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Comparsion review: eight compact SUVs (sixth place)
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The 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander has both agile handling and lots of cargo space. Unfortunately, it doesn't have too much else.
See more photos of the Outlander below the article in today's slideshow.
The formula seems strong: a spacious, practical interior combined with responsive handling for around $21,000. With this going for it, the Mitsubishi Outlander seems like it could be a solid choice as the compact SUV for driving enthusiasts or anyone else who likes to go fast around corners.
Unfortunately, a roomy interior and agile handling pretty much represent the sum total of the Outlander’s talents. The combination is impressive, but it’s offset by a stiff and noisy ride, by a cheap-feeling interior, and by tepid acceleration.
Inside the Outlander, drivers sit on a thinly-padded but well-shaped seat surrounded by cheap-looking and flimsy-feeling materials. The hard plastic trim pieces don’t all fit together well, and several moving parts are clunky. The rear seat has plenty of space, but it’s too low and flat to be very comfortable.
The Outlander is one of two compact SUVs to offer a third-row seat, and it was equipped on the vehicle driven for this review. Few SUVs have comfortable third rows, and the Outlander’s is even smaller than others’. It’s essentially cloth wrapped around a tiny frame and two seatbelts, mounted on the floor and offering virtually no leg room. It’s also finicky to fold out of the way so you can have cargo space. Save the money and don’t buy this option if you choose the Outlander.
Cargo volume is an Outlander strong point; it boasts a good 36.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and 72.6 cubic feet when the rear seat is tumbled forward. There’s little space behind the optional third row; a few grocery bags would fit but not too much more. The back hatch opens in two parts, with a liftgate-like upper section and a lower piece that’s more like a pickup truck’s tailgate. A low cargo floor makes it easy to load bulky objects, but be advised that the Outlander’s space comes from its length rather than its width.
The Outlander was designed to be sportier than the average SUV, and its responsive handling helps live up to that hype. However, it would need more steering heft, precision, and feedback to go all the way to being a fun-to-drive driver’s car. The engine and transmission are loosely related to those in the Jeep Patriot, and work only slightly better in this Mitsubishi; you get the same weak acceleration (worse here because of the Outlander’s extra weight) and buzzy incessant engine droning. Gas mileage is similar to the Patriot’s, rated at a class-competitive 20 miles per gallon in the city and 25 on the highway.
Also, the stiff suspension that limits the Outlander’s body roll also gives it a jittery ride that’s harsh over impacts. Combine this with the vehicle’s excess engine and road noise, plus the sense of cheapness exhibited in the interior, and the Outlander feels cheap and insubstantial overall.
Crash-testing demonstrates that the Outlander’s sense of flimsiness is just a sense rather than a safety flaw. It earned top ratings in most tests by the IIHS and NHTSA.
But for over $21,000 out the door, an aspect of a car that gives off the impression it’s a piece of junk is still unacceptable, and the Outlander’s interior plastics and lightweight doors give off an overarching sense of cheapness. The stiff ride and weak, noisy engine further detract from that package.
A combination of a roomy interior and responsive handling is a nice thing to have, a good enough strong point to make the otherwise mediocre Outlander worth a look from those who favor comfort over sport. But overall, even those buyers could likely find a better product.
Overall grade: C+
Mitsubishi web site
*Note on pricing: when possible, the vehicles tested for this review were comparably equipped. It wasn't always possible. All are 4-cylinder SUVs with automatic transmissions, but some have more options than others, which inflate the price tag.
The target for these eight was to have all-wheel-drive, cloth seat trim, power windows/locks/mirrors, cruise control, and all available safety features. Some dealerships would provide only front-wheel-drive vehicles (the driving dynamics are nearly identical to the AWD versions on dry pavement), and equipment on the eight tested vehicles ranged from crank windows to leather seats. Any discrepancies will be noted as they appear to ease comparison of the vehicles.
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