Mitsubishi Outlander | Polishing a diamond

In the land of the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson and Toyota Rav4, it is difficult to get out of the game, even for a well-born SUV. The Outlander has still managed to build a clientele of faithful who appreciate the performance of its full cog and its three rows of seats. The overhaul of this model, the pillar of the brand with three diamonds, aims to refine details in order to expand its recruitment.

Again yesterday, Mitsubishi products played more in the rustic register than in the high spheres of refinement. Mainly renowned for its attractive warranty (10 years or 160,000 km for the powertrain) or its relatively cheap reliable vehicles, but not really at the forefront of progress, the little Japanese brand led a discreet career. It was especially estimated by buyers looking for the good deal rather than the favorite car. From the Eclipse Cross, Mitsubishi radically changes style and partly rediscovers the eccentricity which, in the past, characterized it.

For the time being, the Outlander alone embodies the success of this brand. The RVR struggles to hide its age while the Eclipse Cross has never managed to convince buyers.

For the most part, this return to grace is due to a revival of creativity. Even yesterday followed by a kind of smaller common aesthetic denominator who gave birth to vehicles without real temperament, Mitsubishi finally decided to acquire distinctive signs.

The latest generation of the outlander appeared during the winter of 2021 strongly marked this desire in Mitsubishi, a house renowned in the past for his audacity.

Well camped, the Outlander manages to forge a singular identity with a front front which leaves no one indifferent. We like it or not. Inside, presentation A – Finally – is the subject of a real effort. The plastics are more chic, the materials have become smoother and some insertions brighten up a warmer and neat than formerly. The central console, partially redesigned, is more clever to store the essentials of modern life (your smoked glasses, your mobile phone, your keys, etc.). Overall, the ergonomics of the commands are good, but we would still have liked the armrests welded to the counter-ports are slightly raised.

The bench offers generous clearance and a lot of leg and feet space. A whole contrast to the troubleshooting places anchored behind it. That said, this third row now represents an exclusivity in this segment. As for the trunk, it is easily accessible, modular as desired with the median row files (these are divided 40/20/40) which allow to transport skis, for example, without completely sacrificing places.

Another novelty to mark with a white stone, the outlander adopts a much more modern look, far from the softened forms of its predecessor. Developed on the foundations of the most recent Nissan Rogue, the Outlander remains faithful to the 2.5-liter four-cylinder. A mechanical without excess, reliable, not very sophisticated, but a little greedy.

Noisy too? Significantly less than before. The manufacturer has, within the framework of this partial overhaul, clearly attenuated the decibels which formerly rose on board. Without having the adequate instrumentation to measure the sound level, it is necessary to rely on the word of its designers. These claim a drop equivalent to six decibels compared to the model of last year. This gain in acoustic comfort flats the ear as much as the audio chain signed by Yamaha now offered.

The acceleration of this Mitsubishi surprises with its liveliness, but only over the first meters. As proof, it takes a little more than nine seconds to reach the speed allowed on our fast ways.

The continuous variation automatic transmission (CVT) has eight artificial reports. Pallets housed at the wheel allow us to dictate the tempo, but do not gallop the 181 horsepower of the engine faster.

Dynamically, the Outlander progresses. Changes have been made to the management and elements of the chassis. The management first. This offers a better feeling. More weighted, it no longer requires as many corrections as in the past, but retains the same ardor when negotiating the turns or changing its trajectory. As for the rather firm suspension, it not only highlights the manufacturing quality of this vehicle, but also the control that it exercises on cash movements.

It should be noted that this youthful treatment of Outlander has not yet completely broken with the traditional defects of the brand: its petrol engines are often too soft and quite greedy. At least, the manufacturer knows in which areas he must continue to progress.