2022 Mitsubishi Outlander S-AWC

Unroguishly Roguish

Highs: Attractive cabin, comfortable interior, more interesting than a Nissan Rogue. Lows: Little steering feedback, squishy brakes, hood flutter, middling real-world fuel economy.

With modest sales and only six models in its U.S. lineup, Mitsubishi needs a hit—something with a standout design but enough mainstream appeal to get folks to open their wallets. The new Outlander seems to be the company’s best shot. It has the practicality SUV buyers want and stands out in the Kroger parking lot.

The Outlander gets its platform and its 181-hp 2.5-liter inline-four from the Nissan Rogue. That engine replaces Mitsubishi’s 166-hp 2.4-liter four and 224-hp V-6. The 2022 model reaches 60 in 8.2 ticks, and the engine is responsive at city speeds. However, its enthusiasm (and consequently ours) is dulled by the continuously variable automatic transmission’s languid behavior and rubber-band feel. At least it mimics traditional gearchanges and mitigates the dreaded engine drone under hard acceleration. But the Mitsu comes up short at the pump. In our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, the Outlander scored 26 mpg to the Rogue’s 32 mpg.

All-wheel drive costs $1800, and our test vehicle’s 20-inch wheels—a rarity for the class—wore wide Bridgestone all-seasons that provide a carlike 0.85 g of cornering grip and contribute to the Outlander’s newfound agility. Even with less-than-stellar steering feedback, the ute won’t fall flat on its face when it encounters a corner. On rough pavement, harsh jolts vibrate through the structure, and the hood flutter at 70 mph is bad enough to make you wonder whether it’s latched. The Outlander stops from 70 mph in a respectable 171 feet, but the squishy pedal inspires little confidence.

At least Mitsubishi has stepped up its interior game, installing an elegant dashboard and keeping hard plastics out of sight. Thanks to 2.0 more inches of width and an extra 1.4 inches of wheelbase, there’s more passenger space than before, but the third row remains a tight squeeze. We like the crisp resolution and configurability of the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and die-hard fans of The Price Is Right will appreciate the Big Wheel–inspired speedo and tach.

While the Outlander might not meet our enthusiast needs, it does have a style all its own, something Mitsubishi calls Ifudōdō.

Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon

Base/As Tested .............. $28,790/$38,590

Engine: DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection Displacement �������������������������� 152 in3, 2488 cm3 Power �������������������������������������� 181 hp @ 6000 rpm Torque ��������������������������������� 181 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm Transmission: continuously variable automatic

Dimensions

• Wheelbase ����������������������������������������������� 106�5 in • L/W/H ������������������������������������ 185�4/73�3/68�8 in • Curb Weight ��������������������������������������������� 3864 lb

t e s t R E S U L T S

60 mph ����������������������������������������������������������� 8�2 sec 1/4-Mile ����������������������������������� 16�3 sec @ 86 mph 100 mph ������������������������������������������������������ 23�9 sec Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec� Rolling Start, 5–60 mph ����������������������� 8�6 sec Top Speed (C/D est) ������������������������������ 120 mph Braking, 70–0 mph ��������������������������������������� 171 ft Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad ��������������� 0�85 g

C/D Fuel Economy

• Observed �������������������������������������������������� 22 mpg • 75-mph Hwy Driving ���������������������������� 26 mpg • Hwy Range ������������������������������������������������ 370 mi

EPA Fuel Economy

• Comb/City/Hwy ������������������������ 26/24/30 mpg

Translated from Japanese, that means authentic and majestic. If it seems like hyperbolic marketing bull, that’s because it is, but at least the Outlander’s design comes closer to fulfilling that ideal than the Rogue’s.

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THE RUNDOWN

P H O T O G R A P H B Y M I C H A E L S I M A R I ~ D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 ~ C A R A N D D R I V E R

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