenty of grunt, and doesn’t work too badly with a conventional automatic transmission. We feel the grunt of the diesel will make it the engine of choice with many buyers.Some may feel the 2.0 petrol is on small side for an SUV of this size. Our test car had a manual gearbox to let us select the gear we felt was best for the situation. Running light and in mildly hilly conditions it had decent performance that would suit most buyers and you get superb Japanese engineering and build quality at an attractive price.Our initial 220-kilometre drive program organised by Mitsubishi out of Melbourne airport immediately showed the Outlander to be smooth, quiet and generally vibration free. Australia’s notorious coarse-chip road surfaces did create tyre roar on some models, others were fine.We have heard worse on plenty of other cars and the fact that Japanese Mitsubishi engineers teamed with Australian guys to fine tune the suspension and steering in this country certainly helped. Handling is very good for a vehicle in this class and the new Outlander can corner safely at speeds well over those likely to be attempted by most owners. The ride can be firm on some surfaces, especially in the models with the currently fashionable large-diameter wheels, but we feel most will find this compromise acceptable for the handling benefits it provides.

The Outlander is a must-succeed for Mitsubishi in Australia and in large part the new SUV should. It's a diamond in the rough - there are a few harsh edges - but it definitely deserves shopping against the latest crop of mid-sized soft-roaders. It sits on the same chassis as the outgoing model but has new panels and

Mitsubishi has done a great job with the latest iteration of its big seller and for the first time there's a diesel. Carsguide spent last weekend with the top of the range Aspire 4WD diesel before the national media launch in a couple of weeks.Dealers have received stock earlier than expected and are already selling the five-door wagon. With seven seats it's sure to make the mid-sized wagon popular among families.There's a lot happening in this hotly contested sector with the new Honda CR-V just arriving, plus Mazda announcing a much-needed bigger petrol engine for its CX-5 early next year, as well as a new Subaru Forester and a Toyota RAV4, which we hear looks like a smaller version of the Lexus RX SUV.Mitsubishi had a cracker last month with sales of the old Outlander doubling and giving it number 1 spot on the sales chart. But overall for 2012, in a category which sells more than 80,000 units a year, it is running fifth behind Nissan X-Trail, CX-5, RAV4, and Forester.The latest Outlander is expected to give the model a big boost and to challenge the front runners, particularly with the third row of seats giving it an added advantage over its rivals as well as the bonus of a diesel.VALUEThere was plenty of gear in the Aspire test car including dual zone climate air, leather steering wheel cover, gearshift knob and seats, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, AM/FM radio, CD player, MP3 player, trip computer, Bluetooth, engine immobiliser, alarm, 18in alloy wheels, front fog lamps, rear parking sensors and camera, tinted glass, a cargo blind, keyless entry and start-stop, automatic wipers and headlights and a powered and heated driver's seat.The test car was $49,582 drive away (non metallic paint). The range starts with the $28,990 2.0 litre petrol front drive ES, moves up to the $38,990 2.4LS 4WD, then $45,490 for the diesel Aspire and $50,990 for the top of the range Aspire Premium. These prices do not include on-road costs.Mitsubishi says it has improved the quality and materials, increased cargo length and third row seat room. There are two 12V charge points, a USB socket and Bluetooth with music stream ing.TECHNOLOGYThe diesel, which is a new 2.2-litre turbodiesel, has 110kW of power and 360Nm of torque with overall claimed fuel use of 5.8L/100km. I achieved 7.9L over a weekend drive which included gravel bush trails and city driving.Mitsubishi is making big things about its eco drive system operated by a simple push button in the centre console behind the gear lever. 4WD Eco uses the front wheels only and switches to 4WD when it detects slippery conditions. 