There has never been a better time to buy a Mitsubishi Outlander – described as the best product Mitsubishi has ever built. The Outlander is designed with the 21st century motorist in mind its successful evolution starting with a redesigned headlight cluster and an advanced version of the dynamic shield family face of current Mitsubishi product. This is what you see from the outside. What is harder to see is the comprehensive range of safety features the five-star ANCAP rated Outlander is equipped with. Eight airbags, including a centre front and driver’s knee bag, forward collision mitigation with pedestrian and cyclist detection and Junction assist, blind spot warning and assist, lane departure warning and prevention with settable levels of intervention, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert with reverse camera – all this and more makes up the comprehensive safety suite for the new generation Outlander XLS.

Under the bonnet is a new hugely efficient, 2.5-litre displacement engine with power and torque outputs increased to 135kW and 245Nm respectively. Mitsubishi claims a conservative 7.7 litres per 100km, but thanks to the flexibility of the 8-speed auto with paddle shifters and working with the cruise control, we saw nothing higher than 6.6 and down as far as 5.8 which also suggests a better than Mitsubishi’s stated 174gm/km CO2 figure too. With engine improvements come drivetrain improvements, and the 8-speed is certainly worthy of high praise. It is supplemented with a 5-mode drive selector, allowing drivers of the 2WD Outlander to confidently tackle different surfaces like tarmac, gravel and snow with the flick of a rotary dial.

And as for finding those different surfaces, Mitsubishi has thoughtfully delivered its second-generation SDA audio suite with its 9-inch touchscreen interface for Android Auto and wireless Apple Carplay. Speaking of wireless, the Outlander XLS offers wireless charging for your Smartphone and wireless Bluetooth audio streaming controlled from the multifunction steering wheel.  The solid sound when you close the doors, the significant feel of the chunky steering wheel and gear selector, the unyielding comfort of the seats and the premium materials used in this, the XLS model – which is closer to the top end VRX than the entry level LS – all add up to a worthy successor to what is historically, an immensely popular vehicle. Mitsubishi’s new generation Outlander XLS – the sophisticated seven-seater which, in addition to everything else, sports a raft of surprise and delight features as standard equipment – also carries Mitsubishi’s supreme peace of mind offering in the form of the 10-year Diamond warranty.  

For more information go to https://www.mmnz.co.nz/vehicles/next-gen-outlander/