Mitsubishi Outlander 2004 News

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Well aware of the white heat of competition in medium SUV sales in Australia, Mitsubishi, one of the original players in the SUV field in Australia, has added features to its Outlander 4WD. Appearance changes are minimal – the fitment of18-inch alloy wheels and a black-coloured roof rail in all models – but equipment changes are generous.The entry level Mitsubishi Outlander has what Mitsubishi tells us is $1500 worth of extras. These include reversing sensors, as well as a camera. Parking reference lines are shown on the central touch-screen.Mitsubishi’s Link audio system provides AM/FM radio, CD and MP3 player, Aux and USB inputs with full iPod control. There’s voice control by way of Bluetooth connectivity for media streaming and free phone use.The mid-level Outlander LS now has the top spec Mitsubishi Multi Communication System (MMCS). It uses a larger 7-inch colour touch-screen than that in the base-level. Outlander LS also gets satellite navigation with 3D mapping functionality. There’s SD card input.Also fitted as standard on the LS are automatic headlights and wipers. Mitsubishi tells us these additions to the Outlander LS represent $2500 added value. Outlander Aspire, the topline model, has approximately $5750 worth of extra gear. The biggest addition is a sunroof. Other items include HID headlamps and a powered tailgate. Major safety technology in the Outlander Aspire are Forward Collision Mitigation and Adaptive Cruise Control.Mitsubishi Outlander received a major overhaul in its appearance just 12 months ago. This did away with what some said was too radical a shape of the previous Outlander, instead for a more elegant look. We must admit to having a preference for the older, bolder shape, but Mitsubishi is well aware it’s targeting conservative buyers so probably made the correct decision in going for a neater appearance.It wasn’t just done for the sake of appearance – the co-efficient of drag was reduced from 0.36 to 0.33 to cut fuel consumption and emissions. Our review at the time commented on there being less interior noise because of the smoother flow of air over the body.Inside, the new generation Mitsubishi Outlander has a neat design and uses materials of high quality. The front seats offer good space, the centre row has good legroom and the third row of seats, not fitted to all models, is better suited to children, though adults can use it without being overly cramped.The centre-row seat folds flat in a single motion to add to luggage space. Previously, the seat was tumble-folded in two stages, the new arrangement adds significantly to the length of the cargo that can be carried.Japanese Mitsubishi engineers teamed with Australians to fine tune the Outlander’s suspension and steering in this country – it’s always good to be taken seriously by overseas car makers. Engines are 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre petrol and 2.3-litre turbo-diesel. We find the smaller engine to have marginal performance, particularly if you have a load on board. The others are fine.The 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 assist in keeping the Outlander on-line through corners. Mitsubishi Outlander has proven popular in Australia for many years and this upgraded new model for 2014 seems certain to keep up that tradition due to the increase in value it offers.The complete 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander range is:ES 2.0-litre petrol 2WD: from $27,640 (manual), $29,890 (CVT)ES 2.4-litre petrol AWD: from $32,890 (CVT)ES 2.0-litre petrol 2WD: from $33,490 (CVT)LS 2.4-litre petrol AWD: from $36,490 (CVT)LS 2.2-litre diesel AWD: from $39,490 (automatic)Aspire 2.4-litre petrol AWD: from $43,790 (CVT)Aspire 2.2-litre diesel AWD: from $46,790 (automatic) 

There is a clear-cut champion in the compact four-wheel-drive class.It is the Subaru Outback, which does easily the best job for the majority of shoppers who want the size, comfort and command driving position of a soft-roader but don't plan to do much of the rough-and-tough weekend work in the bush.The Outback is a high-riding and tougher-looking Subaru Liberty wagon, which means it is a new-age station wagon for people who are convinced that four-wheel-drives are the best bet for the 21st century.But it's not the only way to go in a class which is as varied as any in Australian motoring.The all-paw smalls are a split-personality line-up which ranges from serious bush buddies to suburban shopping trolleys, with everything in between.Some talk the talk, but don't go remotely close to walking the wilderness, and others are surprisingly capable despite their soft-form looks. And looks aren't always the best – or easiest – way to make a choice.The Daihatsu Terios has the high-rider style you expect to see in a serious four-wheel-drive, but it could have come just as easily from the world's best-selling carmaker – Matchbox.The Suzuki Jimny is much the same, though it can really romp in the rough and is priced from just $17,990.At the other end of the action, there are several contenders which push past $40,000, including the over-priced and under-done Land Rover Freelander.The compact class also opens the options between "all-wheel-drive" vehicles focused on blacktop work and "four-wheel-drive" vehicles with serious off-road grip and dual-range gears, in a battle which rages all the way to the $100,000-plus machines in the luxury four-wheel-drive world.The split between the soft-road and hard-rock vehicles means it's important to split the winners, with the Nissan X-Trail taking top honours for real off-road work and the Subaru Forester and best-selling Toyota RAV4 – now with a punchier 2.4-litre engine – scoring on the soft side. The Outback was completely updated last year and picks up the five-star safety and top quality from the latest Subaru Liberty.But it also gets a tougher look, extra ground clearance, rough-road tyres and all the other gear you need for weekend expeditions.The price is pretty rich in a class where most of the action is below $30,000 – the H6 engine can lift it from $31,180 to more than $50,000 – but it's the one to recommend to friends and family if they can afford it. The Nissan Patrol is a heavyweight four-wheel drive star and you can see and feel the family connection to the X-Trail.It has the stumpy looks of a serious off-roader and backs it with a 2.5-litre engine hooked to a grippy drivetrain and a tough body.Nissan has also created a funky cabin for the X-Trail, with all the right stuff for twentysomething owners.It's not cheap, with pricing from $31,990, but the price is right for the class and the competition. The Forester, like the Outback, was developed for rougher roads than the regular all-paw Subaru family wagons.So the Forester sprang from the Impreza, as the Outback did from the Liberty, but with a much bigger change to the body.The Forester looks like it will work off the bitumen and it does, provided you recognise its limits.It also comes with a punchier turbo engine, though it's not WRX, and Subaru Australia has just rejected a Forester STi which would have really rocked the compact four-wheel-drive scene.