 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.
Handling is decent thanks to its fully independent suspension and standard 225/55HR 18-inch tires, but the ride can be a bit stiff and there’s a noticeable booming sound from the suspension and body when travelling over rougher surfaces. With a curb weight of 1715 kg (3,780 lbs), the Outlander is on the heavy side and not as nimble as the RVR.
       2012 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS S-AWC. Click image to enlarge |
Equipped with the V6, the Outlander can tow up to 3,500 lbs, comparable with the RAV4 V6 and better than most four-cylinder competitors.
The cabin is roomy with lots of headroom and legroom for first and second row passengers. The third row seat, which folds into the floor when not in use, is difficult to get into and quite uncomfortable for an adult. Its head restraints detach and store in special clips so as not to block rear visibility when the seat is unoccupied.
The cabin design is simple and attractive with easy-to-see, backlit instruments and controls, comfortable leather front seats with raised thigh bolsters and prominent side bolsters, a padded centre armrest, and a thick-rimmed tilt/telescopic steering wheel with integral phone, audio and cruise controls. The one ergonomic blunder is the location of the front seat heater buttons which are wedged down between the seat and the centre console. Oh, and the un-shielded touch-screen is subject to wash-out if the Sun is shining on it.
You’ll notice there are no traditional audio controls on the instrument panel. Apart from the buttons on the steering wheel for volume, seek and mode, and a volume button beside the touch-screen, all audio commands must be done by pushing buttons on the touch-screen. If the screen is displaying the navigation map or the information screen, the driver must switch screens before adjusting their radio, CD or iPod selections. This can be a problem if glare makes the screen difficult to see.
The small colour information screen between the tachometer and speedometer and the larger seven-inch centre touch-screen both display useful driver information, some of which is duplicated. The smaller screen can display average fuel economy, current fuel economy, outside temperature, coolant level, fuel level, trip odometer, average speed, a pictograph of the S-AWC system, distance to empty, and distance to next servicing.
The larger centre touch-screen can also display average fuel economy, instant fuel economy, average speed, distance to empty, and driving time, as well some more interesting info such as history of average fuel economy for the last three hours, vehicle position showing latitude and longitude, outside temperature, altimeter, barometer, and maintenance schedule. The touch-screen is also used for the navigation map and destination inputs, telephone, and audio control. Press a button, and the screen tilts up to reveal a 6-CD/MP3/WMA/DVD slot and another slot for the navigation DVD. Music can be stored on the built-in 40-GB music server, and portable music and video devices and phones can be hooked up to a USB port, 12-volt power outlet and A/V jacks inside the centre storage bin. Wireless Bluetooth audio is also supported.
A few Outlander cabin features I liked were the dual passenger side gloveboxes, a pull-out cupholder near the driver’s door, and the simple large dials for the fan speed, temperature and ventilation functions.
Cargo capacity behind the third row seat is minimal, but when it is folded down, cargo capacity is comparable with the five-passenger RAV4 and CR-V. With the 60/40 split second-row seats folded down, total cargo capacity amounts to 2,056 litres, compared to 2,074 for the RAV4 and 2,007 for the CR-V. What’s unique about the Outlander is its split tailgate/liftgate. The top portion lifts up and the bottom section drops down. This provides a lower liftover height and allows heavy packages to rest on the tailgate before sliding them. However, it makes it more difficult to reach items that have slid forwards in the cargo area. My preference was to leave the tailgate up and just raise the liftgate, so that packages can be dropped into the cargo area behind the tailgate.
Though it’s not as well known as other small SUVs, the Outlander XLS is priced competitively, has a better warranty and offers comparable interior room, horsepower and fuel economy. A test drive will help you decide whether its road noise, stiff ride, firm steering and some interior controls worry you enough to keep it off your list.
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Pricing: 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS S-AWC
Specifications
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Crash test results
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