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2013 Mitsubishi Outlander GT

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Mitsubishi, Quick Spins

I'm not a gambling man, but if there were a pool for an automotive death watch, my money would be on Mitsubishi... Lincoln is a close second. To understand the plight of Mitsubishi, you only have to look at its current lineup; they all just look, feel and drive about 10 years older than they really are. With the departure of the Endeavor and merciful killing of the Eclipse (the Galant lives on, but is on hiatus for the 2013 model year), one of the worst remaining offenders is the Mitsubishi Outlander, which I recently drove in top-level GT trim for this Quick Spin.

If we had a time machine and took the 2013 Outlander GT back to 1998, it would be revolutionary. If we could take it back to 2004, it might be near the top of its class. But in the current highly competitive crossover segment of today, the Outlander just falls short. Yes, the all-new 2014 Outlander is on its way later this year, but from what we've seen both inside and out, the new design would look great in 2008. That being said, spending a week with any vehicle can point out surprising highs as well as lows, and there are still plenty of reasons to enjoy Mitsu's midsize CUV.

Driving Notes

Unfortunately, I have to kick off my driving impressions on a negative note. There are few utility vehicles on the market that make the third row an enviable seating position, but the Outlander GT's rear-most seat is downright insulting. Not only is this the worst third-row seat currently on the market, it could very well be the worst ever created - that includes the uncomfortable rear-facing third row of a certain 1977 Impala station wagon I was relegated to as a kid during family road trips. The operation is clunky, the padding is lacking and the snap-on headrests are as tall as the seat back itself.
On the opposite end of the scale, the best part about the Outlander GT is its drivetrain and platform. Replacing the base four-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission, the GT trim level brings a well-aged 3.0-liter V6 paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. Since it shares its underpinnings with the Mitsubishi Lancer, the Outlander also has a pretty good ride quality in just about any road condition.
My tester was equipped with Mitsubishi's dynamic Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) sending the engine's 230 horsepower to all four wheels, improving traction or performance depending on which driver-selectable mode has been chosen (Tarmac or Snow), and there is also an active front differential that that splits engine torque across the front axle or fully locks (in Lock setting) for better off-road performance. I didn't have the chance to do any serious off roading in Outlander, but I was able to test out the S-AWC along sandy, gravelly roads, which the Outlander handled like a champ.
Thanks to a 2010 styling refresh, the Outlander is one of the better-looking budget crossovers on the market. With its gaping grille and angular HID headlights, the Outlander GT has a pretty imposing face, and the clear-lensed LED taillights are also a stylish touch to the overall look of the Outlander. While this tester's dark blue color didn't do its lines any favors, it's is still a reasonably handsome midsize CUV.
Try as it may to look like the Lancer Evolution, the Outlander does not live up to its "GT" trim. Its car-based platform and raised stance just make it feel like a tall car rather than a sporty crossover. I didn't have the time to put the performance aspect of S-AWC to the test, but you can tell that the Outlander is designed to be the budget-minded crossover in its segment rather than performance-minded. Speaking of budgets, the Outlander GT's fuel economy rating of 19 miles per gallon city and 25 mpg highway is about par for V6-powered vehicles in this segment, but it also requires premium gasoline.
Aside from the after-thought of a third-row seat, the rest of the Outlander's interior isn't all that bad. Front occupants can enjoy heated seats (with the button buried between the seat and the center console) and Mitsubishi's easy-to-use Fuse hands-free system as standard equipment. Even the middle row provides a surprising level of comfort with a 60/40 split seat that can slide and recline allowing ample legroom and space for the unfortunate passengers in the way back. Another quirky benefit of the Outlander is the fold down tailgate that sits flat with the cargo floor making it easier to load and unload bulky items.
Then there's the matter of price. Even though the Outlander starts at a reasonable $22,695, this GT tester came practically fully loaded with a $2,500 Touring Package and a $2,000 Navigation Package, which boosted the as-tested price to $33,920. You can get a lot more utility from a more stable brand for that much or lower.

