The Mitsubishi Outlander is a 3-Row SUV That Beats the Competition In Many Areas, Including Price
In April, I purchased a brand new vehicle. Prior to making my final purchase decision, I considered the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander. Being a single man, I didn’t need that much room, so I decided to instead purchase a 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.
2019 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SEL FROM WEST MITSUBISHI WALK AROUND VIDEO
But let me tell you about the Mitsubishi Outlander, and why you should consider it if you’re looking for an affordable 3-row crossover SUV. Let’s start by mentioning that Nissan pumped a whole lot of cash into the Mitsubishi brand. In fact, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Renault (a French automaker) formed a strategic partnership. In October of 2016, Nissan took a controlling 33.4% share of Mitsubishi. Nissan and Mitsubishi even share parts. It’s time to stop overlooking the amazing vehicles made by Mitsubishi Motors.
The Mitsubishi Outlander is close in size to the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Subaru Forester, but none of those vehicles offers a third row option seating option.
The Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander PHEV
Rather than attempting to sell you myself, I encourage you to read more about the 2019 Mitsubishi and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. You can also read and watch a review of the 2019 Outlander PHEV.
Features and options
The 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander 3.0 GT S-AWC has a powerful and more desirable V6 engine that increases the tow rating. It comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED running lights and tail lights, heated mirrors, rear privacy glass, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped tilt/telescoping steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver seat, a 60/40-split folding second-row seat that slides and reclines, a 50/50-split third-row seat, a rearview camera, voice controls, Bluetooth connectivity, and a six-speaker sound system with a 7-inch touchscreen display, a CD player and a USB port.
GT trims also come standard with automatic headlights, power-folding mirrors, automatic wipers, gloss-black interior trim, a power liftgate, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, leather upholstery, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, chrome exterior beltline accents and steering-wheel shift paddles.
Top-trim GT models get LED headlights and LED fog lights, a sunroof, a heated steering wheel, a 360-degree parking camera system, and a nine-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system. The GT Touring package adds automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, a forward collision mitigation system with automatic braking, and a lane departure warning system. Obviously, the GT is the most expensive Outlander. Check out these Outlanders for sale or these Outlander PHEVs.
Interior highlights
Stepping inside the Outlander GT reveals the smell of leather, soft touch materials, excellent headroom and plenty of legroom for taller adults. The front seats are supportive, the 8-way driver’s seat let us find the perfect position, and the driver has a commanding view of the road which we like. Outward visibility is excellent. The gauges are easy to read and the tilt/telescoping steering wheel offers buttons for easy use.
Unlike many small SUVs in this segment, the second row doesn’t feel flat and hard, and it’s comfortable enough for three adults. Both second and third rows fold perfectly flat, creating a large cargo space with a low load height which made it easy to load boxes this week. The sunroof casts light into the back even though the rear gets dark tinted privacy glass.
Like most three-row SUVs, the third row is suitable for kids and not adults, and it’s not all that easy to access. You can’t slide the second row fore and aft, as you can with some other three-row models. but at this price point you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more affordable family hauler.
Engine and fuel mileage specs
The engine choices for the gas-powered Outlander are a 2.4 Liter 4-cylinder, and a 3.0 L V6. As for fuel economy? You can expect to achieve up to 25 miles per gallon in the city and 30 miles per gallon on the highway. Towing capacity on the 2.4 liter engines is 1500 lbs, but the 3.0 Liter V6 can tow 3500 lbs. Interestingly, the 2.4 liter engines have a 16.6 gallon fuel capacity, while the slightly-more-thirsty 3.0 liter V-6 has a 15.8 gallon fuel tank.
Driving dynamics
One thing I have noticed about Mitsubishi vehicles is that they sound a bit different than other vehicles. The 2.4 liter vehicles come with a Continuously Variable Transmission. There are no shift points with this transmission, which not only sounds different but feels very odd for awhile. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. The 3.0 liter engine version comes with a more “normal” 6-speed electronic automatic transmission.
The Outlander features a quiet ride and has plenty of visibility. Rather than calling their all-wheel-drive system an “all wheel drive” system, Mitsubishi uses the term “Super All Wheel Control.” Rather than making an attempt at explaining that myself, I’ll share what they write on their website about it:
Super All-Wheel Control combines several advanced technologies to give you maximum traction. The Active Front Differential (AFD) distributes engine power between left and right on the front axle. Active Stability Control (ASC) helps keep the vehicle on its intended path when cornering and the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) along with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) improves control and stability under hard braking. And with four driver-selectable modes, including NORMAL, SNOW, LOCK and the AWC ECO Mode, the Outlander is ready to help you handle various conditions.
This system allows you to drive the Mitsubishi Outlander in any conditions, feeling confident that your family is safe. As a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport owner who has also extensively driven the Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander PHEV, I am impressed by the confidence I feel in these amazing vehicles. I highly recommend heading down to your local dealer to take a drive, then compare it’s features and price to the Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.
