Mitsubishi Outlander 2009 News

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced its latest round of national recalls, with models from Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Kia, Land Rover and Ram impacted.

The Australasian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced another set of national safety recalls, with models from Mazda, Tesla, Mitsubishi, Peugeot and Citroen impacted.

Cars are either being built worse -- or companies are getting better at detecting faults.a range of models made over the last 10 years replacing potentially deadly Takata airbags in 1.3 million cars in Australia. a second, airbag-related recall for the Priusreplacing potentially deadly Takata airbags in 1.3 million cars in Australia

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) 

And the new Outlander will be bringing plenty of excitement when it arrives later this year with new engines, a totally new look, premium interior treatment and features and the availability later on of a plug-in hybrid 4WD version that uses a back up internal combustion engine.The new, lighter Outlander has a much smoother look something like a scaled down version of Ford's Territory mixed with the Mitsubishi Challenger.It's handsome from all angles and practical too with seven seat capacity and fold flat seats for improved load carrying capacity. The tailgate is one piece and is available with electric assistance.Rake and reach steering wheel adjustment makes an appearance as does dual zone climate control and optional xenon headlights. A rear vision monitor is likely in all Aussie spec' models while noise, vibration and harshness has been reduced for improved interior comfort levels.Safety equipment is more comprehensive and Mitsu' will offer new Outlander with sophisticated equipment such as adaptive cruise control, collision prevention that automatically applies the brakes and lane departure warning. It will be available with 2WD and 4WD with a choice of a 2.0-litre petrol engine or a 2.2-litre turbodiesel. The petrol has a five speed manual or CVT and is good for 110kW/195Nm output. It replaces the previous 2.4-litre four cylinder petrol (and the 3.0-litre V6 petrol).The turbodiesel is good for 110kW and 360Nm in six-speed auto form and 110kW/380Nm in six-speed manual. All Outlanders have auto stop and go to optimise city fuel economy.The big news is the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) model which uses an electric drive engine for each axle and an internal combustion engine as a generator or EV motor assist through three drive modes."Pure" uses the electric motors alone for propulsion. "Series" uses the twin electric motors for 4WD and the internal combustion engine as support while "Parallel"? uses the internal combustion engine for front wheel drive and the two electrics for 4WD.It's said to be super fuel efficient and offers strong performance over a wide operating range. No price details are yet available.

