Mitsubishi
and Nissan came together to bring us the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander
. The exterior makeover displaying “Outlander” above the grille reminds us of an off-roading Land Rover. But the engine and transmission need some work.Though ride quality lacks and its refinement doesn’t surpass the less expensive Nissan Rogue
SUV, is there more that sets the Outlander apart besides an additional third row? Less than impressive acceleration
The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander’s four-cylinder 2.5-liter 181 hp engine has 181 lb-ft of torque. And it takes a whopping 10 seconds to ramp up from 0 to 60 mph. Its fuel economy at 25 mpg is equal to the Rogue but still falls behind its competitors.
The continuously variable transmission (CVT) is responsive and doesn’t overwhelm the driver with loud engine revs. But common with CVTs, “Occasionally there are ‘rubber-banding’ sensations when accelerating at lower speeds, where the engine revs seem inordinately high in comparison to the actual speed the Outlander is moving along at,” according to Consumer Reports
. Watch out for the darty steering
Reviewers found steering secure, but were not a fan of how the Outlander absorbed bumps with its 20-inch wheels. “The steering is overly light with an unnaturally quick turn-in response—this makes the SUV feel nervous and busy on highways, where even small steering corrections have a large impact,” according to Consumer Reports.
Drivers can firm up the steering a bit by adjusting the drive-mode setting from Normal to Tarmac. However, reviewers found that though the Mitsubishi Outlander’s initial turn-in response was quick when taking corners, the front tire grip didn’t last long.
And in an avoidance maneuver exercise, the small SUV consistently ran wide of the exit lane. The electronic stability control system (ESC) was also inconsistent when zooming around a road-course test track.
Poor ride comfort for the everyday driver
The second row has ample legroom for passengers, but the third row is unique for crossover SUVs. That’s right, you can fit seven people in this thing.
However, though the last row may be useful for road trips
across the country, it's a pain for everyday driving. Consumer Reports notes that “the third-row head restraints restrict the driver’s view through the rear window, and they can’t be folded down like in many SUVs when the seat is unoccupied; instead, they have to be fully removed, which is inconvenient.” Road imperfections and potholes are the demise of the Outlander. The impact bumps have on the cabin makes rough roads uncomfortable and unpleasant. Hopefully, the eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat will help keep the driver locked in place.
Loud noise from the wind and engine
The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander comes with a flat roof, different from the curved roofs we’re used to seeing in this class. But the window noise sweeping through the sunroof is intense.
The Outlander is anything but a smooth and relaxing ride. The CVT incorporates artificial shifts that keep the engine noise pretty low for the most part—besides the “rubber-banding” we mentioned earlier.
However, when pushed hard, it's LOUD. “We did notice a lack of isolation that allowed a lot of road noise to enter the cabin on all but the smoothest roads and our test vehicle's large 20-inch wheels with limited sidewall cushion didn't help the situation,” Car and Driver
reports. The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is still likeable
The upgraded cabin features good quality finishes throughout, with supportive suede seats in the front. “Other nice bits include the carbon-fiber-like trim that surrounds the window controls, the smooth-operating dashboard air vents, and the perforated, leather-wrapped steering wheel,” according to Consumer Reports.
The Outlander’s controls are pretty straightforward, sans the electronic gear selector. The labeling on the joystick suggests pulling the level toward you to shift from Park to Reverse, but reviewers observed that you actually need to push the level forward.
Standard on the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is rear cross-traffic warning, blind spot warning, lane departure warning, collision warning, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.
Front or all-wheel drive are both available to buyers. Consumer Reports strongly recommends the second-tier SE trim, “which brings synthetic leather-suede seating surfaces, heated front seats, wireless phone charging, and adaptive cruise control.” Car and Driver would “select the Tech package that adds a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a Bose audio system, and a panoramic sunroof.”
The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model is slated to debut in 2022, possibly as a 2023 version. We can expect exceptional specs and a refresh on the interior and exterior. Mitsubishi announced that it will have a larger electric motor, higher battery capacity, and also feature a third row.
4.7
