Mitsubishi Outlander
The Mitsubishi Outlander is the sister car to the Peugeot 4007 and Citroen C-Crosser. Like these, the Outlander feels more like a tall estate car than a traditional SUV to drive, with the security of four-wheel drive for when you need it. Practicality is key to its appeal, with two additional seats folding into the boot floor, giving a seven-seater layout. There's one engine choice - a powerful 2.2-litre diesel that's offered with a six-speed manual or a twin-clutch automated manual similar to the one found in the Evo X. Smart looks, a neat interior and decent equipment levels appeal, but tough competition from budget rivals makes it look expensive.
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Pros:
- Smart, modern looks
- Practical and spacious cabin
- Enjoyable to drive
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Cons:
- Uncomfortable, tricky to use third row seats
- Not the cheapest 4x4
- Base cars’ safety kit
The Mitsubishi Outlander ditches the firm's more traditional rugged off-road bias for a finer on-road driving experience. In fact, it's so good that Citroen and Peugeot sell their own mildly restyled versions of the Mitsubishi. Its big boot hides two additional seats for occasional use, while the second row of seats tumble and fold easily to make the Outlander a useful load carrier. It's well specified but it isn't cheap, with pricing putting it up against Land Rover's Freelander 2.
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Pros:
- Massive load area
- Practical seven seats
- Super-efficient hybrid model
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Cons:
- Dated interior
- Diesel lacks refinement
- Awkward rear-seat access
The Mitsubishi Outlander is a rugged SUV model designed to take on rivals like the Land Rover Freelander and Hyundai Santa Fe. It has one major selling point – a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) engine option that offers economy of 143mpg and CO2 emissions of just 49g/km. The rest of the engine line up is a lot more traditional, but the diesels still offer surprisingly low running costs. Elsewhere, there's not much about the Outlander to make you sit up and take notice. The styling, both inside and out, lacks sparkle and the handling isn't particularly exciting.
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