4WD Auto provides drive to all wheels while 4WD lock allows for better traction of all wheels in challenging conditions.DESIGNThe Outlander looks good and appears bigger than the current model. The face looks very much like the Ford Territory, which is handsome, but the fog lights integrated into the bumper look like an after thought.Does the horizontal grille signal a change in design by Mitsubishi which has favoured a vertical koala nose-type style in recent years? The rear is typically Mitsubishi with chrome trim and clear lenses.The side view is fairly generic and fortunately does not feature a hefty C pillar like some of the opposition. Inside is more mature and there appears to be more room. The dashboard layout is clean and uncluttered with a simple array of buttons and switches.The speedo and rev counter also are simple and easy to read and there are few buttons on the steering wheel making life less complicated for drivers who can be presented with too much information.I found the front seats lacking in side support and I moved around a fair bit than I would have liked. The split tailgate of the previous model, which many buyers enjoyed, has gone, so too is the chilled area above the glovebox.The rear loading lip is a bit higher than before and the new second-row seat no longer stows and folds elegantly and easily. It requires stowing the lower cushion first and then dropping the back rest. The reason is 30cm of extra cargo space and a flat floor. There's better quality materials than before with a dash of soft-touch plastic paddingThere's plenty of oddment storage front and rear, including eight cup holders in seven-seaters. The steering wheel now has reach as well as height adjustment.SAFETYOn the safety front there are seven airbags, including driver's knee bag, ABS brakes with EBD, stability and traction control, Hill Start Control and child restraint anchor points.DRIVINGAt idle it is quiet, even quieter once warmed up and on the run. It is one of the smoothest diesel engines I have driven. When left in eco mode the Outlander is a bit "doughy'' and lethargic, aiming for fuel efficiency at all costs and shifting into top gear as soon as possible, even around town.It's smooth on the run with some wind noise when punching into a head wind and road noise on coarse bitumen surfaces. For an SUV it's a tidy handler, whizzing up the Kuranda Range and down the Rex Range with not as much body roll as I was expecting.The torquey diesel easily managed the steeper sections and the brakes were superb. The steering is a highlight, light, precise and direct. In 4WD mode it was stable and secure, even at higher speeds through tight corners. It was a dream to drive and gives the driver lots of confidence.The narrower steeper sections were a cinch. The Outlander soaked up the worst of the potholes.. There's less glass area but vision is good all around with the help of convex side mirrors.It's quiet, reasonably economical, spritely and handles well, especially on gravel roads. The Outlander is an impressive effort, large enough to carry five adults and two youngsters in the third row, but small enough to easily park and manoeuvre.VERDICTThose who are happy with the current model will lap up the new one. The SUV looks good and is packed with most goodies, although sat-nav would be nice for nearly $50k on the road.Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire dieselPrice: $49,582 drive awayWarranty: Five years/130,000kmServicing: Capped prices for four years/60,000kmEngine: 2.2-litre turbodiesel 110kW/360NmThirst: 5.8L/100km (on test 7.9L), 63 litres, 153g/km CO2

Buyers seeking a compact soft-roader are being spoiled for choice with two significant candidates, the Mitsubishi Outlander and Honda CR-V, appearing in showrooms within days of each other. They're among the top of a class of 22 contenders in Australia's second-biggest car sales category.The Outlander was the best-selling SUV in Australia last month as the company discounted it by up to $10,000 to make way for the new model, which landed in dealerships this week.Australian media don't get behind the wheel of the new Outlander until next month. So we hit the pavement and lined up for a test drive at a Mitsubishi dealership as a mystery shopper. It was among the shortest road tests in Carsguide history but the 5.8km journey still gave some worthwhile insights. It was also good to get reacquainted with the experience new-car buyers go through every weekend, which can be unnecessarily harrowing and time-consuming.For the record, our mid-week jaunt to a car yard forecourt was relatively hassle-free, with the salesman demonstrating good knowledge and only one serious faux pas, wrongly claiming metallic paint on a rival was $1200 (it was $400).First, the basics. It's an all-new model (so why does it have a sad face?) but it sits on the previous car's underpinnings. The width and wheelbase are identical; the rear bumper is 5mm shorter than before.Prices start at $28,990 for a base 2.0-litre petrol manual front-wheel-drive model. But that rises quickly. Fitted with automatic transmission (which most people buy), the front-driver is $31,240 plus on-road costs. Most Outlander models are priced between $35,000 and $46,000.This makes the starting price dearer than that of the highly regarded Mazda CX-5, which is $29,880 with automatic transmission and gets a rear camera as standard (the new base Mitsubishi does not) although the