The new Mitsubishi Outlander was launched on Amazon Live – the very first car launch to appear on the web streaming platform – and is the first Mitsubishi from the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance to be directly impacted.
The Outlander will only be offered for sale in the US from April, before being introduced to other markets later in 2021. The new Outlander is a brand new development, though based on the Nissan Rogue platform, taking its own offering. In fact, Mitsubishi communicates that it was ‘based on the concept of’ I-Fu-Do-Do ‘, which means authentic and majestic in Japanese’.
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The compact SUV, which is a volume seller, is not only important for Mitsubishi, but also very important for the alliance partner Nissan, which has a 34% stake in the company. Mitsubishi has recently become a problem child with old platforms and a limited range in the important North American market. In 2020, sales fell by 27% from the previous year.
The Outlander is the first brand new offering launched from the three diamonds in years. It’s part of Nissan’s brand repositioning to be a fun and exciting alternative, with a lot of talk about Mitsubishi’s rally heritage mentioned in the teaser campaign.
The new Outlander also features a new version of Mitsubishi’s design language. It is positioned as a flagship model for Mitsubishi and sits above the other Crossover SUVs in their range.
Read: Mitsubishi wants to be ‘small but beautiful’, and will launch at least nine new or redesigned models
Dimensions: a larger footprint
The 2022 Outlander is 5.08 cm wider than the previous model. The wheelbase has also been extended, from 266.9 cm to 106.5 inches (270.5 cm), with the passengers on the front seat 2.54 cm extra legroom and the second row an increase of 1.79 centimeters cm) .
The Outlander is 468 cm long, 186 cm wide and 174.7 cm long. The length of the trunk when folding the second row and third row seats has been increased to 204 cm (80.3 inches) from the 66.4 inches (168.7 cm) in the previous model.
New and more aggressive exterior design
The Outlander is the first with a new interpretation of the ‘Dynamic Front Shield’ face. The release material refers to inspiration sought from two of Mitsubishi’s most beloved models: the Montero / Pajero and the Evolution X.
The front face sees the large and dimly lit headlights take their position at the bottom of the front bumper, with the winding row of lights on top responsible for daytime driving and lights.
Although there are many differences, such as the doors being shaped differently and the windows changed, we can not help seeing a crook in the side profile. The rear does not suffer from it, with a clear pair of taillights that make the current Evo disappear.
Color options usually contain variations on silver or black. A total of eight colors will be offered in the US, including three from Mitsubishi’s “Diamond Colors”, with Diamond Black as a new multi-layer color shift option. For some reason, basic white will be available in other markets but is excluded from the US.
See: 2021 Nissan Rogue from $ 26,745 – Only $ 160 more than outgoing model
Standard three-row seats and more luxurious interior
The design of the new Outlander paid particular attention to designers. Careful focus has been placed on the material quality and overall fit and finish to place the Outlander higher in the value chain.
The Outlander is the only vehicle in its segment that offers standard three-row seats. We are promised that the interior of the new Outlander is a ‘quiet and peaceful space that showcases quality and comfort through the best materials.’ While it may just be marketing game, it seems like high quality surfaces and design features are offered. Genuine leather seats and aluminum finishes are available on the SEL model, while the lower models contain fabric or suede.
The two screens, a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 9-inch center screen, are relatively similar to the course, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay wireless. However, the big news for fans of sensible interior design is that there are dedicated buttons available for the HVAC ministries.
The 2022 Outlander comes standard with 11 airbags, as well as several USB A and USB C charging ports. Other goodies on offer (but depending on the specifications) include adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance, navigation, a full-color Head-Up Display (HUD) and a 10-speaker Bose sound system.
Propulsion: only one choice, a four-liter 2.5-liter pot
Mitsubishi claims that the brand new Outlander is equipped with a 2.5 liter petrol engine ‘newly developed by the Alliance’. What this actually means is that the Outlander uses the same engine as under the hood of many Nissan products – the PR25DD.
Power is a listless 181 hp (184 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 185 ft / lb (245 Nm) of torque at 3,600 rpm – figures that on paper hardly match the exciting or sporty aspirations for the Mitsubishi brand. The engine has electric VVT, as well as other technology developed by Nissan, such as a “mirror hole” layer. It’s all linked to a familiar transmission: an 8-speed CVT – another aspect that acts against any rally legacy.
Watch: 2019 Nissan Altima’s 2.5L Engine Includes Some GT-R Techniques
Rally-speak is used in describing the Outlander’s ‘Super All-Wheel Control 4WD system’, which we believe is a Mitsubishi-specific element, and apparently draws from Mistubihi’s WRC heritage. It is linked to a newly developed ride mode selector with which performance and grip can be adjusted for conditions by six different settings: Normal for normal driving, Tarmac for driving on paved roads, Ground for high traction performance and stability on unpaved roads, Snow for snow and other slippery roads, and mud for increasing road capacity on muddy roads and in deep snow.
Interestingly, the drive mode selector is available for both AWD and 2WD cars, though the latter misses the mud mode. The ride programs are said to increase the potential of 2WD vehicles.
How much does it cost?
The new 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander will have the suggested retail price of $ 25,795 from the manufacturer, excluding a destination / handling cost of $ 1,195 (Alaska / Hawaii $ 1,220). Full prices and model variants will be announced later.
The price makes it a hit in the Rogue area, starting at $ 25,650. Other competitors include the Toyota RAV4 ($ 26,150), and the Honda CR-V ($ 25,350).
So is the Outlander what you expected? Do you think that does enough to differentiate between its Nissan cousin, and how would that be fair under competition?