We video test the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS 4WD

Mitsubishi’s Outlander has had a long serving career with the Triple Diamond brand and has seen a few freshen ups, facelifts, even a ground-breaking plug in electric hybrid, which has still to meet its match in the SUV market when it comes to sales volumes. Outlander’s aggressive pricing and good residual values achievable despite the lower than expected buy/lease prices made the Outlander a popular vehicle for a burgeoning fleet market which had started putting the writing on the wall of the large car industry. 

Today’s seven seater Outlander has all the bells and whistles you would expect of a contemporary SUV. It has active cruise control, lane change assist, lane change departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, reversing camera forward collision mitigation and blind spot warning system, handsfree Bluetooth telephony with voice command Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, seven airbags; I could go on, but you get the idea.

And remember too, this is the XLS version with another grade higher still as well as one with slightly fewer trimmings and the price adjusted accordingly. 

There’s a 2.4-litre petrol engine under that clamshell bonnet and it throws up 126kW of power and 224Nm of torque. That all goes to the wheels – typically front wheel drive but with the on demand dial up 4WD readily available – via a CVT, or continuously variable transmission. 

CVTs have the advantage of being smooth, but they have a driving characteristic of working like a stretching rubber band (which they are in essence) and some drivers don’t like that. What Mitsubishi has done however, is to introduce a paddle shift option – standard on the XLS Outlander – which puts six fixed step points into the CVT, which makes the drive feel like a conventional six speed manual with the smoothness of an auto.

This provides an engaging and rewarding driver experience and goes a long way to contributing to the Outlander’s 7.2 litres per 100 fuel reading, especially if you are doing inner city driving. On the open road, let the CVT do its thing.

Rearmost accommodations are not the best seats in the house for most seven seat vehicles, but the Outlander is one of the better ones. The seats are comfortable, the air conditioning extends right to the back of the cabin and the Outlander is quiet enough, everyone can be involved in a conversation. 

With the second seats up to accommodate five people rather than 7, you have 477 litres of cargo volume. Put the second row down and you get 1608 litres, that’s getting close to the ability to carry sheets of gib board if you really must. 

The Outlander has withstood GFC impacts, stiff competition and a measured shift in buyer demographic to be still one of Mitsubishi’s ‘hero’ sellers. Available in 2WD, 4WD, three grades and with a petrol or petrol electric hybrid engine choice, it’s going to be around for a long time to come.

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