Mitsubishi is going to have more success with the new generation Outlander than it did trying to launch the latest generation from Wellington during a Delta outbreak, judging by the pre-orders.
Pre-ordering is something new for Mitsubishi and is a marketing strategy many carmakers are turning to, and it works.
As the customer, you go online, register your interest, pay a $500 deposit – which is refundable if the order has to be cancelled for whatever reason – and the factory then has a good idea of how many vehicles it has to produce in the next 10 minutes to fulfil New Zealand’s ‘massive’ order bank.
Actually, that sounds a little too sarcastic, especially since some brands ARE reporting massive order banks, but you can see how pre-ordering makes it more of a surety that you’ll have the vehicle you want – pandemics permitting.
Outlander’s pre-ordering process did have a time limit of up to October this year, so its done and dusted now, but we expect it will herald a new trend from other automakers and indeed, from Mitsubishi, which has signaled the PHEV Outlander – due in early 2022 – will have the same process put in place from October 1 this year.
This – combined with the Clean Car Discount – should see $500 cheques falling like snowflakes into Mitsubishi’s bank account.
Mitsubishi didn’t have pre-ordering in place when it first mooted the press launch of its hero SUV and as a result, it’s likely there will be Outlanders in driveways before the media gets to evaluate them, especially given the huge response from a very eager customer base.
However, we can tell you what you should know about the new-generation Outlander, and you won’t have to be a trainspotter to spot them.
You may have to do a double take when it comes to a profile view however, because Mitsubishi’s other SUV – the Eclipse Cross – has donated a fair few styling cues to the Outlander.
A slight lift to the tail, sculpted character lines, purposeful rear spoiler, and sleek lights fore and aft (though different in design at the rear) are examples of design sharing.
Up front, Outlander has the ‘Dynamic Shield’ face of Mitsubishi, though somehow, it has an element of class which we haven’t seen in vehicles like the ASX, Triton or even the Eclipse Cross. This is a head nod to Outlander’s position as the hero SUV from Mitsubishi.
The next gen Outlander looks more aggressive from the front too. It now has greater presence than before, with a squared off nose for a more purposeful front end.
From front to back, the new Outlander looks more powerful, more sculpted and more robust. It now looks the way it should as the leading light in the Mitsubishi SUV line-up.
The changes are more than just skin-deep, however. Under that clamshell bonnet is a new 2.5-litre petrol engine, delivering 135kW and 245Nm of peak torque. Fuel figures are expected to be in the eight litres per 100km range.
Mitsubishi New Zealand has continued with its LS, XLS and VRX specification and grade ladder across three 2WD and three 4WD models however, the LS entry level can’t really be called ‘entry’ anymore.
The five-seater model includes Mitsubishi’s full safety suite, embedded sat nav, wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity and more besides.
Add two seats for a seven-seat model and go to the XLS spec level to gain an upholstery upgrade, heated front seats and 20-inch alloys.
Top of the line VRX model spec gives a colour choice of leather across al seven seats, adds power adjustment and memory seats for deriver and passenger. The audio is upgraded to a Bose system, with 12.3-inch screen for infotainment and multi around monitor display with moving object detection.
VRX models also take a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate and a heads up display.
The Outlander range pricing in full:
2WD LS $41,990 +ORC
2WD XLS $44,990 +ORC
2WD VRX $49,990 +ORC
4WD LS $44,990 +ORC
4WD XLS $49,990 +ORC
4WD VRX $54,990 +ORC
