There’s an extra step required to start and operate the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander.
The short but necessary process normally takes place after the driver has entered the vehicle and before they’ve put it in gear: they look around, maybe reach out to touch a surface, and ask, “damn, is this really a Mitsubishi?”
Then they drive away.
I imagine that the compulsion to take this extra step does wear off after some time, but during the week that I had the Outlander at my in-laws place in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, the practice remained intact. Whenever I’d climb aboard, I’d find myself remarking at just how nice of a space it was to be in.
Others noticed, too. Parked in front of the house in Niagara on the Lake, it drew several comments from neighbours, with one mistaking it for a Lexus.
As noted in our previous coverage of the new flagship SUV, Mitsubishi has truly put its best foot forward with the driver and passenger experience here. Interior surfaces are soft and smooth, including the rounded gear selector, almost like designers were baby-proofing the space. And the ride is smooth and quiet, with a great pairing of engine and transmission and better sound insulation, including a special film between dual panes of glass in the front — almost as if the designers knew there would be babies trying to sleep in the back.
I didn’t have any babies to stuff into the back seats (who else would fit in that third row) or chew on any of the infotainment protuberances, but I did have an adult partner, and the coos and awes she emitted during her time in the passenger seat were affirmation enough. The Outlander easily outclasses its price competitors and even gives some of its luxury segment brethren a run for their money.
At $41,678 before freight and inspection, the all-new Outlander GT that I tested — the penultimate of the model’s seven trim options, all of which are served with AWD and three-row seating in Canada — carries around $10,000 worth of extra goodies over the entry-level ES.
That places the Outlander squarely in CR-V and RAV4 territory, but neither of these two main competitors offers a third-row seating option. For the extra belts in this segment, you’ve got to look at the Kia Sorento, which frankly doesn’t compare when it comes to interior livability and lovability. The Mercedes-Benz GLB, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Land Rover Discovery Sport also offer third row seating, but at slightly less of a bargain.
Features like heated front seats, front and rear USB inputs, and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter are standard across the Outlander trims. If you want access to the higher-tech driving features like lane keep assist and traffic sign recognition that I took advantage of on the 400 series highways, or you prefer your back passengers to have warm butts, you’re looking at the GT or GT Premium trims only.
Despite the tall stack of trim options, there’s one engine in the Outlander: a 181-horsepower, 2.5L gasoline four-cylinder tied to an eight-speed sport mode CVT. Although some ‘car people’ I spoke to were quick to point out the shared platform with the Nissan Rogue (and engine and transmission), some smart tuning by Mitsubishi fairly differentiates the vehicles, even in the components they share.
On the autumnal Niagara region roads I used it on, the Outlander moved confidently at all speeds, never exactly leaping under the weight of my size 13s, but also never hesitating. There’s no turbo, and just 181 lb-ft of torque, so sporty it is not. But why are you in a hurry? Aren’t you comfortable?
I was, which is saying something. As a freakishly tall person, ample interior space is a feature I tend to notice, and while the Outlander isn’t outlandishly large, I fit. It passes the freak test.
I was reluctant to return the keys at the end of the week. The 2022 Outlander feels like an underdog. It’s surprisingly good, which I noted verbally each time I stepped inside it. It’s a Mitsubishi, after all, and historically that’s just not been the handsomest pooch at the dog park. But this new dog will hunt. It’s gorgeous, and fit, and has incredible recall. Well worth the extra step to get it started.
Keyword: SUV Review: 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander GT