The new compact SUV will be followed later this year by the new Challenger and a compact SUV Mitsubishi Australia president and CEO Robert McEniry said the brand would bolster its SUV ranks with a new Challenger and a production version of the Concept cX."We have a small, compact SUV mid next year, a Tiguan-sized vehicle." "We will put a diesel in Outlander ... we'll wait until we get an MMC diesel in it and we'll take that," he says. "We're going to be pretty strong in SUV and cross-over style vehicles, our Tiguan-style car will be in 2WD and 4WD, which will give us more smaller passenger opportunities as well," McEniry says.The new compact SUV has inherited the nose of the Lancer and has been given a make-over in terms of equipment and material quality, something the Mitsubishi staffers admit was within its customer research on the outgoing vehicle.Mitsubishi product planning manager Chris Maxted says the company's entrant in the compact SUV market was being bought - and re-purchased - by those interested in above-average off-road ability for the segment. "The market segment is maturing, 44 per cent are re-purchasing compact SUVs.Maxted says the majority of buyers are married, some with young kids, and below the market segment's average buyer age of 30-50. "Compact SUVs spend a lot of time running around town, but 30 per cent of the use is on unsealed roads, so they are genuine crossovers - Outlander rates higher in the 4WD aspect for interest in the segment, so it's a bit unique for that," he says.The 2010 Outlander continues with two pre-existing powerplants, albeit with minor changes to the V6, with suspension and braking unchanged. The 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine is unchanged at 125kW and 226Nm and sticks with a five-speed manual or optional continuously variable automatic transmission.The three-litre V6 now produces 169kW - up by seven kilo-Watts - and an extra 15Nm of torque, which rises to 291Nm. The latter is spread over a broader curve and Mitsubishi says the new V6 has five per cent better fuel economy at 10.4l/100km with the six-speed automatic.The model line-up has been rationalised to reduce the number of seven-seater models - the LS CVT model is the sole seven-seater. The 2.4-litre four-cylinder will be offered in LS manual or CVT, the mid-spec XLS and an XLS Luxury pack, both only on offer with the CVT. The three-litre V6 auto-only comes in VR and the VRX models, (V6 versions with six-speed automatic transmission only).The standard safety features list has dual front airbags, stability control, hillstart assist, ABS brakes, with side and curtain airbags on all models bar the LS, where an option box needs to be ticked. Other safety features standard on XLS, XLS Luxury and VRX models are high-intensity discharge bi-xenon adaptive headlights and rear parking sensors, which are supplemented on the XLS Luxury and VRX with a rear camera.The V6 has also benefitted from the addition of the Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) electronically-controlled four-wheel drive system, above and beyond the standard set-up on the four-cylinder.The new system on the V6 uses an active front limited-slip differential, which co-ordinates drive with the electronically controlled four-wheel drive coupling, apportioning drive as required.The system uses electronics rather than the similar hydraulic system that is on the Lancer Evolution; the driver has the ability to change the system for tarmac, sand and locked.The LS features list retains the ZG's air-conditioning, power windows and remote-control locking, but adds Hill Start Assist, two-speed variable intermittent wipers, USB ports, new instrumentation and new synchronised washers to limit obscured vision when cleaning the windscreen.The XLS ups the wheel-size to 18in and adds Smart Key remote entry, upgraded cloth trim,climate control, alloy pedals, latest-generation Bluetooth 2.0 phone link; the XLS Luxury models gets different 18in alloys, leather trim, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a sunroof, the reversing camera, the mutli-media set-up with a top-grade Rockford Fosgate sound system, although the satnav system remains an option on this and the VRX.The V6 sports VR model's equipment list mimics the LS, with the addition of the S-AWC system, fog lights, reversing sensors, alloy pedals and enhanced interior trim. The VRX sports flagship has its own 18in alloy wheels, leather trim, auto headlights and wipers, auto headlights, rain sensing wipers, a sunroof, a reversing camera, the Rockford Fosgate sound system and the MMCS.Mitsubishi is expecting a sales jump from the average of around 550 a month up to 700; pricing is yet to be released but expect some small price increases, primarily reflecting the spec changes.McEniry says the new Outlander's flexibility and versatility is suited to an active lifestyle. "You can throw your surfboard or mountain bike in the back, plug your iPod into the USB port, and you - and up to six of your friends - can go places you've never been in comfort, style and safety," he says. "If you're the sort of person who likes to get up and go - anywhere - then the Outlander has all the technology and versatility to get you there."Mitsubishi ZH Outlander Engines:2.4 litre, DOHC 16 valve four-cylinder; three-litre V6, SOHC 24 valve.Transmission: five-speed manual or CVT auto (2.4); six-speed automatic (3.0).Power: 125kW @ 6000rpm; 169kW @ 6250rpm.Torque: 226Nm @ 4100rpm; 291Nm @ 3750rpm.Fuel consumption litres/100km: 9.5 (CVT 9.3), tank 60 litres (2.4); 10.4 (3.0).Emissions g/km: 227 (2.4 CVT 222); 247 (3.0).Rival:Toyota RAV4, from $33,490.Subaru Forester, from $30,990.Suzuki Grand Vitara, from $30,990.Nissan X-Trail, from $32,990. 

