Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0 Elegance
The second-generation Outlander developed in conjunction with Daimler Chrysler is now available to buy in the UK. Combining lots of qualities such as a chunky off-road styling, seven-seater flexibility, driver and road-friendly dimensions as well as strong ‘green credentials’ and up beat safety features, this Outlander is aimed for families with attitude. Families whereby the children are definitely out of car seats and into horses, snowboarding, alternative outdoor pursuits and the parents are not so mumsy nor nervous about thier driving habits with the children. Three models are gracing the showrooms, the Equippe, Warrior and top of the range Elegance, see even the names suggest outward attitude! All powered initially by a new advanced 2.0-litre common rail EURO 1V compliant turbo diesel engine driving through a six speed manual transmission.
Despite the seven-seat versatility the Outlander is not that much larger than an average family car yet stamps its authority and beware how your attitude whilst driving suddenly changes! The large 18 inch allow wheels sets the pace with the bold wide light clusters flanking a duel grille that drops into the colour coded bumper with integrated fog lights and a huge honeycomb grille with a steel protective plate. To profile and the roof bars, large colour coded electrically heated, and foldable door mirrors that are needed to see round this vehicle, plus the chrome scruff plate further cement the presence this car alludes while to the rear the design kind of calms down with an unusual angled rear window that sees the light cluster fitting neatly below.
Inside, thanks to the lovely electric tilt and slide sunroof that floods the cabin with light, a bright airy interior is created and all the instruments are clearly laid out for drivers ease. The highest adjustable steering wheel also houses the cruise control and remote audios for the 9-speaker CD/MP3 compatible stereo, and includes a Bluetooth mobile phone hands free kit. Keeping the cabin cool is the air conditioning with climate controls while any heated arguments over directions are counter acted by the sat nav system. The height adjustable drivers seat is also clad in leather, heated and electrically powered for adjustment and couple this with a high entry point, certainly gives the driver a fantastic view point of the road ahead.
I don’t know about you, but my children simply adore seven seater cars yet insist on climbing in via the spilt tailgate, to get into their seats when all they really have to do is press and hold a small button in the side of the boot area for three seconds and the second row seats electrically flip forward to let them in or create a flat load for accommodating larger objects. But it’s the innovative ‘Hide & Seek’ third row which took my daughter seconds to fathom out -she’s good, watch out for her name in the future as she is only 7 at the moment, the two extra seats in row 3 simply fold out from the boot floor compete with integrated headrests and inertia reel seatbelts.
The Outlander is a car that will travel with you so numerous storage features are scattered around the cabin from a cooled drinks holder for the driver that extends from the dashboard at the touch of a finger, two cup holders in the floor console, four bottle holders in door pockets and the central armrest that slides forward and features one small and one deep compartment the latter with a 12v socket. In the boot is a hidden compartment, another 12v socket and four retaining hooks plus a parcel shelf if the third row of seats is not being used.
So powering this temptress beast is the new 2.0 diesel engines, which is rather sprightly with a top speed of 116 mph and 0-62 in just 10.8 seconds. Obviously fuel consumption is good, but the Outlander is brilliant achieving 40.9 mpg on a combined cycle. I drove this car so much yet hardly dented the fuel guage. Yet the Outlander is very green with CO2 figures at 180 which equates to only 26 per carrying person thus on par with the likes of say the Toyota Prius and fall into group E. Drive wise, the Outlander is relatively easy to drive, the rack and pinion steering breezes you in and out of the school gates yet the road dynamics are pretty impressive giving quite a sold ride. Mitsubishi's Motors rally inspired AWC - All Wheel Control four wheel drive train is the masterpiece on the Outlander designed to give enhanced on road stability in 2WD mode, as well as taking and conquering roads in adverse weather and towing by selecting 4WD auto, that leaves 4WD to cope with really difficult off road conditions.
Keeping all occupants safe and secure, the horse box in tow and the caravan upright at all times, is Mitsubishi Active Stability and Traction control, ABS with EBD, drivers and passenger airbags, along with side and curtain airbags thus has been targeted to achieve a five star rating in the Euro NCAP tests. All seven seats are fitted with three point harnesses, pre-tensioners on the drivers shoulder, anti whiplash seats, ISOFIX mountings on the two outer seats of row 2,and to minimise injury to pedestrians, energy absorbing structures on the bonnet and front bumpers. Securing the Outlander is keyless entry, an alarm, engine immobiliser, remote central locking thus benefits by falling into insurance group 12E.
The Outlander price tag starts from £19,449 rising to my test car, top of the range of course at £24,749. It enters a rapidly expanding market that of the mid size SUV that has grown 54% with Mitsubishi hoping to claim 10%. They also reckon the Warrior -mid spec, will be their best seller and I have to agree for value for money wise. The Elegance is as the name suggests, elegant, with the few extra toys but do not forget when purchasing a vehicle with 4x4 capacity, its big, bold and not the smoothest of rides as it has been designed to cope with all types of terrains. So if you want a quite comfortable seven seater, look elsewhere as this car does exactly what it says on the tin.
Jackie Violet FemaleFirst Motoring Correspondent
Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0 Elegance
The second-generation Outlander developed in conjunction with Daimler Chrysler is now available to buy in the UK. Combining lots of qualities such as a chunky off-road styling, seven-seater flexibility, driver and road-friendly dimensions as well as strong ‘green credentials’ and up beat safety features, this Outlander is aimed for families with attitude. Families whereby the children are definitely out of car seats and into horses, snowboarding, alternative outdoor pursuits and the parents are not so mumsy nor nervous about thier driving habits with the children. Three models are gracing the showrooms, the Equippe, Warrior and top of the range Elegance, see even the names suggest outward attitude! All powered initially by a new advanced 2.0-litre common rail EURO 1V compliant turbo diesel engine driving through a six speed manual transmission.
Despite the seven-seat versatility the Outlander is not that much larger than an average family car yet stamps its authority and beware how your attitude whilst driving suddenly changes! The large 18 inch allow wheels sets the pace with the bold wide light clusters flanking a duel grille that drops into the colour coded bumper with integrated fog lights and a huge honeycomb grille with a steel protective plate. To profile and the roof bars, large colour coded electrically heated, and foldable door mirrors that are needed to see round this vehicle, plus the chrome scruff plate further cement the presence this car alludes while to the rear the design kind of calms down with an unusual angled rear window that sees the light cluster fitting neatly below.
Inside, thanks to the lovely electric tilt and slide sunroof that floods the cabin with light, a bright airy interior is created and all the instruments are clearly laid out for drivers ease. The highest adjustable steering wheel also houses the cruise control and remote audios for the 9-speaker CD/MP3 compatible stereo, and includes a Bluetooth mobile phone hands free kit. Keeping the cabin cool is the air conditioning with climate controls while any heated arguments over directions are counter acted by the sat nav system. The height adjustable drivers seat is also clad in leather, heated and electrically powered for adjustment and couple this with a high entry point, certainly gives the driver a fantastic view point of the road ahead.
I don’t know about you, but my children simply adore seven seater cars yet insist on climbing in via the spilt tailgate, to get into their seats when all they really have to do is press and hold a small button in the side of the boot area for three seconds and the second row seats electrically flip forward to let them in or create a flat load for accommodating larger objects. But it’s the innovative ‘Hide & Seek’ third row which took my daughter seconds to fathom out -she’s good, watch out for her name in the future as she is only 7 at the moment, the two extra seats in row 3 simply fold out from the boot floor compete with integrated headrests and inertia reel seatbelts.