Mitsubishi Outlander (2023) It all makes sense - Review

The all-new Mitsubishi Outlander nestles itself nicely in the powerful range of Mitsubishi utility vehicles. It's a vehicle that just makes sense.

Interior & Space

The Mitsubishi Outlander, for the longest, time described itself as a vehicle geared for adventure. Some of the Japanese marketing back in the early 2000s stated this vehicle as, “A feeling of journeying to distant, unexplored lands in search of adventure.” This does live up to Outlander’s namesake.

Cue the third-generation Outlander which, while still maintaining the adventure aspect, nestles itself as Mitsubishi’s new flagship further incorporating what it has learned in design and performance. Interestingly, this vehicle was revealed to the South African public at the Nampo Harvest agricultural show which surprised many.

Styling 

The new Mitsubishi Outlander employs Mitsubishi’s latest design philosophy. The Japanese design concept of I-Fu-Do-Do translates to ‘authentic and majestic’. The Outlander uses rectangular shapes and a horizontal theme. The Outlander isn’t all that big since it’s a crossover but it does look imposing and the most notable feature of the Outlander exterior is the front fascia which uses Mitsubishi’s signature Dynamic Shield Design. The design comprises a large grille flanked with chrome trim pieces and minimal lighting real estate.

Much of the proportions are akin to the Subaru Forester, which is a competitor to the Outlander. The horizontal theme continues into the side profile of the vehicle which does give the illusion that the Outlander is a long vehicle. The lines in the side profile are boldly chiselled and rounding off the look are the 20-inch two-tone machined wheels which work well with the Dynamic Shield Design when looking at the car from a 3-quarter angle. The rear end looks Lancer-esque with the taillights and smoothes things out. The only thing we’d change would be to black out the diffuser but that’s about it. The Outlander is attractive and ready to rumble on and offroad.

5 Extras you should fit to your new Mitsubishi Outlander

Space & Interior 

Continuing with the I-Fu-Do-Do theme. The majestic and sophisticated theme is employed in the cabin. The dashboard and centre stack uses the same horizontal and rectangular shapes. To break away from the typical “Rudimentary Japanese Interior” syndrome, there are splashes of gloss black trim pieces and plenty of soft-touch materials around the cabin. Since we had the GLS model, the seats were a synthetic leather and suede combo but were power-adjustable and heated too.

The seating for the Outlander is ergonomic in the front and 2nd row, however, we’d reserve the 3rd-row seating for children mostly simply due to space. Fold the 2nd and 3rd-row seats and you’ve got a maximum of 1473 litres of boot space to play around with. The Outlander interior is premium and comfortable. The vehicle will certainly do the family duties with grace and you can depend on it.

New vs used Mitsubishi Outlander: What are the top 3 differences?

Comfort & Convenience 

We received the Outlander smack bang in the middle of a frosty Johannesburg winter which warranted a takeaway coffee taking its residence in the conveniently placed cupholders. The heated front seats were a welcomed feature here and the ergonomics of the front seats were easy on the back. The Outlander will handle those long journeys well and handles going off the beaten track with grace where even your passengers will be impressed with the levels of comfort.

The thing that stood out the most about the Outlander was just how intuitive the vehicle was. Every time we drove the car it was a case of jumping in driving without questioning how to use the many features and functions of the vehicle. Everything is conveniently placed and within easy reach. Our only bugbear was with the infotainment system. While the system is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible, it is only a wired connection and a wireless connection would help. Sound-wise, the 6-speaker sound system is fine but could do with a subwoofer. Other than that, the Outlander comfort is sublime.

What is covered under Mitsubishi Outlander manufacturer car warranty?

Performance 

The new Outlander is powered by a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine churning out 135 kW and 245 Nm. This is sent to all four wheels via a simulated 8-speed CVT transmission. The power delivery in the Outlander is brisk and quite usable for daily duties. A bit more punch up in the top of the rev range would help in some situations like overtaking though. We have to say, the CVT in the Outlander is one of the better renditions out there. It wasn’t noisy and did what it said on the tin. It’s worth mentioning as well that the Outlander is amazingly quiet even when you rev the vehicle out.

The handling package of the Outlander is another example of the Mitsubishi Offroad Pedigree. You have 210mm of ground clearance and the biggest thing to note here is the Super All-Wheel Control system. This is an electronically controlled All Wheel Drive system that consists of 6 drive modes to distribute power accordingly with a focus on balancing economy, performance and adapting to the driving that is needed on certain terrain. This system works in tandem with Mitsubishi’s famous Active Yaw Control system as well. Yes, the same system is found in the famous Lancer Evolution. The result of this control system combo is a very surefooted feel on and off-road that is quite confidence-inducing. You’d think with the 20-inch wheels that’s not possible but you’d be pleasantly surprised, this vehicle wants to be thrown about.

Fuel Economy 

Claimed fuel consumption on the Mitsubishi Outlander is 8.1l /100km. During our test period, we managed to get around the 9.0l /100km mark but could go a bit lower with more open-road driving. Not too shabby.

Safety 

• 7 Airbags
• ISOFIX Child Seat Anchors
• Brake Override System
• ABS, EBD
• Emergency Stop signal System (ESS)
• Hill Start Assist
• Hill Descent Control
• Auto Headlights (With dusk sensor)
• Speed-sensing Auto Door Lock
• Central Locking
• Immobiliser
• Keyless operation system with engine switch
• Traction Control and Active Stability Control
• Front and Rear Park Distance Control
• Rear View Camera
• Front Rain-sensing Wipers

Price 

The Mitsubishi Outlander comes with 3 year/ 100 000km manufacturer warranty, 5-year Unlimited mileage Road Side Assistance and a 5-year/90 000km warranty.

Competitors 

• Subaru Forester
• Toyota Fortuner
• Volkswagen Tiguan

Verdict 

The latest Mitsubishi Outlander is a cracking car to handle family duties as well as outings with ease and majesty. The vehicle just makes sense and doesn’t have you questioning it and wanting more out of the vehicle. The powertrain could be slightly more pokey, the infotainment could use a little more punch and some added safety kit like what you’d find with Subaru EyeSight in the Forester would be welcomed but other than that, the Outlander is great to drive.

Keyword: Mitsubishi Outlander (2023) It all makes sense - Review