Mitsubishi Outlander VRX 2016 new car review
It's popular because it just does what it does and offers good value.
In most categories, there is a ‘journeyman’ vehicle. It is rarely the prettiest, or the fastest, or the most efficient. It is popular because it just does what it does and offers good value.
For the mid-size SUV class, the Mitsubishi Outlander is that model. It has been around going on four years now and is unlikely to be replaced anytime soon. Mitsubishi has put some real effort into continuous improvement and the latest incarnation likely to keep pleasing buyers for some time to come.
Under the skin
The changes are almost entirely under the skin; there are new wheels and a new antenna outside, but little else.
The Outlander remains a handsome, big family seven seater - if you like its big chrome-mouthed ‘dynamic-shield’ look - SUV. It is not a particularly cohesive design, sharp angles at the front and softer curves at the rear, but it works.
A significant touch is LED daytime running lights along the edge of the new LED headlights, we think they add some real modernity to the look.
The engine remains Mitsubishi’s long-running 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol. It has class-standard power at 126kW and 224Nm and does not sound to bad either. It has high fuel economy - its fuel consumption sits at 7.2-litres per 100km, it is rated 1-km a litre less than a 2.5-litre all-wheel-drive Nissan X-Trail.
We will put some of that down to the CVT transmission used in the Outlander. It has been re-tuned as part of the update and rather than rushing to a point in the rev range and buzzing way there; it now steps more like a normal automatic. We get that it is a little fake, but for human ears tuned to 100-years of stepped transmissions, it seems far more natural.
The engine performance suits the chassis. It is soft and comfortable but does not wallow. The electrically-assisted power steering is direct enough but offers little but doesn’t need to. This is a car for cruising, and not spilling your coffee on the school-run speed humps.
The 4WD system is operated through a single button and can be set in Eco, Auto or Lock mode. Eco favours the front wheels; Auto puts torque where it is needed, and Lock ensures a split of power to the rear axle. The Outlander remains a softroader, but you can be pretty confident it will get you to the ski field, up the boat ramp or on and off a firm beach.
Safe family seven seater
The car has a couple of other attributes that make it great for a big family. There are seven seats, the back two comfortable enough for small teens but not adults. With the third row seats up, there is just 128-litres of space, but with them down there is an acceptable 477-litres - admittedly behind vehicles in the market that don’t have to store a set of seats when not in use.
The second-row seat backs can be adjusted, and we found this meant we could get four dining chairs into the boot. An electric tailgate helps loading.
The piano-black finish on the dash looks classy, with nice touches chrome touches around the place. I believe an important part of how a car feels is the steering wheel - a massive point of contact - and this one looks and feels modern, and well laid out.
Mitsubishi has brought over from the Pajero Sport their excellent new touchscreen infotainment system, and with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it will please users from either side of the technology fence. There is also an overview 360-degree camera system.
Technology is an area where the Outlander - despite its relative age - really is winning. There is advanced driver-assist features, including auto high beam, lane departure warning, forward collision mitigation, lane change assist, blindspot and cross traffic alerts and adaptive cruise control.
Stability control, seven airbags and an ANCAP 5-Star rating give reassurance to nervous parents.
All-rounder
We do not want to damn the Outlander with faint praise - there may be better drives out there in the medium SUV market. But the Mitsubishi remains a solid contender.
Why? Mitsubishi is offering a lot of kit, and a lot of value, in a combination that the average family punter will find has a lot of appeal.
Price: $54,490
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Peter Louisson 
Kyle Cassidy 