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First drive: Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.

First drive: Mitsubishi Outlander
Spacious new Mitsubishi Outlander majors on practicality - if not looks.

   



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| First Drive | Mainz, Germany | Mitsubishi Outlander |

Overall rating: 3 3 3 3 3

Lighter, more economical and huge inside - yet no bigger outside - the new Mitsubishi Outlander offers compact MPV-like versatility, but it has lost the sharp, distinctive style of its predecessor.

Key Facts

Model tested: Mitsubishi Outlander
Pricing: from £23,000 (approx.)
Engine: 2.2-litre DiD turbodiesel
Transmission: six-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Body style: five-door crossover
Rivals: Honda CR-V, Kia Sorento, Toyota RAV4
CO2 emissions: 146g/km
Combined economy: 50.4mpg
Top speed: 124mph
0-62mph: 9.7 seconds
Power: 150hp at 3,500rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 1,750 to 2,750rpm

In the Metal: 3 3 3 3 3

All new - and taking up no more road space than its predecessor the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander packs a less convincing visual punch than its sharp predecessor. It's rather forgettable looking, and the slab sides do make it look under-wheeled - even though it rides on 18-inch alloys. What you lose in looks though you gain in space and practicality. The Outlander is vast inside, it now a proper seven-seat car instead of the five-plus-two set up in the old model.

Fold all the seats flat and it's van-like and with all of them in place it's compact MPV in its usefulness. The middle seats slide and fold, giving good access to the rear pair - which, when in use, leave a surprisingly sizeable boot. So it's spacious and quality has increased too, the materials inside all improved.

Driving it: 3 3 3 3 3

Although the Outlander's structure has been designed from scratch to accept a plug-in hybrid drive it's diesel powered for the moment. A development of Mitsubishi's 2.2-litre DiD turbodiesel specifically, with 150hp and 380Nm of torque. It's an unusually rev-happy diesel engine, smoother and less vocal now too thanks to NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) enhancements including thicker windscreen glass and improved engine mounts. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission - though an automatic is offered too - driving via a four-wheel drive system. The UK does not get the lower emission front-drive variant.

It's all very surefooted and secure, though the suspension's clear comfort bias does mean the Outlander is a bit roly-poly through the bends - it no RAV4 for driving sharpness. Take it a bit more sedately though and despite sometimes being unsettled by rougher surfaces it's all reasonably composed and controlled. The steering is light on weight and feel, while the six-speed manual shifts with pleasing accuracy. All very competent.

What you get for your Money: 4 4 4 4 4

Tricky to say with any conviction as Mitsubishi has yet to confirm either pricing or specification. The Outlander will follow the GX3, GX4 and GX5 trim levels of its predecessor though, the latter likely to feature everything from Mitsubishi's latest lane-departure warning system to collision mitigation and active cruise control. Expect a reversing camera on most versions, too, while it's also likely all but the lowliest trim levels will feature a powered tailgate.

Worth Noting

Mitsubishi is making big noises about how economical the new Outlander is - and can be. It'll not be offered in the UK in its most economical specification thanks to our 4x4 only offering, but even so the 2.2-litre DiD's 50.4mpg and 146g/km figures do put it among the best for emissions and economy in its class. Thank Mitsubishi's Outlander diet for that, this new car around 100kg lighter than before, while low rolling resistance tyres, a low drag figure, electric power steering and a stop-start system also help the Outlander do its bit for the planet.

Summary

Seven useable seats in a relatively small footprint, decent economy and improved quality all appeal with Mitsubishi's new Outlander, though we'll need to wait until it's priced and specified to really see just how competitive it'll be against its rivals. Not remarkable to drive, but a credible and practical family machine regardless - shame it doesn't look a bit more dramatic.


Kyle Fortune. Photography by Max Earey - 22 Jun 2012



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2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.



2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.
 

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.
 

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.
 

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.
 

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.
 

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.
 

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.
 

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Image by Max Earey.
 






 

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