Outlander gets rear sensors at this money. Cue the first "tut-tut''. The dearer Outlander models, however, come with a rear camera.Our test vehicle was the $38,990 (plus $495 for metallic paint) 2.4-litre part-time all-wheel-drive model with CVT auto and seven seats.The split tailgate of the previous Outlander that many buyers love (because they can use it as a makeshift picnic bench, nappy change table or somewhere to crook your leg while you wriggle into your running shoes) is no more. And the loading lip at the rear is higher than than before, so there's a little more heavy lifting to do.The second-row seat no longer stows and folds elegantly and automatically at the tug of one tag. The new design is a more manual arrangement; you first must stow the lower cushion, then drop the backrest.The advantage of this design is that you get about 30cm of extra cargo space and a perfectly flat floor. On five-seater models, the cargo area has hidden underfloor storage space; on seven-seater models there is a flat load space when the third-row pews are stowed. The chilled storage area above the glovebox is also gone.Despite these issues, first impressions of the interior are good, with better quality materials than before — the dash is made entirely of soft-touch padding. The layout is cleaner and less fussy. There are two 12V charge points, a USB socket and Bluetooth with music streaming.There's plenty of oddment storage front and rear, including six cup holders in five-seat varieties (eight  in the seven-seaters). In a welcome change, the steering wheels now has reach as well as height adjustment. The glass area is smaller on the new model but vision is good all around, aided in part by the convex side mirrors.Time to hit the road. It may be the proverbial lap around the block but we end up adding 5.8km to the demonstrator model's odometer, taking in the usual daily grind: school zones, speed humps, roundabouts, manhole covers and even an unusually steep hill.The all-wheel-drive test Outlander with CVT auto and seven seats feels peppy despite the sharp incline. It rides on relatively small 16-inch wheels but the tyres do a good job of soaking up the worst of the road surfaces and the Outlander also significantly quieter and smoother than the outgoing model. The most impressive aspect for me, though, is the steering: light, precise and direct, a highlight of the car.First impressions of the new Outlander are generally positive yet there are some aspects that owners of the existing model will miss  — while it gets rear sensors, the lack of a camera as standard on the base model is an alarming omission on an all-new car. Especially when the Mazda and Honda rivals have it.Meanwhile, faced with the choice between a runout Outlander at $10,000 off the RRP or a new one, I'm inclined to go with the old model. Problem is, they're almost all sold out.At least the new one is much more fuel efficient. Mitsubishi now just needs to either sharpen the price, add a rear camera -- or both. Stand by for a more extensive review of the new Outlander after more time behind the wheel.

Canny motorists are facing a shopping bonanza as car makers start slashing prices to make way for new models. But it's not only outgoing models going cheap - look out for end-of-year sales as well.Any time a carmaker trumpets a new model, these shoppers are there ready to make a financial killing by buying up the old model. Look for sales at particular times of the year. June is traditionally a strong month for squeezing extra savings out of a dealer though, with a buoyant car market and fierce competition, anytime towards the end of any month can deliver a bonus.End of year sales are popular. Dealers always want to sell but the months of November and December provide a chance to discount cars built in the current year. Fighting this are car buyers who want a car built in the new year to preserve resale value. Here's some deals but be prepared for more as the calendar year draws to a close.HOLDENDeep Purple is no longer a rock band - it's Holden's new colour that is available on a range of cut-price “Z-Series” Commodore sedans, utes and wagons. The new colour is the same as Holden's iconic show car, the Efijy. Different models in the Z-Series line-up get different equipment levels but, as an example, the base Omega automatic is $41,990 but the Z-Series edition costs $39,990.The bonus is that the Z includes a heap of extras within that price, including leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, rear camera and sensors, leather steering wheel and chrome door frames. The SV6 ute adds 19-inch alloys, carpet mats and leather seats for $38,490, down $1000 on the plane-Jane SV6.The discounts on the VE Holden Commodore range precede the launch early next year of the VF Commodore models. Holden is also running out the Barina five-door manual