2011 Mitsubishi Outlander

Review

The seven-passenger Mitsubishi Outlander has been newly redesigned and enhanced for 2011 with a brand-new grille and hood on the front end and upgraded door mirrors and side moldings. Also new for 2011 is the peppy five-passenger Mitsubishi Outlander Sport; available in both two-wheel and four-wheel-drive and with two distinctive trim levels, the Sport is a smaller, more compact version of the family Outlander CUV. Both the original Outlander and the Outlander Sport are available in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models.

Performance

The Mitsubishi Outlander ES and SE feature the 2.4 liter four-cylinder MIVEC engine with a solid 168 horsepower output, while the Outlander XLS and GT offer additional power in a 3.0 liter V6 engine that produces 230 horsepower. The Outlander Sport is available in three trim levels, all of which incorporate the 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder MIVEC engine that delivers 148 horsepower at 6000 RPM.

Exterior Features

The body of the Outlander Sport is very similar to that of the Mitsubishi Outlander, but shorter by more than a foot. The chassis looks solid and has a large front grille.

Interior Features

Leather-wrapped steering wheels with tilt steering, cruise control, and power windows and door locks are standard on all Outlander and Outlander Sport models, along with air conditioning, CD player and remote keyless entry system. Safety features include a six-airbag system on the Outlander and seven-airbag safety system standard on the Outlander Sport.

Warranty

All new Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander Sport vehicles are covered by the manufacturer’s bumper-to-bumper five-year/60,000-mile warranty with 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage and five years of roadside assistance standard with every new vehicle sold.

Summary

The Mitsubishi Outlander line is primarily for families and urban driving, but has been packaged as a crossover utility vehicle and may offer less than stellar performance in off-road conditions. The AWD models offer superior traction on snow and ice, but may become bogged down in mud and fail to perform as expected.

For the money, it’s hard to do better than the Outlander or Outlander Sport; the standard trim packages include a number of features that other manufacturers charge extra for. Outstanding gas mileage is another draw for the Outlander and Outlander Sport, and peppy performance ensures that the Outlander line is fun to drive as well as easy to own. The bumper-to-bumper warranty offers peace of mind for buyers and is a strong selling point for the Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander Sport as well.