Surprise packet Outlander

The Outlander is worth more than just a single look.

Superbly kitted out, smartly finished, spacious, comfortable and rock solid this has got to be one of the most under-rated, under-the-radar SUV vehicles available in this country. In fact, it is on par with (if not better than) the likes of Subaru Forester, Volvo XC60, Hyundai Sante Fe, Kia Sorento and Nissan X-Trail.

I recently got to spend time in the smartened up Outlander GLX, which has only just arrived in the dealership showrooms, and was pleasantly surprised by the Outlander refreshed look and pleasant drive. It is powered by a 2.4 petrol engine that produces 123kW and 222Nm and is linked to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

No diesel... yet

Mitsubishi says will gurgle 8.2-litres of juice every 100km while keeping foul gas emissions down to 192g/km (At near-perfect test lab conditions).

The Outlander also scores good points in the safety department.

click to enlarge

There is currently only one four-wheel drive model on offer with no diesel alternative. In this category almost 50% of local sales are made up of diesel-powered options. But the good news is a diesel is not too far away...

Although not exactly a sprinter out of the starting blocks it gallops along quite gamely and cruises happily (if a tad loudly if you floor the loud pedal) up to legal maximum motorway speed. It is the type of vehicle that will make long journeys feel short. In spite of its size, weight and height the Outlander is also pleasant commuter thanks to light steering, park assist and excellent all-round views which make it a doddle to park. It is also the first vehicle I have driven for a long time in which I could make simple adjustments to the steering column and driver seat to find a perfect driving position.

You have choices

There is currently only one four-wheel drive model on offer with no diesel alternative, but the a diesel is not too far away...

The Outlander offers three push-button settings - ECO mode which is 2WD biased, although the system will dial in assistance from the other two wheels if required; 4WD which will also transfer power to where it is needed the most and 4WD Lock-Up for when the going gets seriously tough.

Contrary to the trend of Marie Biscuit spares the Outlander has a full-size spare wheel to take some of the worry out of a blow-out far from the nearest civilisation. Ground clearance of 190mm is also good.

There's substantial load space available to Outlander owners.

The Outlander also scores good points in the safety department with seven airbags, ABS with EBD, active stability and traction control (ASTC), Hill Start Assist and Brake Assist plus a five-star EuroNCAP crash rating.

Space for the kitchen sink and the mother-in-law

The living quarters are smartly decorated and finished and brags with a number of special touches such as two extra pikkie-seats in the luggage area, two rear rows which can be folded flat for vast luggage space, comfortable leather seats, dual-zone aircon, power steering, paddle shifts, touch screen with Bluetooth connectivity, central locking, multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, electrically operated tail-gate, outstanding sound system and child-pleasing drop-down DVD screen with wireless headphones to keep the backseat occupants happy.

Slimmer and trimmer

This is the type of vehicle that will make long journeys feel short.

The smartened up Outlander has shed about 85kg in weight, the front end has been prettied up with a more elegantly-menacing front grille and evil, sleek headlight clusters. More body make-up comes in the shape of sporty alloys and roof trim.

With price tag of R429,900 the Outlander may seem a tad expensive but this fades quite rapidly when you start toting up the value of all its smart kit. Other than its polarising CVT transmission the Outlander is a worthy, must-consider in this competitive segment.

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander DETAILED Review on Everyman Driver

{{media}}

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Review - Kelley Blue Book

Road Test: 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander