2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Launch Review
What’s hot: Improved interior, ultra-quiet diesel, seven-seat availability
What’s not: Tyre noise, reduced cargo capacity, jittery ride, higher boot lip
X-Factor: Those seven seats will be a plus for families, as will be the refined new diesel
Vehicle style: Medium SUV
Variants Reviewed | ||
Engine | Power/Torque | Fuel (claimed) |
2.0 litre petrol - CVT | 110kW/190Nm | 6.6 l/100km |
2.4 litre petrol - CVT | 124kW/220Nm | 7.5 l/100km |
2.2 litre turbo diesel - 6A | 110kW/360Nm | 5.8 l/100km |
OVERVIEW
Although a reasonably strong seller for Mitsubishi, the previous Outlander mid-size SUV was not without its flaws.
In a brutally honest presentation to the media, Mitsubishi acknowledged that the last-generation model suffered from below-par interior quality, excessive noise, vibration and harshness, and a third-row seat that was cramped, uncomfortable and difficult to operate.
With the 2013 Outlander, Mitsubishi has addressed those flaws - but at the same time introduced a few new weaknesses.
For one, it looks rather plain-Jane: the new Outlander is almost anonymous. Somehow, the wow-factor of its inspiration, the PX-MiEV concept car, has been lost on the journey down the production line.
But there’s finally a diesel in the range. And while Mitsubishi expects the diesel to account for just 15 percent of Outlander sales, in our opinion it’s the one to get. Quiet, tractable and smooth, this is precisely the kind of engine for a modern SUV.
It’s a familiar story around the rest of the car. In some areas Mitsubishi giveth, but in other areas taketh. Nowhere is this more evident than in the cabin.
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