Strong and Sporty Vehicle

The Mitsubishi Outlander has not broken much new ground. It has been dependable, but not necessarily an eye-catcher. It has been re-designed for 2010 as a Crossover SUV. More often, they are referred to as a CUV (cross-over utility vehicle.)

At last year’s New York Auto Show, Mitsubishi announced this new GT model as a “prototype” but most journalists quickly concluded that it would be in full production by 2010. Sure enough, here it is, with the same nameplate, but with a lot of improvements. It is not too unusual for a car manufacturer to unveil a “redesign” about halfway through a vehicle’s production life. Most of the time, it is a planned rejuvenation with a few technological and mechanical refinements as well as some cosmetic uplifts. Normally, it helps keep interest in the model and extends the sales life of the vehicle. Hopefully, this will happen for the Outlander.

Generally, the GT is based on the previous Outlander with the new design changes inspired by the Lancer Evolution sedan. The Lancer EVO has been fairly popular, so the design engineers are hoping to build on that popularity. They have reshaped the headlamps, fenders, hood, bumpers, and side mirrors. The “nose” front of the GT Outlander is much more distinctive. In fact, very few can even remember the front look of the previous model. Mitsubishi has turned bland into memorable.

The Mitsubishi mechanics enhanced the V-6 engine and made it more powerful. The updated engine is a 3.0 liter, 230 horsepower MIVEC V-6 that is matched to a six speed automatic. The shifting has been upgraded. The suspension is shorter and stiffer. And, there is an advanced All-Wheel -Drive systems. A lot more technology is evident in the GT Outlander as well as quite a few more premium features. It includes Active Stability and Traction Control, Anti-Lock Braking, and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution.

Inside, there is a lot of nice touches, especially with the audio components and connectivity. Most of the controls are accessed by their placement on the steering wheel. The audio accessibility is on the left side of the dashboard control panel and the navigation system accessibility in on the right side. The sound system is a 710 watt Rockford Fosgate stereo. Overall, the Outlander’s interior is much more “premium” in substance than the previous models

My test model had a base MSRP of $29,250, which first seemed a little high priced for this little CUV. The “Convenience Package” was added that included heated front seats, all leather seating, a terrific navigation system, back-up camera, powered driver’s seat, and more. This Convenience package only added $3,000, The combination provided a vehicle that offered a lot of premium features at a bottom sticker price of $32,990. EPA mileage ratings are 18 city and 24 highway, which were in the range of my actual figures for the week’s test drive. I had anticipated slightly better for a small vehicle.

Bottom line – the Outlander had been fairly anonymous but with this re-design, ten more horsepower under the hood, and a lot more substance inside, the Outlander GT may help the Mitsubishi CUV be more acceptable. Check it out yourself at a Mitsubishi dealership.