Mitsubishi Outlander Review

              Mitsubishi Outlander is one sports utility vehicle that has generated enormous interest in Indian buyers. Considered by many to be the ultimate sports utility vehicle available in its segment, it was originally available as the Mitsubishi Air Trek. This variant class was first launched in Japan in the year 2001. The name Air Trek was coined to express the idea of adventure-filled travelling pleasure. This then led to the face lift of Air Trek for a much improved Outlander. The new name Outlander was meant to give more joy to the user when travelling to distant destinations with a streak of adventure.

Hindustan Motors, in collaboration with the Japan automaker Mitsubishi, rolled out 'Outlander' in India, in October 2008. The Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) had already gained popularity in Japan, North America, Australia, Canada and Western Europe, before entering the Indian car market. The automobile displays good performance both on and off the road. The car offers a host of exciting features to its Indian consumers. Outlander has proved to be a tough competition for other vehicles in its class.

Exterior

The Mitsubishi Outlander flaunts muscular exteriors, with huge wheel arches, deep-set headlamps and a thick bumper, with pushed-in fog lights integrated on it. The front grille and air intake duct in the bumper add to the aggressive look of the SUV. In the rear side, the van-like windscreen is mounted with the car's C-pillar and overlaps over the rear pillar, to give an elegant look. The LED-studded chromed taillights add to the sporty stance of the SUV. The five-seater car comes with a split tail gate, with park-bench seats for two adults.

Engine

Under the hood of Mitsubishi Outlander lies a powerful 2.4L, 16 valve MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing and Electronic Control system) gasoline engine, which generates a power of 170 PS @ 6000 rpm and a torque of 226 Nm @ 4100 rpm. The SUV has an all-wheel-drive system. Its CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission), with 6-speed Paddle Shifts on steering wheel, is favorable for a sporty drive on rough terrain.

Interiors

The interiors of Mitsubishi Outlander are spacious as well as luxurious. The SUV offers a host of convenient and comfort features. Its roomy cabin gets a simple but elegant instrument cluster, with a 650 Watts Rockford Fosgate Music System integrated on it. Seats are upholstered in beige leather, which adds to the overall appeal of the cabin. The cabin gets ample boot space, once the third-row seats are folded.

Ride and Handling

The rigid body of Mitsubishi Outlander features lightweight aluminum roof panels, which contribute to its stability. The combination of McPherson strut suspension - in the front and multi-link suspension - in the rear end improves the stability of the vehicle, by absorbing the bumps and potholes on uneven driveways. This, in turn, provides good handling to the driver. Mono tube dampers and coil springs have been provided in all the four wheels of the automobile.

Not only does it match the latest class leaders in many areas, it also offers several unique features. Unlike the original Outlander (which came only with a petrol engine and four-speed automatic transmission), the new model comes with a modern diesel engine and six-speed manual gearbox.
Safety.

The latest safety equipments of Mitsubishi Outlander provide high level of protection to its occupants, in the event of collisions, by protecting them from the impact. Some of the standard safety features of Outlander include dual stage front and co-passenger air bags, automatic climate control a/c, reverse parking sensors, cruise control, multi-information display system, security alarm, power and heated seat and engine immobilizer.

Variants, Price and Color

The latest safety equipments of Mitsubishi Outlander provide high level of protection to its occupants, in the event of collisions, by protecting them from the impact. Some of the standard safety features of Outlander include dual stage front and co-passenger air bags, automatic climate control a/c, reverse parking sensors, cruise control, multi-information display system, security alarm, power and heated seat and engine immobilizer.

Verdict

Handsome, sturdy, elegant and sleek, the Mitsubishi Outlander is definitely an owner’s pride. What makes the SUV so desirable is the fact that it has been designed with great care and detail, it offers style, performance along with a good show of creative engineering….all with a cabin complete with classy and luxurious features. It is one of the most eyed models of the fleet till date.

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