   2007 Mitsubishi Outlander. Click image to enlarge |
Review by Justin Pritchard
Vehicle Type: Crossover
History/Description: The second-generation Mitsubishi Outlander has recently been replaced by a new model for 2014, effectively moving the model fully in to used crossover territory. Outlander was Mitsubishi’s shot at the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Subaru Forester, Kia Sportage, and the plethora of other crossover models that have all but taken over Canadian roadways.
Key Mitsubishi Outlander draws? An extensive powertrain warranty with 160,000 kilometres of coverage and roadside assistance, top-rated crash-test performance, decent overall bang-for-the-buck, and a slick AWD system bolted optionally to the floor-pan beneath all of that.
Options include a Bluetooth phone interface, sunroof, navigation system, hard-drive audio storage and a 710-watt Rockford Fosgate Punch sound system. A CD changer, MP3 compatibility, auxiliary inputs and satellite radio are also available. Keyless ignition with smart key, a navigation system and a rear-seat entertainment console could all be specified, too.
Look for Outlander in both five and seven seat configurations, all of which have a unique two-piece tailgate opening which sees a hatch that opens up, and a door that folds down, effectively lowering the load floor and providing a seat for tailgate parties.
Engines / Trim: Outlander came with numerous engine and powertrain options, as well as numerous trim levels, to suit a variety of shoppers. ES, LS, XLS models ascend from basic to top-line, respectively, and both front or all-wheel drive (which Mitsu calls All Wheel Control) can be specified.
Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) was available on the Outlander XLS, too. This enhanced, Evo-based version of the ‘standard’ AWC system has a few more hardware bits and tricks up its sleeve to enhance agility and handling, and also lets drivers dial in custom calibrations for various driving surfaces.
Engine options worked thusly: a 2.4L 168-horsepower four-cylinder was standard, and a 3.0L V6 with 220 to 230 horsepower could be specified. Both engines use Mitsubishi’s MIVEC camshaft management system to optimize responsiveness and fuel economy.
What Owners Like: Outlander’s pricing, feature-content bang for the buck, extensive warranty coverage and safety scores attracted shoppers to showrooms initially, with adequate power output, smooth performance, that two-piece tailgate and decent rear-seat legroom sealing the deal. Gas mileage is rated fairly well, as is the confident, planted feel in the snow characteristic of models with AWD. Overall comfort is rated fairly highly, too.
What Owners Dislike: Common complaints include a cheap, plasticky interior, easily-scratched surfaces and an audio display screen that’s hard to read if the sun is shining on it. Some owners complain of a noisy ride on some surfaces, too.
Here are some owner reviews from www.autoTRADER.ca.
  2007 Mitsubishi Outlander. Click image to enlarge |
The Test Drive: Though reports are patchy from the owner’s community, some mention of premature paint, tire and brake wear means shoppers are advised to start with a full walk-around of their potential used Outlander. While in the process, look for signs of rust at the lower, inner edges of the hood, doors an tailgate, too. Inspect the headlight and taillight assemblies for signs of moisture intrusion. If your taillamps or headlamps are ‘hazy’ or ‘fogged up’, light output will be reduced, and the wiring could rust.
Outlander seems to be a solidly-built machine, and offers even further confidence from the fact that you’ll probably find a good deal on one with plenty of warranty remaining. Still, a few checks should be considered mandatory.
First, on board. Confirm all power windows are working properly, and able to go fully up and down a few times in near silence without any grinding, clicking or binding noticed. Some owners complain of power windows that stick, bind or even fall out of their tracks, which is a soggy inconvenience if it’s raining out.
