The new Mitsubishi Outlander has been unveiled on Amazon Live — the first-ever car launch to feature on the web streaming platform — and is the first directly-influenced Mitsubishi of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. The Outlander will go on sale first in the US from April, before being introduced to other markets later on in 2021. The new Outlander is an all-new development, which, although based on the Nissan Rogue platform, is said to offer its own take. In fact, Mitsubishi communicates that it was “based on the product concept ‘I-Fu-Do-Do,’ which means authentic and majestic in Japanese”.
The Outlander is the first all-new
offering to be launched from the three diamonds in years. It’s part of Nissan’s
repositioning of the brand to be a fun & exciting alternative, with plenty
of talk about Mitsubishi’s rally heritage mentioned in the teaser campaign. The
new Outlander also features an updated take on Mitsubishi’s design language. It
is positioned as a flagship model for Mitsubishi, sitting above the other
Crossover SUVs in their line-up.
The 2022 Outlander is 5.08 cm wider than the previous model. The wheelbase has been lengthened too, from 266.9 cm to 270.5 cm, with the front seat
passengers getting 1.0 extra inch (2.54 cm) of legroom and the second-row
getting an increase of 2.79 cm. The Outlander is 468
cm long, 186 cm wide, and 174.7 cm tall. Luggage
space length when the second-row and third-row seats are folded up has been
increased to a maximum of 204 cm from the 168.7 cm in the previous model.
The Outlander is the first to feature a
new interpretation of the ‘Dynamic Front Shield’ face. The release material
references inspiration being sought from two of Mitsubishi’s most-loved models:
the Montero/Pajero and the Evolution X. The front face sees the high and low
beam headlights take up their position lower down in the front bumper, with the
squinting row of lights up top responsible for daytime running and indicator
lights. While there are plenty of differences, such as the differently-sculpted
doors and altered windows, we can’t help be see some Rogue in the side profile.
The rear doesn’t suffer from such, with a distinct pair of taillights evocative
of the now long-departed Evo. Color options include mostly variations on
silvers or blacks. A total of eight colors will be offered in the US, including
three of Mitsubishi’s “Diamond Colors”, with Diamond Black being a new
multi-layered color-shifting option. For some reason, basic white will be
available in other markets, but has been excluded from the US.
The inside of the new Outlander is said to
have received particular attention from designers. Careful focus was paid
towards the material quality and general fit and finish in order to position
the Outlander higher up the value chain. The Outlander is the only vehicle in
its segment to offer three-row seating as standard. We’re promised that the new
Outlander’s insides are a “quiet and serene space, showcasing quality and
convenience through class-above materials.”
While that may just be marketing spiel,
there does seem to be some high-quality surfaces and design features on offer.
Genuine leather seats and aluminum trim are available on the top-spec SEL
model, while lower models feature either fabric or suede. The two screens, a
12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 9-inch center screen, are relatively par for
the course, including Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. However, the big
news for fans of sensible interior design is that dedicated buttons are present
for the HVAC controls. The 2022 Outlander comes as standard with 11 airbags, as
well as multiple USB A and USB C charge ports. Other goodies on offer (but
dependent on spec) include adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist,
navigation, a full-color Head-Up Display (HUD), and a 10-speaker Bose audio
system.
Mitsubishi claims that the all-new
Outlander is equipped with a 2.5L gasoline engine that has been “newly
developed by the Alliance.” What that actually means is that the Outlander is
using the same engine as found under the hood of many Nissan products — the
PR25DD. Power is a lackluster 181 hp at 6,000 rpm and 245
Nm of torque at 3,600 rpm — figures that, on paper, are hardly in line with
the exciting or sporting aspirations for the Mitsubishi brand. The engine
features electric VVT, as well as other Nissan-developed tech such as
“mirror-bore” coating. It’s all paired to a familiar transmission: an 8-speed
CVT.
Rally-speak is employed in the description
of the Outlander’s ‘Super All-Wheel Control 4WD system’, which we understand to
be a Mitsubishi-specific element, and apparently draws from Mistubihi’s WRC
heritage. It’s paired to a newly-developed drive mode selector that allows
performance and grip to be tailored to conditions through six distinct
settings: Normal for normal driving, Tarmac for driving on paved roads, Gravel
for high traction performance and stability on unpaved roads, Snow for snowy
and other slippery roads, and Mud for increasing road handling ability on muddy
roads, and in deep snow. Interestingly the drive-mode selector is available for
both AWD and 2WD cars, although the latter misses out on the mud mode. The
drive programs are said to enhance the potential of 2WD vehicles.
The new 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander will
have a manufacturer’s suggested starting retail price of US$ 25,795, excluding a
destination/handling charge of US$ 1,195 (Alaska/Hawaii US$ 1,220). Full pricing and
model variants will be released at a later date. Its price puts it slap bang in
the territory of the Rogue, which starts from US$ 25,650. Other competitors include
the Toyota RAV4 (US$ 26,150), and the Honda CR-V (US$ 25,350).