Mitsubishi OUTLANDER
If You Want A Compact 4x4 That Offers More Than The Average Barbie Truck,
Mitsubishi Look To Have Just The Thing In The Outlander A Car With Serious Attitude. Andy Enright Reports
How many mouthwatering 4x4 concepts have we seen at motor shows over the past few years that have faded from view or, when they finally do make it to production, are watered down beyond recognition from the boldly styled show cars? Not here. The Mitsubishi Outlander offers a healthy dose of style along with a chassis and running gear borrowed from the all-conquering Lancer Evo VIII rally replica. Straight away, you appreciate that this is no ordinary compact 4x4.
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The styling will certainly turn heads. Its not cutesy like so many small 4x4s. The slab-sided flanks and imposing front are reminiscent of a scaled down
Porsche Cayenne and like the bruiser from Weissach, many will move over when the Outlander hoves into their rear view. The car has been developed from the ASX (Active Sport Crossover) vehicle that proved such a hit at the 2000 Detroit Motor Show.
Mitsubishi describe the styling as robust but the overall philosophy revolves around firstly offering the low centre of gravity of a saloon car with the raised
seat height of an off roader allied to the luggage space of an estate. Its quite a target but the Outlander looks capable of satisfying these tough design criteria. At present, only one engine is offered, a 158bhp 2.4-litre petrol unit that features MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve and lift timing Electronic Control System) that offers a similar benefit to Hondas well-known V-TEC system gutsy torque at low revs and all-out power at the top of the rev range.
The result is a top speed of 112mph and a sprint to 60mph in 11.2 seconds that would be respectable for a manual engined compact 4x4 but even better when you consider that all Outlanders are equipped with an INVECS-II automatic gearbox.
"The styling will certainly turn heads. Its not cutesy like so many small 4x4s"
The big flaw in Mitsubishis marketing plan for this model appears to be the lack of a diesel version, but the Outlander has something of an ace in the hole in the form of Dual Fuel versions which run not only on regular unleaded but also have the capacity to run on Liquefied Petroleum Gas. Priced at £1,000 above the price of the normal cars, these offer huge fuel savings at least until the Chancellor decides to review the duty payable on LPG. For the time being at least, you get diesel style fuel bills with the smoothness and power of a petrol engine. The other aspect of the Outlanders on-road character can be traced directly back to Lancer Evo VIII DNA.
The Outlanders mechanical permanent four-wheel drive system has been borrowed from the Evo series and features a centre differential with a viscous coupling unit that under normal conditions distributes the available torque equally between the front and rear axles. Mitsubishi aim to differentiate the Outlander from many of its more roly-poly rivals by adopting much of the Evos suspension layout. The company have some form in this area, offering a 280bhp Pajero Evolution to a fortunate few customers. With that much power on tap, the Pajero needed a very trick suspension set up and the Outlander is no different.
The front end is a MacPherson strut set up and the rear features an independent multi-link system a long way removed from the more agricultural systems that most cars in this class persist with. Mitsubishis engineers realise that this sort of car will be driven for most of the time on tarmac and have chosen not to encumber the Outlander with too much in the way of off-road accoutrements. Why sully the 99 per cent of the time you spend on road for the sake of the one per cent youll spend in the mud? Hire a
Land Rover for the day and get it out of your system! All Outlander models come extremely well stuffed with equipment. Even the entry-level Equippe features ABS and EBD, driver and passenger front and side airbags and climate control.
Tack on a four speaker single slot stereo radio/CD sound system, central locking, alarm and keyless entry, electric front and rear windows with anti trap function and split folding rear seat and the deal looks very tempting. Mitsubishi arent done. The Equippe also boasts electrically adjustable heated wing mirrors, colour-coded rear spoiler with high mount stop lamp, 16inch five-spoke alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearlever and integrated roof rail. Thats quite a tally.
The Sport model then adds an electric sunroof and fixed rear skylight with blinds, six speaker single slot CD sound system, colour-coded electrically adjustable wing mirrors, black wood-effect dash panel and integrated front fog lights. The range-topping Sport SE gets all of the above plus leather front and rear seats. Prices open at a very reasonable £16,999 for the Equippe, with the Sport retailing at £17,999 and the leather-lined Sport SE topping the range at £18,749. Compared to prices of similarly powerful Land Rover Freelander models, the Outlander looks a steal.
Even the £1,000 premium youd need to add to get an economical Dualfuel version will pay for itself back in just over twelve months if you cover 15,000 miles per year. Factor in the cars additional desirability when the time comes to sell and it looks a good bet, especially for the higher mileage motorist. The Outlander is the first all-new Mitsubishi model to be launched across Europe since 2000 and its a hugely significant car for the Japanese company. Just as well that it looks a winner then.
Early sales figures suggest that the Outlander will steamroller Mitsubishis admittedly modest targets but industry experts have raised an eyebrow at the success of this bold vehicle. As the first of fourteen new models over the next five years, the Outlander is taking the Mitsubishi brand into new territory. Its off to a good start.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Mitsubishi Outlander range
PRICES: £16,999-£19,749 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 14-15
CO2 EMISSIONS: 240g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 11.2s / Max Speed 112mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: average 26mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS with EBD
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height inches) 179/69/66
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