SUV Review: 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

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The Mitsubishi Outlander is all-new for model-year 2022, and it’s hitting the scene as not only one of the freshest new crossovers on the market right now, but also as the only crossover in its segment that also has the distinction of being its brand’s flagship product.

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That being the case, the latest Outlander intends to bring shoppers no less than everything Mitsubishi knows about building a modern utility vehicle. Remember, Outlander is the shining star on the top of Mitsubishi’s model range.

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After 1,300 kilometres spent covering all manner of highway, rural and backroad conditions, I figure there are a few really good reasons for most shoppers to put the new Outlander high on their test-drive hit-lists, and at least one reason why some of those shoppers may be better to spend the money elsewhere.

Shoppers concerned primarily with upscale accommodations, smooth and quiet performance, and solid ride quality will find the best return on investment from the Outlander’s driving experience. 

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Sportier drivers or enthusiast drivers have better options.

After a week at the wheel, your writer found the Outlander’s most impressive attribute to be the high degree of fine-tuning put into the inner workings of the powertrain, steering, and suspension.

The driveline is an impressive collection of hardware. Specifically, a new 2.5 litre four-cylinder is rigged for maximum low-end torque, while the shift-free CVT transmission attached to it is carefully optimized to work hand-in-hand with the way that engine breathes and develops power. The result is smooth acceleration as the engine stays within its power band. 

I drive a lot of CVT-equipped vehicles, and none in recent memory left as strong an impression that the transmission and engine were working together as a powerful pair. Just apply a half-inch of throttle, and the Outlander’s revs glide up slightly, hover steadily around 2,000 revs, and stay there until you hit highway cruising speed.

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There’s no lurching, no lugging, and no grumbling from the engine as is chugs along, squeezing out as much low-end torque as possible. There are no dips or valleys in the power delivery as you accelerate gently. The engine speed doesn’t wander around. It’s just smooth, quiet, and consistent.

Press the throttle harder, and you’ll get as many simulated downshifts as feels natural, the transmission kicking the gear ratio down to crank the revs up and glide things along.

The point is, this driveline is simultaneously very responsive and very smooth, and represents some of the best use of the tech I’ve come across. 

So, that’s good stuff.

Ditto the ride and handling. 

While developing the platform and chassis of the new Outlander, engineers made its structure both stronger and lighter. A full third more rigid than the structure in the previous Outlander, the new underpinnings create a very solid foundation upon which things like steering and suspension can be further fine-tuned for a carefully-crafted drive.

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It feels like the details have been sweat, as it were. Adding strategic strength intends to help reduce vibration – and it works. On your test-drive, touch the door panels or centre tunnel as you drive down the road. You’ll feel almost none of the buzzing or vibration inherent to driving a car. Few cars on this side of a luxurious Lexus can say that.

Hollow stabilizer bars and liquid bushings work with increased suspension travel and a longer wheelbase to help further smooth out the drive. After some experimentation, the engineers say they found the optimal distance between the power steering motor and the wheels for response and feedback.

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From the driver’s seat, you feel a steering setup with virtually no on-centre slack, which translates into faster and more direct responses. On your test-drive, you may be initially startled by how quickly the steering reacts, but its easy to get used to, and easy to love. By the way, that new steering setup also shrinks the turning circle of the vehicle.

The point is, there’s a lot of work put into making sure this is going to feel great in your hands — and on your backside — as it rolls down the road.

Noise levels are kept nicely in check, with little need to raise your voice for a conversation with a nearby passenger or a friend via a Bluetooth call, even at highway speeds.

There are some smoother-riding options for regular use on very rough roads, if that’s a concern for you. On the worst backroads I could throw its way, Outlander’s ride feels solid and durable, but can become abrupt and noisy at times.  

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Still, it feels tough and solid, which is easy to appreciate. If you listen carefully, you’ll notice many road imperfections coax less noise from the suspension than you might be expecting.

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If rough-road ride comfort is important to you, be sure to consider the Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback, and (especially) the Buick Envision as a few softer-footed options.

Of all of those, I’d say the Outlander comes home with the most stunning cabin. My loaded tester’s quilted white leather made a twice-the-price first impression at a glance, while the stitched dashboard, strong horizontal interior orientation, and clever use of gloss and texture work towards an open, airy and very upscale atmosphere.

Add in the glare-free digital dash mounted just beneath a Head Up Display, and it’s ‘high-tech’ meets ‘upscale’ in one of the best cabins in the segment right now.

So far, we’ve got a crossover that delivers a strong, high-end feel through the careful tuning of its driveline, suspension, and steering systems — and an impressive-looking cabin from which to take that all in. If you’re after a lovely place to sit while you take in a leisurely drive, you’ll like how this is set up.

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If you’re a sportier driver or driving enthusiast, however, you may not. That’s primarily to do with the Outlander’s powertrain.

Though it excels in its duties for light-footed drivers who crave smoothness and efficiency, sportier drivers will likely wish for more passing and merging power. Even worked hard, the engine feels capable and never sounds stressed out. The responsive transmission and low-end torque make it a responsive and lively runabout in the city, too. 

Still, with torque and horsepower pegged at 181 apiece, full-throttle passing and merging maneuvers are handled adequately, but without the turbocharged punch available from numerous competitors for similar money. 

If you’re considering the new Outlander, I figure you’ve got plenty of higher-power options, as well as a few others that are better suited to frequent use on rough roads. But if neither of those is the case for you, you’ll likely find the new Outlander wows from a glance with a unique and modern cabin, and keeps that wow factor going as you get into motion.