Buyers seeking seven-seat SUVs have a growing number of options in SA, from a budget-focused R325,900 Suzuki Ertiga right up to a luxurious BMW X7 for over R2m.
The Mitsubishi Outlander lies in the middle of that price range. It’s not quite a full-sized people hauler that can take seven adults and all their luggage on holiday — for that you’ll need a Volkswagen Caravelle or a Kia Carnival.
But if you require a spacious five-seat family SUV with an extra pair of fold-out seats for small children, the Outlander hits the mark. It’s a roomy people hauler with decent power and a useful level of mod cons, and competes with the Nissan X-Trail, Peugeot 5008, VW Tiguan Allspace and the market-leading Toyota Fortuner.
Its design stands out in what can sometimes be a stuffy segment. The new-generation Outlander was recently launched in South Africa boasting futuristic new styling and enhanced technology, in two versions priced at R729,995 and R759,995.
It is a crossover and not as off-road focused as the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, which also has seven seats, but the Outlander is capable of mild off-tar excursions with its respectable 210mm ground clearance and permanent all-wheel drive.
Replacing the 2.4l Outlander that was with us since 2013, the latest model has a striking new face. It’s a flamboyant incarnation of the brand’s “dynamic shield” design with thick chrome bars and three decks of lighting giving it a flashy Tokyo-by-night vibe.
It’s less showy on the inside, where a more elegant renaissance has taken place. Smart quilted leather seats and soft cabin surfaces improve the perceived luxury over its predecessor, and the modern new interior has a digital instrument cluster with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
It is a premium interior look in keeping with the car’s price, and the range-topping Outlander Aspire model lays on luxuries such as full-grain leather upholstery, electronically adjustable driver’s seat, a power sliding panoramic sunroof and a nine-inch Smartphone-Link Display Audio display.
Both variants have front and rear park distance control, a rear-view camera, heated seats, automatic tailgate, a six-speaker sound system, navigation and three-zone automatic climate control. Safety is provided by seven airbags, hill start and descent assist, stability control, and automatic headlights that alter their illumination range and brightness.
A novel feature is a voice announcing when the car is approaching a toll gate or restricted area such as a gated community, but we couldn’t find a way to mute it (for instance when on a phone call).
At 4,710mm long the Outlander is one of the larger midsized crossovers in the segment, giving it a roomy interior with stretch-out room for four or five adults, with an additional two seats for small children. With all seats occupied there isn’t much boot space but the car swallows plenty of shopping or holiday luggage with the third row folded flat into the floor, which contains a spacesaver spare wheel.
Enhancing the car’s practicality is that the middle-row seats can be slid fore and aft for legroom, with the backrests also adjustable.
The new 2.5l naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine directs power to the road via permanent all-wheel drive. Despite weighing a hefty 1,710kg the Outlander doesn’t lack power, and the 135kW/245Nm engine pulls with reasonable gusto.
It accelerates briskly, cruises easily, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) doesn’t drone irritatingly like some of these gearboxes tend to. It has simulated gear changes and feels much like a regular automatic except when the foot is flat under hard acceleration. There are steering wheel gearshift paddles for manual changes, but I barely used them as the car shifted efficiently in auto mode.
The four-cylinder engine is refined and the car has good sound deadening, cruising along with no intrusive wind or mechanical noises. The Outlander is impressively frugal for its size, with the petrol engine averaging 9.0l /100km.
With its elevated ground clearance and off-road driving modes (Gravel, Snow and Mud), the all-wheel drive Outlander is suited to mild off-tar exploration, though its 20-inch tyres aren’t ideal for rocky trails. The low-profile tyres also contributed to the car feeling jittery on bumpy tar, and though it has a reasonably comfortable ride, it wasn’t as cushy as I expected of a family SUV.
We’ve said it before and will keep banging the drum: low-profile tyres belong on sports cars, not SUVs.
That aside, the new Mitsubishi Outlander is a roomy family crossover with decent power, better-than-average fuel consumption and standout styling.
Tech Specs
ENGINE
Type: Petrol
Capacity: 2.5l
Power: 135kW
Torque: 245Nm
TRANSMISSION
Type: CVT
DRIVETRAIN
Type: All-wheel drive
PERFORMANCE (claimed)
Top speed: 187km/h
0-100km/h: N/A
Fuel Consumption: 8.1l/100km (claimed) 9.0l/100km (as tested)
Emissions: 185g/km
STANDARD FEATURES
ABS brakes, stability control, seven airbags, three-zone climate control, seven seats, electric windows, cruise control, infotainment system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, USB ports, remote central locking, leather upholstery, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, auto headlamps, adaptive headlamps with high-beam assist, LED daytime running lights, park distance control, rear parking camera, navigation, auto wipers, panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, electric tailgate.
COST OF OWNERSHIP
Warranty: Three years/100,000km
Service plan: Five years/90,000km
Price: R759,995
Lease*: R16,905 per month
* at 11.75% interest over 60 months no deposit
Mitsubishi Outlander 2.5 Aspire
WE LIKE: Practicality, styling, plush interior, fuel economy
WE DISLIKE: Ride quality could be better
VERDICT: Capable family crossover
MOTOR NEWS star rating
Design ****
Performance ****
Economy *****
Ride ***
Handling ****
Safety *****
Value For Money ****
Overall ****
COMPETITION
Seven seaters:
- Toyota Fortuner 2.4 GD-6 4x4, 110kW/400Nm — R731,100
- Nissan X-Trail 2.5 Acenta Plus 4WD, 135kW/244Nm — R782,700
- Peugeot 5008 1.6T GT, 121kW/240Nm — R782,900
- Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 2.0 TSI 4Motion Style, 132kW/320Nm — R797,300
Five seaters:
- Toyota Rav4 2.5 VX AWD, 152kW/243Nm — R809,600
- Mazda CX-60 2.5 AWD Individual, 141kW/261Nm — R844,500
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