hatch at $16,490, a saving of $500.TOYOTAYou'll have to do some legwork here. The new Corolla is on sale and some dealers still have stocks of the old model. Officially, there's no discount on the outgoing model though some dealers - predominantly NSW and Victoria - have extra stock and have advertised a $18,990 price, $1000 off the list price. Note that the cheapest 2013 Corolla is also $19,990. Toyota WA says customers should discuss pricing direct with their dealer.It's not only the Corolla that may offer savings. The RAV4 gets updated early next year and though there's no official price, dealers will consider offers. On top of that, Toyota has zero per cent finance on Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion until the end of the year.HYUNDAIThere's a lot of previous-model stock available from Hyundai and buyers can make big savings if they're not chasing the latest car. These include old-stock i30 hatchbacks with $2000 off the normal price and previous Santa Fe SUVs for up to $3000 off.But there are also current models. The big one is the $13,990 drive-away price on the i20 three door which saves $2500. A similar discount is on the five-door i20. The i40 wagon is now from $29,990 driveaway, a saving of about $3000, and the sedan model with automatic transmission is also from $29,990, saving about $2500.Hyundai's popular baby SUV, the ix35, is now from $27,990 driveaway for the Active version, a saving of $1120, while other ix35 variants have been reduced by $500.MITSUBISHIThe new Outlander SUV arrives November 18 so Mitsubishi is sweeping out current stock. The "Enhancement Pack" model is an LS version with leather seats, heated front seats and an electric-adjust driver's seat. It has Bluetooth, 18-inch alloys with a full-size alloy spare, six airbags for the front-wheel drive version (up from two) and a cabin styling pack with bright trim to the door handles, console panel and rear door trim.Prices start at $28,990 drive away for the LS front-wheel drive model with five-speed manual transmission. The normal price is $29,340 plus on-road costs so the saving is about $4500. But for buyers who want the new model, register on Mitsubishi's website and there's the chance to win a $1000 Westfield shopping voucher and 15 per cent off accessories for the new Outlander. If that's not tempting, Mitsubishi also has 0.9 per cent finance until the end of this month.SUBARUThe 2012 run out has just started for Subaru which has chopped up to $5000 off three models. It replaces its Liberty and Outback in early 2013 as a mid-life makeover that includes upgrades to trim specifications. There is an all-new Forester also due about February. So the deals are now on the table.The Outback 2.5i manual is usually $37,490 plus on-road costs (say, $5000) but is being rolled out the showroom door for $35,990 including all on-road costs. The same axe has lobbed on the Forester X which is now $32,990 drive-away including leather-faced seats, alloy wheels and fog lights.The normal retail price is $30,990 without the extras and without on-road costs. Subaru is selling the Liberty 2.5i sedan manual for $31,990 drive away with leather seats, electric driver's seat and reverse camera. The car normally sells for $32,990 plus on-road costs.FORDKuga Trend $35,490 drive away (normally $38,990 plus on-road costs) and the upmarket Titanium is now $41,490 drive away, previously $44,990 plus all on the road charges. The Kuga is to be replaced with a new model in early 2013.Focus Ambiente hatch now $19,990 drive away (normally $20,290 plus costs). The Mondeo Zetec hatch is $33,990 with all costs (usually $37,740 plus on-road fees) and Falcon's XR6 Turbo is down from $46,235 plus costs, to $43,490 drive away.KIAThere's a new Sorento SUV so the outgoing model has a $2000 gift voucher attached to its normal retail price.VOLKSWAGENIs running out stocks of the current Golf VI to make way for the Golf VII due early next year. Volkswagen Australia has set the price of the current Golf 77TSI manual at $20,990 including metallic paint and all drive-away costs. This is a saving of about $5000.The Golf Wagon 90TSI with DSG auto, metallic paint and all drive-away costs is now $29,990, saving about $3500. Note that for small-car wagon buyers, Volkswagen has not confirmed a wagon version of the new Golf. If you want this shape, this could be your last chance.VOLVOThe Swede is clearing out its 2012 stock by adding value rather than chopping the price tag. The S60 and V60 entry-level models now come with the upmarket Teknik pack valued at about $4500. But if you specify the Teknik model, Volvo will automatically give you the R-Design pack (valued at $3000) for free.The same deal applies to the XC60 SUV. There's also a deal on S60 or V60 from the dealer's existing stock. Volvo will include free scheduled servicing for three years or 100,000km.

