Disclosure: TMC was not paid for this post. Products received are done through the automaker or STI Drive. Opinions are TMC’s only.
Image from findthebest.com
A few months back I reviewed the 2013 Mistubishi Outlander Sport and thought it was simple in looks and driving. The non-Sport version driven last week is quite different. It is still simple in looks and driving, not a whole lot has changed but the hiccups in accelerating and growl in driving is thankfully gone. Instead this redesigned crossover SUV offers up 7-passenger seating and a less aggressive outward appearance. This is supposed to appeal to a broader audience, but I missed the old look.
The model I reviewed was a 2.4 liter engine (a 3.0 V-6 is also available) and I immediately noticed that it was outside versus inside that has gained the most changes. It is more practical, a tad bland for my taste. It no longer stood out in a parking lot though more aerodynamic. There is a 7 percent lower drag rate, which we all know helps in mileage. Really, this is all I have to say about the exterior of the car. I wasn’t too excited about it.
Inside the car offers nice extras like dual heated front seats, standard electric power steering, and a new third row. That third row (50/50 split) is mind-blowing and not in a good way. Mitsubishi contends that it isn’t for regular use and more for wee ones but my seven year-old was cramped on the few occasions she sat in the third row. The inside is modern with a 7″ audio display (not standard), digital HD radio, fuse hands-free link system, ECO mode switch and rearview camera system. I liked the display size and the fact that I could control the heated seats from the center console versus the dashboard. It also has my favorite one push to start/stop. Cargo space (63 cubes) is decent but not overly large and the back-end opens by remote or a button. Always a nice, convenient touch. The middle row seating now slides and reclines, which is handy and offers up additional cargo space.
Driving the Outlander SE S-AWC is easy. There isn’t anything to complain about in this department. I thought it ran better around town versus highway driving but that was about it. On the highway (29 mpg) it needed space and a lot of push to get up to speed but it wasn’t in an alarming way. Daily driving in the city averages about 24 mpg and I found that to be accurate. There is also the Eco mode is about what you would expect meaning the car seems to lose some power and with the S-AWC (Super-All-Wheel Control) you can certainly notice it.
For a fully loaded SE S-AWC the Outlander will run you $32,720 MSRP. I think it works for a small family who won’t put a lot of demands on the car and needs something with good gas mileage and an easy drive with a some simple extras.