Of the 12 off-roaders tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the United States just four earned a top rating of ``good'' and three were ``acceptable''.The tests were designed by the institute to provide new roof strength ratings.The Volkswagen Tiguan has the strongest rated roof and the Kia Sportage the weakest.Roofs on the Honda CRV and Ford Escape are marginal, and the Kia's is poor.The Tiguan, Subaru Forester, Jeep Patriot and a car sold in the US, the Honda Element, earn good ratings.The Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander rated acceptable.The Chevrolet Equinox and Nissan Rogue, both just sold in North America, also rated acceptable.A spokesman for the Australian New Car Assessment Program and RACV chief engineer, Michael Case, says the US test add another dimension to safety information for new car buyers.He says ANCAP will be studying the findings.“The roof crush rating is a useful measure of how the roof will perform in a real rollover,’’ he says.“Rollover is the next area to go in developing tests and rating vehicles.”He says ANCAP will need to look at the IIHS process, particularly how to assess it.The new rating system is based on institute research showing that occupants in rollover crashes can survive better if their off-roaders have stronger roofs.Vehicles rated good must have roofs that are more than twice as strong as minimum federal safety standards require.``We anticipate that our roof strength test will drive improved rollover crash protection the same way that our frontal offset and side impact consumer test programs have led to better protection in these kinds of crashes,'' institute president Adrian Lund, says.The Institute recognises that vehicle roof structures have become stronger over the past few years.Part of the reason is that carmakers have made structural improvements to earn better front and side crash ratings.Strong A and B pillars help prevent intrusion in these types of crashes and also help hold up the roof.``It's not surprising that Volkswagen and Subaru earn good ratings in our new roof test because these carmakers were among the first to ace our front and side tests,'' Lund says.In the United States more than 10,000 people a year are killed in rollovers.When vehicles roll, their roofs often hit the ground with considerable force, deforming and crushing.Stronger roofs crush less, reducing the risk that occupants will be injured by contact with the roof itself.Stronger roofs can also prevent occupants, especially those not wearing seatbelts, from being ejected.In the US, about 25 per cent of deaths in car and van crashes are rollovers but in off-roaders this jumps to 59 per cent.The RACV’s Case says the incidence of rollovers in Australia is lower “but there is still a high chance of death or serious injury”.In the institute's roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against one side of a roof near the A-pillar.To earn a good rating, the roof must withstand a force of four times the vehicle's weight before reaching 12cm of crush.   

The Outlander arrives with new engines, new transmissions and new trim levels but the highlight is a sleek, chiselled body that will really cut the ice compared with main rivals Honda, Toyota and Nissan.The cabin is bigger than most rivals and detailed work to the cabin make it a very attractive proposition, especially to the mainstay female buyer group.Outlander gets two new engines - one is it first segment foray into V6 territory, picking up a new 3-litre engine that is available in the two premium models.The four-cylinder is a 2.4-litre but it has no relation to the outgoing engine of the same capacity.The V6 is attached to a six-speed auto while the 2.4 gets a continuously-variable transmission (CVT) with paddle-shift manual changes as a bonus. Normally the CVT will operate as a pure auto.Mitsubishi said that this engine mix will allow the vehicle to compete with the four cylinder rivals such as RAV4, CR-V and Nissan X-Trail, while the V6 version will go up against the Toyota Kluger, Subaru Outback, Holden Captiva and Hyundai Santa Fe.There is also suggestions that the Outlander has the ability to lure Ford Territory buyers, specifically because of its optional seven-seat capacity - a new move for Mitsubishi in this arena.The Outlander shows its family relationship to other Mitsubishi products with its nose, though the tail treatment is new.It's clean and simple though distinctive on the road with a broad buyer appeal. Thankfully, the styling is a farewell wave to the freestyled, heavy grille-oriented artwork of the previous designer Olivier Boulay who also penned the last Magna.The simplicity of the exterior continues inside. The cabin feels bigger and brighter than its four-cylinder rivals, showing excellent room for the five occupants.The boot is big and wins extra points with its double tailgate. A low, bottom hinged gate folds down to make easy loading onto a flat cargo bed. This gate, rated at 200kg, also serves as seat.The seven seat option adds $2800-$4800 to the price of the various five-seat models.But while seating the seven sounds grand, the third row is made just for small kids.All but the base model get a keyless entry and start system but all miss out on a full-size spare tyre.On the road the Outlander feels more confident than its predecessor.The longer wheelbase and wider track give better stability and cornering precision, though that improvement is countered by some steering wheel vagueness.Only the four cylinder variants were driven and, hence, only the CVT box. Initially impressive for its simplicity of driving, there were times when the 2.4-litre engine - even with variable-valve timing - struggled to get the power quickly to the ground.It could also be noisy when the right foot pressed hard. But the CVT won back points for its quietness and low-speed engine revs that improved fuel economy.For those seeking performance, the manual version looks a better bet and will hit here next year at an expected $29,990.