2008 Mitsubishi Outlander

 

               2008 Mitsubishi Outlander

 

The curious case of Mitsubishi Motors continues and there is no end in sight. Why the Japanese manufacturer doesn’t launch a small car based on the Colt or a MPV like the Grandis is beyond us. Internationally too this isn’t the best time for Mitsubishi Motors and there is nothing exciting on the table from the Japanese manufacturer. This is a rather sad state of affairs because Mitsubishi is adored by enthusiasts around the world and is known for their success in motorsports, most recently being in the Dakar rally. In the World Rally Championship they were the team to beat when Tommi Makinen was piloting the Evo VII and the Lancer Evo is one of the iconic cars of our generation. The point that we are trying to make is that Mitsubishi and their cars have pedigree like none other and to see the manufacturer struggle disappoints many of its fans. The Outlander was launched in India in 2008 and in 2010 it received a facelift. Despite being the sharpest looking utility vehicle around, the Outlander finds favour from amongst only a few. Priced at Rs20,55,000 ex-showroom New Delhi, are the Outlander’s poor sales a reflection of its quality?

The vehicle that we think has potential for the Indian market if Mitsubishi gets the pricing right is the Pajero Sport, which can take the robust and popular Pajero brand name into higher levels of plushness. Based on the Thai-built Triton pickup truck, the[Pajero Sport is not a softroader like the Outlander or the Honda CR-V, but a purpose built off-roader with great looks on the lines of the Toyota Fortuner.

Design

The Outlander follows a conventional SUV shape and the proportions are spot on. In 2010 the Outlander received a facelift and got new design elements like the headlamp cluster, Lancer Evo style ‘jet fighter’ front grille, restyled bumper, new roof rails and indicators integrated into the outside rear view mirrors. These changes are similar to the Outlander GT Prototype. The Outlander is a contemporary design and has a good blend of muscle and aggressive. The two-part grille and big silver skid plate look good and at the rear the LED lights are attention bragging. With a ground clearance of 215mm the Outlander is taller than the Honda CR-V. From the side profile what we liked the most is the way the D-pillar integrates into the upward opening boot. The wheel arches are large and smaller wheels do leave a gap but the overall build quality is good.

Interiors

The Outlander is a seven seater unlike the Honda CR-V and in order to seat as many comfort is compromised. The legroom for middle seat passengers is less than the Honda CR-V and the Chevrolet Captiva and the headroom too isn’t as good as the competition. The front seats are big and wide and you get a good driving position and the middle seats split and fold 60/40 by a one-touch button. The seats though on the Outlander are extremely comfortable and offer good support. Like the Montero, the Outlander also gets black interiors.
The dashboard gets a simple layout and there isn’t a barrage of knobs and buttons. The centre console has a carbon-fibre look with soft inserts and for the air conditioning you get rotary knobs. Generally the plastic of the Outlander is good all around but some of the plastic is hard and also lacks in finish. The steering feels really inviting to hold on, there is lots of space to store knick-knacks and the inner door handles are finished in chrome and the front seat is power assisted.
Equipment is high on the Outlander and you get headlamp washers, keyless entry and start, a multi-information display, paddle shift on the steering and one-touch power windows all around. The Rockford Fosgate sound system is probably one of the best in the market and you also get dual front airbags and ABS with EBD.

Engine and performance

The Outlander’s 2.4-litre MIVEC multi valve engine produces 170PS@6000rpm and 226Nm of torque@4000rpm. The MIVEC engine uses similar variable valve technology like the Honda VTEC and the 16-vlave engine is made of die-cast aluminium. Engine refinement is good and while the power rating is stronger than the Honda CR-V, the acceleration time of over12seconds to 100kmph makes the Outlander slower to the CR-V. While there is nothing wrong with the engine, the deal breaker is the 6-speed CVT gearbox. The rubber-band effect of the Outlander’s gearbox is irritating and at low speed particularly you feel the lag before gear changes. The only advantage of the CVT gearbox is that in sports mode while using paddle shifts it holds the revs even at the red line. The Outlander is capable of reaching speeds of around 180kmph but you don’t get the same kind of grunt and rev happy performance like on the CR-V. The Outlander’s fuel efficiency too is less than the Honda CR-V.

Ride

The Outlander is based on Mitsubishi’s GS platform, which is shared with the Lancer and Evo X. The GS platform was originally designed as a global platform along with DaimlerChrysler and the Outlander’s monocoque is built on high-tensile steel to keep weight down and the softroader also gets a light-weight aluminium roof. The Outlander rides on MacPherson coil springs with stabilizer bar at the front and multilink coil springs at the rear. Unlike other soft roaders, the Outlander gets electronically controlled four wheel drive with a lockable centre differential that ensures a 50:50 power split between the front and rear axles. This allows you to drive in two-wheel-drive mode for better fuel efficiency.
The Outlander’s handling is pretty assured and you would expect that considering Mitsubishi would have learnt a thing or two from its seven Dakar victories. There is considerable body roll around corners but its predictable and consistent and there is a lot of grip around corners. The steering is well weighed and precise and it offers good feedback too. With the Outlander though you shouldn’t expect to do any serious offroading like on the Mitsubishi Pajero. The car’s approach, departure and ramp angles are 22, 21 and 19 degrees respectively which aren’t ideal for off road. The ride is a bit on the firm side at lower speeds but on broken patches passengers are well taken care of and the ride quality is good all around and composed.

Competition

The Outlander’s biggest competitor is the Honda CR-V but the CR-V’s golden days are long gone ever since petrol prices started to climb. The CR-V has roomier interiors, the engine and gearbox combination are better than the Outlander and the handling too is better than many sedans in the country. The CR-V though doesn’t have a differential lock and an equipment list to match the Outlander. The Chevrolet Captiva is only available in diesel which is what most buyers want in this segment and interior space is better than the Outlander. The Mitsubishi Pajero and Toyota Fortuner are in the same price range as the Outlander but they are more thoroughbred SUV’s.

Verdict

The Outlander has pedigree which not many vehicles can boast of. Agreed it is not the same 4WD vehicle which went for the Dakar or the WRC, but lessons learnt in motorsport have definitely been incorporated into the Outlander. Ride and handling and the strong feature list are its strengths. While the interior space isn’t as good as its competitors, it’s a seven seater nevertheless and build quality too is good. You also get a differential lock which gives you the confidence to venture into territory where other would struggle. The engine is refined but the CVT gearbox spoils the party for Mitsubishi to a big extent. Sales are also poor because there isn’t a diesel engine on offer.
Quotes from other reviews:
BS Motoring: ‘The Outlander is true to its rally genes. It rides better, handles better and steers better than the CR-V. It is also the only one capable of going off-road, but you really need to be an outdoor junkie to be even trying out the 4WD knob. On the other hand, the CR-V has more sorted build quality, has a sweet sounding engine, is a mite more frugal, is more spacious and will offer better return on your money when it’s time to upgrade.’