It solely takes a minute behind the wheel of the 2022 Outlander to grasp how Mitsubishi’s alliance with Nissan and Renault has allowed it to reap dramatic rewards. The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander isn’t simply redesigned, it’s an intensive rethink on easy methods to assault the compact crossover market. Not solely that, it’s vaulted Mitsubishi from an also-ran to a strong contender to your hard-earned bucks.
The Mitsubishi Outlander is just not a rebadged Nissan Rogue. The 2 crossovers share their platform and powertrain, and Mitsubishi says they have been co-developed and Outlander was not merely a hand-me-down. They differ in lots of notable methods, not the least of which is a typical third row (sized for very restricted use) within the Outlander that’s not provided within the Rogue, but in addition in tuning, design and supplies.
The brand new Outlander definitely stands out with a entrance view that’s dominated by Mitsubishi’s “Dynamic Protect” fascia. Two curved chrome swoops work as outward-facing brackets to a grille with horizontal slats above a patterned opening. Lighting clusters are break up into two components, with LED driving lights and switch alerts on high, and vertically stacked headlights under. Not like another “daring” faces at the moment seen within the business, Mitsubishi’s design divides opinions however by some means seems to be higher and extra attention-grabbing in particular person than on display screen.
Mitsubishi managed an iteration of the floating-roof pattern that appears totally different than anything. There’s an unusually flat roof in profile that ends in a brim-shaped rear spoiler atop a pillar on the very again of the automobile that’s formed like a jet fin. Deep cutlines create a robust shoulder with a parallelogram indentation under the knee. All however base-model Outlanders are fitted with 20-inch wheels which are highlighted above with stamped-in brows. All of it provides as much as an imposing design that appears bigger than it’s.
In actuality, the 2022 Outlander is certainly bigger in each route than the 2020 version (there’s no 2021 mannequin) however in most measurements, is correct about the identical dimension as its compact crossover rivals. Its 106.5-inch wheelbase matches the Rogue, however the three-row Outlander is 2.four inches longer general. In comparison with the 2020, there’s extra adjustment for the motive force to discover a snug place plus an inch extra legroom up entrance, and 1.1 inches extra within the center row. It’s 2.zero inches wider than earlier than, which provides as a lot as an inch and a half extra shoulder and hip room, relying on the seat. Weight was saved in examine with an aluminum hood and plastic entrance fenders; base fashions weigh 3,593 kilos and an Outlander SEL with S-AWC all-wheel drive weighs 3,803 lbs.
There’s a complete of 79.7 cubic toes of cargo area behind the entrance seats, up from 63.Three cu-ft within the previous mannequin. That’s extra room general than each compact crossover (Rogue, CR-V, RAV4, and many others). There’s the same enchancment within the general size of the cargo space, making lengthy gadgets simpler to hold. With the second row in place, there’s 33.5 cu-ft of cargo area, which is midpack within the phase, and with the third row up capability falls all the way in which to 11.7 cu-ft. That’s nonetheless higher than the one different three-row compact crossover, the Volkswagen Tiguan, which provides solely 10.Three cubes with its approach again seat in place.
As you’ll be able to see in our movies under, there may be little or no area for passengers within the third row. The second row does slide, and that may add some legroom in the way in which again on the expense of second-row sitters, however there’s nonetheless not sufficient headroom for even average-size folks to really feel snug.
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The inside shares its primary format with the Rogue, which is not any unhealthy factor — Nissan has among the best interiors within the compact crossover class — and in reality, the Outlander’s is arguably extra visually attention-grabbing. The supplies in our top-shelf SEL mannequin all felt like high quality items. Most of the buttons and knobs have a pleasant knurled end that successfully lessons up the inside. There’s actual aluminum trim, a metallic-hued composite and quilted leather-based in black or gentle grey. Go for the Touring package deal and also you’ll get semi-aniline leather-based with brown accents. Base ES fashions get primary black material with piano black plastic trim; the mid-level SE positive factors a suede materials for the seating surfaces.
The Outlander’s seats are very snug — we marvel in the event that they share the “Zero Gravity” design utilized by Nissan. We’re not massive followers of the stubby gear shifter, which has similarities to what’s discovered within the newest Rogue. It’s intuitive sufficient however doesn’t supply any precise enchancment over less complicated designs. Base fashions have an 8-inch display screen whereas every part else has a nicer 9-inch show utilizing a brand new touchscreen infotainment system that’s mainly reskinned tech from Nissan. It’s straightforward to make use of and by no means slowed down throughout our testing. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are commonplace throughout the board (wi-fi for iPhone customers), and a 10.8-inch head-up show is optionally available on higher trims. Wi-fi telephone charging can also be out there. A big and engaging 12.3-inch digital show with two totally different gauge cluster designs is optionally available on the SE and commonplace on the SEL. You’ll be able to see how that works within the video under.
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Energy comes from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Equal figures of 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque are despatched to the entrance or all 4 wheels (S-AWC) by means of a repeatedly variable transmission. The alliance that Mitsubishi joined has a lot extra powertrain choices that would appear ripe for the taking, however for now, the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter is the one alternative. Quickly sufficient, the plug-in hybrid mannequin that troopers on for 2021 utilizing the previous Outlander platform will debut on the brand new chassis. We anticipate finding out how far Mitsubishi is ready to push its PHEV tech based mostly on how a lot it improved the gasoline-only Outlander.
There’s an inexpensive quantity of gumption from the two.5 liter in regular driving, and the CVT is programmed to imitate a standard stepped transmission by means of eight preset ratios. In follow, that works advantageous more often than not, however every part falls aside when the motive force asks for greater than two-thirds throttle. When pressed previous its consolation zone, the transmission forgets its manners and reverts to the unsavory CVT trait of locking the engine into its strongest zone, inflicting the buzzing and droning that’s synonymous with these transmissions.
A part of the rationale the powertrain drone is so noticeable is as a result of the 2022 Outlander, which makes use of dual-pane glass throughout, is in any other case very quiet. Wind noise is minimal, and neither highway noise nor highway imperfections make their approach into the cabin because of the Outlander’s delicate suspension tuning and remoted steering. The Outlander’s steering ratio is unexpectedly fast at simply 2.6 turns lock-to-lock, and it feels exact and sends a minimum of some suggestions to the motive force.
The construction is 33% extra torsionally inflexible than the previous mannequin and feels very strong. All the suspension bits and items are equally extra inflexible, and there’s extra wheel journey than earlier than. The ventilated disc brakes are considerably upsized over the earlier Outlander, and stopping energy feels robust and is simple to modulate. The experience is clearly biased towards consolation, which suggests there’s loads of physique roll when pushed, however final grip is affordable for a compact crossover designed to schlep folks and cargo.
Partnering with Nissan introduced superior driver help programs to Mitsubishi’s arsenal. Mitsubishi calls its system MI-Pilot Help and it consists of adaptive cruise management, lane maintain help and, if optioned with it, navigation hyperlink that reads velocity indicators and the highway forward to robotically enhance or scale back velocity as wanted. It makes use of the identical {hardware} and software program as Nissan’s ProPilot Help, and it really works equally as effectively. In our brief check drive, the Outlander ably saved itself centered in its lane and adopted the circulation of visitors all the way in which to a cease and subsequent restart.
There are 4 drive modes on front-drive Outlanders and 5 on S-AWC fashions. The Eco mode dulls the powertrain approach an excessive amount of for normal use, so we left it in Regular more often than not. Tarmac is the game mode, however we discovered its transmission programming solely too aggressive to need to use very a lot. We weren’t in a position to check Gravel, Snow or Mud (the final solely out there with all-wheel drive), however all of them depend on digital aids together with engine and transmission tuning to enhance traction.
Gas economic system isn’t nice. Entrance-wheel-drive Outlanders are EPA rated at 24 miles per gallon within the metropolis, 31 on the freeway and 27 mixed. All-wheel-drive fashions are 24 metropolis, 30 freeway and 26 mixed. Entrance-wheel-drive Rogues with the two.5-liter engine earn 27/35/30, matching the mixed figures of the Escape, CR-V and RAV4. The three-row Tiguan will get 23/29/25, which makes the Outlander probably the most gas environment friendly seven-passenger compact crossover ought to each of these parts are necessary to you. The Outlander can tow as much as 2,000 lbs, a step up from the Rogue’s 1,350 lb ranking or the CR-V and RAV4’s 1,500 lb limits.
Pricing for the 2022 Outlander ES begins at $26,990 together with vacation spot, however we’d suggest a minimum of stepping as much as the $28,845 SE trim to get its 20-inch wheels, bigger infotainment system, heated entrance seats, birds-eye-view digicam system and entry to the model’s first Bose audio system. The SE additionally positive factors Lane Departure Prevention and MI-Pilot Help, which aren’t provided on the ES. Normal security tools consists of ahead collision warning, entrance and rear automated emergency braking, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning and driver inattention warning.
The range-topping SEL at $31,945 additionally strikes us as a very good deal, contemplating how a lot tools comes commonplace and the truth that it’s $3,585 inexpensive than the Nissan Rogue Platinum. Mitsubishi’s beneficiant guarantee covers the car for 5 years or 60,000 miles and the powertrain for 10 years or 100,000-miles, making a compelling case in Mitsubishi’s favor.
Irrespective of which approach you have a look at it, the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is considerably higher than the 2020 version it replaces. It’s extra visually attention-grabbing, roomier, extra snug and it performs higher. It’s on the very least aggressive in its phase, and there are reputable explanation why it is likely to be a best choice, significantly for individuals who assume they want the flexibility of a 3rd row, even when just for kids and for (very) temporary intervals.
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