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi promises Outlander plug-in hybrid for Paris *UPDATE

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Paris Motor Show, Crossover, Mitsubishi, Electric

We've been waiting since the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show - when Mitsubishi first talked about the PX-MiEV, a plug-in CUV concept - for some sort of real-world plug-in Outlander. It looks like we're finally going to get our wish during the 2012 Paris Motor Show this fall. Today, Mitsubishi released the not-very-revealing teaser image you see above, and it says the plug-in Outlander will "share its architecture with the soon-to-be-introduced New Outlander's ICE versions." Mitsubishi also claims the Outlander will "be the first permanent 4WD electric car in series production."

The New Outlander PHEV will have three drive modes, all of which are 4WD: Pure (all-electric drive), Series (electric drive, supported by the gas generator) and Parallel (ICE engine supported by Twin Motor 4WD). Mitsubishi says the New Outlander PHEV will have a total driving range of 800 km (497 miles) and emit fewer than 50 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

As previously noted, the PHEV version of the Outlander should arrive in the spring of 2013. Given the coming pack of plug-in crossovers (see: Tesla Model X, Volvo V60 plug-in hybrid, Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid and Amp's offerings), if Mitsubishi can get the cost comparatively low, the way the i is compared to the Nissan Leaf, without making it quite as spartan, this thing could carve out a niche for itself. For the moment, though, it sounds like Mitsubishi is only going to sell the new Outlander PHEV in Europe.

*UPDATE: As DaveMart points out in the comments on AutoblogGreen, Mitsubishi reps have told Inside Line that the plug-in Outlander will come to the U.S. in late 2013 or early 2014.

Continue reading Mitsubishi promises Outlander plug-in hybrid for Paris *UPDATE

Mitsubishi promises Outlander plug-in hybrid for Paris *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Mitsubishi Outlander lets it all hang out

Chris Paukert — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 04:01:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Mitsubishi, Design/Style, Diesel

Despite staying rather quiet last year product-wise, Mitsubishi actually enjoyed a very strong sales comeback, led by its new Outlander Sport compact crossover. That crossover's larger cousin, the Outlander, has remained largely under the radar for most consumers, with a modest 2010 facelift eking out a bit of sales life for a model that has been making the rounds since 2006. That will change in 2013 with the introduction of this new Outlander, which moves away from the single-frame grille in favor of a more horizontally oriented look.

It isn't immediately clear to what extent the Outlander is all-new, as the vehicle appears to have some unusually large overhang that suggests a revision of an older chassis, but we understand that this is a new architecture underneath. Offering a size that's similar to the outgoing model, the Outlander will continue to offer both five- and seven-seat configurations, with the third row reserved for small children. In addition to a range of gas and diesel models available in various markets paired with a new six-speed automatic or manual gearbox, a plug-in hybrid variant is in the cards as early as later this year.

For more, see our gallery of live shots and the official press release after the jump.

Continue reading 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander lets it all hang out

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander lets it all hang out originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 04:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi teases mystery reveal ahead of Geneva

Chris Paukert — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Mitsubishi, Design/Style

Mitsubishi has been something of a punching bag among both analysts and critics in the United States for some years now, with lukewarm reception to new products and meek sales figures. But while few were paying attention, the Japanese brand's pendulum made a mighty swing in the right direction in 2011, with sales finishing up over 40 percent year-over-year, making it the second fastest-growing brand in the States. Of course, total brand sales were just 77,995 (2010 sales: 55,683), but one has to start somewhere.

Buoyed by increasing demand for new products like the Outlander Sport, Mitsubishi isn't quite "feeling its oats" just yet, but it's alive and kicking. As further evidence, the company has just released a teaser image of an unnamed vehicle it plans to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Significantly, Mitsubishi indicates that this is the first time it has ever chosen to stage a global product reveal in Europe. The mystery vehicle, which appears to be a crossover - likely the next-generation Outlander - will go on sale in 2012. The second-generation Outlander has been on sale here since 2006, with a facelifted model arriving for the 2010 model year.

Mitsubishi says this is the start of a new, "re-focused design language," which evidently means moving away from the massive Lancer Evolution-inspired grille that currently adorns the Outlander. We like what we see here, from the gaping lower air intake to the U-shaped hood pressing and assertive headlamps. We'll probably have to wait until closer the Swiss show starts to get a closer look at the rest of the vehicle, but for now, check out the image above and the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Mitsubishi teases mystery reveal ahead of Geneva

Mitsubishi teases mystery reveal ahead of Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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