 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS S-AWC. Click image to enlarge |
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First Drive: 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander
Manufacturer’s web site |
Review and photos by Greg Wilson
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When it comes to small SUVs, it’s a jungle out there. There’s no shortage of well-established nameplates for the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander, still a relatively minor player, to lock horns with: Ford Escape, Chevrolet Equinox, Dodge Journey, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and CX-7, Nissan Rogue, Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe, Subaru Forester, Kia Sportage, Jeep Liberty and Patriot, and VW Tiguan.
Why would consumers even bother to test drive an Outlander when there are so many better-known sport-utes to choose from? Well, the Outlander does have some compelling features, starting with its bold forward-slanted grille and Lancer Evolution-like styling cues, a unique all-wheel drive system with technology borrowed from the rally-inspired Evo, a third-row seat in some models, a unique split tailgate, and Mitsubishi’s class leading 5-year/100,000 km basic warranty and 10-year/160,000 km powertrain warranty. The warranty especially, is a very attractive drawing card.
 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS S-AWC. Click image to enlarge |
Mitsubishi calls the Outlander a “mid-size sport utility vehicle”, reserving the “compact crossover” moniker for its slightly smaller, lighter RVR model introduced last year. The RVR is one of a growing sub-class of slightly smaller, lighter, less-expensive four-cylinder crossover vehicles – such as the Hyundai Tucson and the new Mazda CX-5 – which have carved out a market niche below traditional compact SUVs. For example, the Mitsubishi RVR comes with a 140-hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and is priced from $19,998 to $28,998 while the Outlander is available with a 168-hp 2.4-litre four-cylinder or a 230-hp 3.0-litre V6 and runs from $25,998 to $35,198. In terms of size and power, more direct competitors for the Outlander would include the RAV4, CX-7, and Santa Fe.
As before, the 2012 Outlander comes in three trim levels: ES ($25,998 FWD; $27,998 AWD), LS ($30,498 AWD), and XLS S-AWC ($35,198). The ES has a standard four-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission while the LS and XLS have a V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift function. In addition, the all-wheel drive system on the ES and LS is different to the more sophisticated Super All-Wheel Control system (S-AWC) in the XLS.
     2012 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS S-AWC. Click image to enlarge |
Today’s test vehicle is the top-of-the-line Outlander XLS S-AWC equipped with the only option available: a $2,500 Navigation Package that includes a seven-inch touch-screen, 40-GB music server, rear-view camera, single CD/DVD player, Bluetooth audio and driver information/trip computer. The 2012 Outlander XLS S-AWC comes well equipped with 18-inch tires and alloys, xenon headlights, fog lights, leather seats (heated in front), magnesium shift paddles behind the steering wheel, automatic climate control, fold-flat third row seat, power sunroof, and a 710-Watt Rockford-Fosgate sound system with nine speakers including a 10-inch subwoofer, and Sirius satellite radio with a six-month pre-paid subscription. As equipped, and with a freight charge of $1,450, our test vehicle came to $39,148.
The Outlander XLS’ all-wheel drive system, a budget version of the Evo’s system, is a full-time AWD system that automatically varies torque front to rear and includes an active front differential that can send torque to either front wheel, depending on where more traction is needed. It’s integrated with the stability control and anti-lock brakes to improve cornering, traction and stability. A dial in the cockpit allows the driver to adjust the all-wheel drive system for different road surfaces: Tarmac (rear biased), Snow (front-biased) or Lock – the latter for keeping an even distribution of torque front to rear for severe grades and slippery conditions. With its sophisticated all-wheel drive system, healthy 215-mm (8.5-in.) ground clearance, and a good set of snow tires, the Outlander would be a good fit for those areas of the country that experience severe winter weather.
Being that it is now summer, I had no opportunity to test the S-AWC in the snow other than to say that during periods of rain in Tarmac mode, I never felt a loss of traction and stability. In a gravel parking lot, the Lock mode provided the pull and the push needed to gain forward motion on loose surfaces that would otherwise have had me spinning two tires at one end of the vehicle.
In daily use on city streets and freeways, the well-equipped V6-powered Outlander XLS is a smooth running five-passenger vehicle with an option to seat two small children in the third row seat. With 230-horsepower, the Outlander moves quickly and quietly, and the six-speed automatic transmission changes smoothly except when coming to a stop when it occasionally ‘bumps’ into second gear. At 100 km/h in sixth gear, engine revs are just 1,800 rpm, helping to reduce engine noise and improve fuel economy. Its official rating of 11.0 L/100 km city and 7.9 L/100 km highway is competitive with other V6 competitors – but my onboard fuel economy display was showing an average of 11 L/100 km. Mitsubishi recommends Premium grade gasoline.
The XLS model includes impressively big magnesium-alloy paddle shifters behind the steering wheel which allow manual shifting. However, as the paddles don’t turn with the steering wheel, shifting while turning a corner is awkward or impossible. The Outlander has a tight 10.6-metre (34.8 ft.) turning diameter – one of the best in its class – but I found the steering effort a bit heavy at slower speeds. The driver’s visibility is quite good and there’s a rear-view camera that really helps when backing into a parking space.
