Mitsubishi Outlander (2007 - To Date)
BY STEVE WALKER
Mitsubishi was kind enough to give French manufacturers Peugeot and Citroen a big leg up into the compact 4x4 sector when it joined forces with them to produce its second generation Outlander, Peugeots 4007 and Citroens C-Crosser from a common platform. While the French gained Mitsubishis considerable expertise in the construction of 4x4 vehicles, Mitsubishi was on the receiving end of some advanced diesel engine technology. It appeared that everyone was indeed a winner.
There are definite Toyota RAV4 design cues about the Outlander, especially around the rear pillars, but it has to be one of the best looking cars in its class - composed and athletic where its predecessor was boxy and wilfully weird. The rising window line gives it a dynamic stance while the front grille is a whole lot happier looking, conforming to Mitsubishis so-called Mount Fuji family look. I didnt come up with that name, by the way. The Outlander certainly seems to offer plenty of versatility.
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Plus there are also utility bars for attaching a variety of accessories and three 12v power outlets.
Its the 2.0-litre DI-D Outlanders that youre most likely to come across in the used market. The 2.2-litre DI-DC powerplant is preferable but was significantly more expensive when new and came only with the range-topping Diamond trim level which further inflated prices.
The 2.4-litre petrol engined cars will be the rarest of the lot. A 2.0 DI-D Outlander in plush Elegance trim will cost from £20,000 on an 07-plate.
The Warrior models are more affordable but still quite well-equipped, these come in at £18,200 on the same 07 registration. Remember that the Outlander was available in five or seven seat guises with the 5-seater being the entry-level option in Equippe trim.
Most Outlanders wont have covered too many miles, and there have been no serious faults reported. As with any all-wheel drive vehicle, listen for whining gearboxes and differentials; look for leaky power steering, engines, gearboxes and driveshaft joints, off road abuse, tailgate and underbody corrosion and theft or accident damage. The 2.0-litre Volkswagen diesel is used in numerous VW Group products and should be reliable as should the impressive Peugeot unit.
(Based on a 2007 2.4-litre Elegance) A replacement exhaust (front to the catalyst) will set you back roughly £285, while a new clutch will be around £215. A replacement alternator should be around £175 and a starter motor about the same. A new wing mirror is in the region of £165, while a headlamp is an eye watering £240.
The Outlanders diesel engine is as good as anything its rivals can offer. The 2.0-litre DI-D unit is a 1,968cc, turbocharged and intercooled, DOHC, 16-valve, EU-4 compliant powerplant which might be familiar to Mitsubishi as well as Volkswagen customers as its fitted to the Grandis people carrier. Mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, it produces 138bhp, 310Nm of torque and is good for a top speed of 116mph.
If thats not quite enough, the 2.2-litre DI-DC unit is a common-rail injection engine sourced from Peugeot that produces 154bhp. Torque is measured at 380Nm and the top speed is 124mph. Petrol-fanciers have a 2.
4-litre automatic option. The two diesel engines allowed Mitsubishi to tap into the majority of customers who want a diesel engine in a 4x4 instead of targeting the few who prefer something that drinks from a green pump. The 158bhp 2.4-litre MIVEC engine isnt a bad unit per se but it certainly likes a drink especially with the standard automatic gearbox marshalling its power.
The 2.0-litre diesel will return combined economy figures in the region of 42mpg and the 2.2-litre manages 38mpg but youll be lucky to get 30mpg from the petrol. For the off road stuff, Mitsubishi can call on seventy years of 4x4 heritage so the engineers know what theyre doing.
The All Wheel Control (AWC) technology utilised by the Outlander forges a closer link between the four-wheel drive system and the Active Stability Control program, so that it will switch smoothly from two wheel drive (for better fuel economy on road) to a locked four-wheel drive mode when it gets really slippery underfoot. The transition is controlled by the driver by means of an illuminated dial between the two seats. Lacking the heavy-duty transfer case of vehicles like the Shogun, the Outlander is sensibly equipped for its target market and aims to offer a car-like ride. Mitsubishi has worked at developing an optimal compromise between the ground clearance and raised seating position of a proper 4x4 and a low centre of gravity that makes a car handle well on road.
One of the tricks the company used to achieve this end is to fabricate the roof panel entirely of lightweight aluminium a trick borrowed from the Lancer Evo.
The second generation Mitsubishi Outlander deserves a higher profile than it has managed to maintain. Its been a victim both of the massive proliferation of compact 4x4 products on the market that took place around the time of its launch and of the existence of Peugeot and Citroen products based on the same platform. With a pair of quality diesel engines, a composed driving experience and a versatile interior, the Outlander is an appealing product. Its also one of the better looking options out there and Mitsubishis 4x4 heritage should carry more weight in this sector than the mainstream brands which are comparative newcomers.
The Outlander may not be an obvious choice but its a good un.
