2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
Mitsubishi is celebrating its 25th anniversary of selling
cars in the U. S. by unveiling the second-generation Outlander compact SUV, and
the competition should take notice. Compact in name only, the 2007 Outlander is
longer, taller, and wider than the model it replaces. A wider track helps
increase hip room. And despite a minimum ground clearance of 8.5 inches, step-in
is easy and car-like.
In other words, this new Outlander's a much stiffer competitor for the RAV4, the
CR-V, and the Escape. And with its newly acquired third-row seat, the Outlander
puts a foot in the world of true mid-sized utes like the Honda Pilot.
The new Outlander retains the nimbleness, sporty design and fuel economy
associated with the smaller size, though. Granted, you are not going to drive
around long-legged supermodels in the third-row seat but you can hold small kids
captive. (But if you are toting supermodels…hey, where's our phonecall?)
The Dramamine antidote
I recently drove the '07 Outlander on the twisty, hilly roads and freeways north
of San Francisco , an area where I'd like to have the Dramamine concession. This
time the queasies stayed at the hotel: the Outlander performed seamlessly thanks
to fine suspension tuning and a new six-speed Sportronic transmission coupled to
a 3.0-liter, single overhead cam V-6.
The V-6 puts out 220 horsepower and 204 pound-feet of torque, lifting the
Outlander from its laggard four-cylinder roots. It's still no neck-cracker, but
the Outlander no longer needs to be coaxed to get out of its own way.
Mitsubishi uses the same powertrain in all three trim levels, starting with the
ES, the well-equipped LS and the sport/luxury XLS. The XLS has steering wheel
paddle controls for the transmission, a nice sporting touch.
Front-wheel drive is the name of the ES' game. However, both the LS and XLS
versions can be optioned up to a new electronically controlled all-wheel drive
system. Estimated fuel economy is 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway for 2WD models; 19
mpg city/26 mpg highway for AWD versions.
Body language
In terms of personal growth, the Outlander seeks to keep pace with the growing
American family, as well as the growing American backside. The '07 Outlander has
a wheelbase of 105.1 inches and an overall length of 182.7 inches. Width is 70.9
inches and height is 66.1 inches. The Outlander's Curb weight ranges from 3527
pounds for the ES/LS 2WD to 3791 pounds for the XLS 4WD.
Both the ES and LS come with sharp 16-inch steel/alloy wheels and P215/70R16
tires, while the XLS comes with 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels and P225/55R18
tires.
Towing capacity for the new Outlander is 2000 pounds for front-drivers, and 3500
pounds with the all-wheel-drive system.
The world inside
The Outlander's interior is a fine complement to its exterior styling. Except
for the prison-like 27.7-inch leg room in the third row - those supermodels need
be chummy - the rest of the vehicle is quite spacious. Front-seat legroom is
41.6 inches and rear-seat legroom is 39.6 inches for ES/LS and 36.8 inches for
XLS.
Flexibility has a place inside the Outlander, too. The second-row seat features
60/40 split fold and tumble seat backs, a 3.15-inch fore/aft slide range and
reclining seat backs.
And when it's all opened up, with the second and third rows folded down, the
Outlander's a capacious little beast. Behind the front seat, total cargo area is
72.6 cubic feet (12.3 cubic feet more than the first-generation Outlander). It's
39.0 cubic feet behind the second seat and 14.9 cubic feet behind the third seat
(which folds flat into the floor when not needed). The bonus is a unique
flap-fold tailgate. When lowered it provides a flat entryway to the cargo area
and can serve as a seat for outdoor activities. Its capacity is 440 pounds.
Besides the ample cargo area there are plenty of bins and compartments and
door-panel bottle carriers.
The instrument panel is well-laid out. HVAC controls are intuitive and
ergonomically friendly. The instrument cluster is large enough for those of us
fighting wearing glasses to drive. My objection to the instrument lighting is
that it's red. I know that studies show red can be easier on the eyes and helps
retain your night vision. However, I'm not a submarine commander and am not
distracted by easier-to-read white lighting (or even blue). With the exception
of the ES trim level, steering wheel audio remote control switches are standard.
Tech frenzy
Mitsubishi has gone all-out to equip the Outlander with tech-savvy features. If
you have the cash or the credit score, you can order a 30-gigabyte navigation
system with music server; a 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate Premium Audio System with
digital signal processing; Sirius satellite radio with a six-month pre-paid
subscription; hands-free calling via Bluetooth wireless technology; and a DVD
rear-seat entertainment system with nine-inch wide-format LCD screen.
Standard safety features include a full array of airbags including side and
curtain bags. Anti-lock brakes are standard too, along with traction control and
a tire pressure monitoring system.
Its new V-6 power, larger size, and high-end features put the Outlander into the
realm of a luxury SUV - not bad for a vehicle whose pricing begins in the low
$20,000s. Final pricing will be announced closer to its November on-sale date.
2007 Mitsubishi Outback
Base price: $21,500 (est.)
Engine: 3.0-liter V-6, 220 hp/204 lb-ft
Transmission: Six-speed automatic, front- or all-wheel drive
Length x width x height: 182.7 x 70.9 x 66.1 in (67.7 in w/roof
rails)
Wheelbase: 105.1 in
Curb weight: 3527-3791 lb
Fuel economy (EPA city/hwy): 20/27 mpg (2WD); 19/26 mpg (AWD)
Safety equipment: Front, side, and curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes, traction
control and tire pressure monitors
Major standard equipment: A/C; power windows/locks/mirrors; AM/FM/CD/MP3 player
Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles basic; ten
years/100,000 miles powertrain