When launched at the start of 2003 the Mitsubishi Outlander replaced the Mitsubishi iO, a 4WD that had not sold particularly well. Mitsubishi had been in the vanguard of the affordable recreational 4WD market since the 1980s, but the little iO was aimed at the semi-serious 4WD buyer and was relatively expensive.Mitsubishi’s move into the crossover segment with the Outlander changed that way of thinking and it soon began to gather a lot of supporters. It continues to sell well to this day and an all-new model seems sure to further expand interest when it arrives down under in a few months time.We anticipate a surge of trade-ins of Outlanders to buy the new model and this could lead to some excellent deals for used buyers as dealers shift the trades. No promises, though...Styling has long been a much talked about feature of the Mitsubishi Outlander.The initial model had a prominent nose that some liked and others hated. The standout nose was removed in 2006, replaced by a smoother shape with the introduction of a slightly larger new model. The move to the Mitsubishi ‘jetfighter’ front grille in 2009 gained a lot more praise for its radical shape. Interestingly, the upcoming new model has again gone for a more conservative design.Though not really aimed at off-road driving, the 4WD system is reasonably sophisticated for its type and the Outlander can competently cope with rough tracks, beaches and corrugated dirt when driven correctly. On-road the Mitsubishi Outlander is capable and generally quiet and comfortable to ride in. Some owners complain about the amount of tyre noise on coarse-chip roads, others say they don’t really notice it.Inside, there’s space for two adults and three children with good legroom and head space. Three adults can be carried in the back seat, but may find themselves on the squeezy side. The optional third-row seat is strictly for tiny kids and even then isn’t particularly comfortable. It steals most of the luggage area, but that’s hardly unusual in this class of compact vehicle. Otherwise boot space is good and the Outlander is easy to load, even more so from the mid 2004 facelift.The 2004 reworking was interesting in that a lot of the work was done by the engineering team at Mitsubishi Australia for global use. The biggest changes were at the rear, with a wider tailgate and styling mods that gave it more presence in the appearance stakes. Also for 2004, Mitsubishi’s variable valve timing was added to the engine. Capacity of the single-cam, four-cylinder powerplant remains at the 2.4 litres, but stronger torque with a good spread made it enjoyable to drive.Disc brakes, with ABS and EBD were fitted to all four wheels to cope with the added engine output when the four-cylinder engine was upgraded. Previously some had criticised the Outlander for having drum brakes at the rear. The optional 3.0-litre V6 engine, though relatively expensive, is the powerplant of choice amongst those who like to drive. It can be quite thirsty, particularly when worked hard.Transmissions are manual and automatic with the added efficiency of continuously variable transmission being used in the latter from the 2006 model. Some don’t like the sound of a CVT but once you become accustomed to it the audio differences soon become unnoticed. Mitsubishi Australia is a well-established player in the local Australian scene having been here for over forty years. Though the company no longer builds vehicles locally it has a large, well-organised dealer network that’s widespread.Due to the company’s success in the 4WD market with the Pajero and Challenger there are more dealers in country areas than is usual with crossover vehicles that compete with the Outlander. We hear no real complaints about spare part pricing or availability. A good amateur mechanic can do a fair bit of their own work due to the generous under bonnet and under-car accessibility. Safety related items should only be touched by professionals.Insurance rates seem to vary more than normal among the major companies so it’s worth shopping around for the best deal. As always, make sure you are doing accurate comparisons when looking at the various policy features.WHAT TO LOOK FOROutlander is well-built and generally reliable but, as always, recommend a professional inspection after you've done initial checks to the best of your technical knowledge. Though it’s nominally a 4WD few Outlanders are taken off road so if you see any signs of body or under body damage - check the lower corners of the bumpers and the door sills - it’s probably best to look for another one.Engines are strong units in the Mitsubishi manner. A powerplant that’s reluctant to start when cold, or which hesitates at any time is a cause for concern. Check the front of a four-cylinder engine for water stains indicating possible water pump troubles. We have heard of a few problems in continuously variable transmissions. During your test drive it should be quiet and smooth. If unsure, have a Mitsubishi mechanic check it out.Manual gearboxes should be light and smooth in operation. When they eventually wear out, the change down from third to second is usually the first to give trouble. Listen for noises and feel for a reluctance to go into gear. Look over the interior for signs of rough use, particularly in the back seats if kids have run amok.CAR BUYING TIPCrossover SUVs that go seriously off road are rare and it’s probably best to pass them up - unless the price is very favourable.