000 Motoring Mitsubishi March 10:Layout 1
22/02/2010
00:37
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motoring
elegant muscle
Eric Barton puts the Mitsubishi Outlander Elegance under the microscope... It’s a fine line for any manufacturer between making a 4x4 that’s appealing on the eye and practical, or perhaps producing a dumpy looking tractor that’s only fit for heaving around garden rubbish. And who apart from farmers wants to drive that? Mitsubishi have managed to strike a brilliant balance with their Outlander; and at a price that won’t have you selling your children’s main organs to fund it. The main criteria with any 4x4 is that you have enough clout to pull it along to do all the ‘4x4 thingys’ you want it to do. Mitsubishi have really addressed this with the jointly developed Peugeot and Citroen engine which produces an impressive 2.2 litres of diesel grunt. The overall look of the Outlander is very good. It’s far more stylish than many of its competitors and delivers a flatter, lower profile which in a sense makes it sleeker than the other ‘top heavy mob’. The outlander doesn’t look as if it’ll roll over in a corner. It’s not cursed with unnecessary height that can make some other 4x4s look like circus tents on wheels. The interior finish is elegantly finished with great all round vision and the Elegance model comes with a reversing camera which is useful on the MARCH 2010
supermarket run or if you’re useless at parking. The inner environment is extremely spacious and the driving position which is electronically adjusted is absolutely superb. I drove 1,200 miles and didn’t need to see an osteopath. The seven seat arrangement allows for a number of configurations; whether travelling alone with heaps of luggage, or moving a whole family with only a handbag. Either way it works well and you won’t feel a ‘sardine moment’ coming on. The Outlander handles very sprightly for a 4x4 which is due a firm suspension set-up which produces roll limiting in the corners. Back to that old circus tent again. The steering and gearshift are well weighted and balanced, which creates a precise almost tactile feel and although the ride is solid, it’s not bumpy or awkward. The ingenious AWC (All Wheel Control) switch allows you to select between front and four-wheel drive, or an automatic mode that directs power to wherever it’s needed. I used the AWC to great effect whilst motoring up snowy un-gritted Alpine roads. My Outlander Elegance simply gorged itself on these steep inclines. It was like a knife going through snowy butter. Motorway driving
is a breeze. The Outlander surges the 0-62mph in 9.9 seconds, not exactly greased lightning but it’s the ‘in-gear scenario’ where you’ll feel the benefits. It simply gobbles up other traffic without having to drop a gear. Brilliant. The fuel economy is spot on with a combined return in excess of 40 mpg. That’s impressive for an SUV of this size and power and for those of you who feel like a tree hug or two; it’s got the lowest CO2 emissions of any 7 seat Sports Utility Vehicle on the market. This is a 4x4 that looks stylish without being garish and delivers a drive that won’t have you moaning about being too firm or too spongy in the corners. And here’s the real rub... entry prices are an unbelievable £20,549. That’s not a mistake. Producing a car of this quality at this price is staggering. So if you want to have some muscle without looking like some over-worked bodybuilder, then the Mitsubishi Outlander might just be for you. And at those prices you’re children won’t be running for cover. CS For more details and your nearest dealership www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk
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