Mitsubishi Outlander LS Safety Pack AWD 2017 review

The last major design overhaul hit the Outlander range a year or so ago, when Mitsubishi added its new - and kind of plasticky looking - 'Diamond Shield' grille, but the good news is the design isn't ageing badly at all.

It lacks some of the sleek lines of some of its competition, but the Outlander LS Safety Pack stands out courtesy of its traditional boxy style. Think simple and clean body lines with 18-inch alloys and a liberal serving of plastic moulding accentuating the exterior metal.

Inside, the LS Safety Pack lacks the semi-premium feel of some of its price-point competitors, but it's still not a bad place to spend time. The new touchscreen adds a sense of modernity to the uncluttered dash, and the cabin feels spacious and airy no matter where you're sitting.

Like the rest of the Outlander family, boot space is dictated by how many seats you've opted for. Ticked seven? Then expect boot space to be a limiting 128 litres compared to the 477 litres in five-seat models. Drop the seats, however (50/50 split third row, 60/40 split second row) and that number grows to 1608 litres.

There are two cup holders for upfront passengers, which join the two hidden in the pull-down divider that separates the rear seat. And there are two ISOFIX attachment points, one in each window seat in the back.

The LS Safety Pack is available with a less powerful engine driving the front wheels only, but to squeeze the best performance from the Outlander you should opt for the AWD model that arrives as standard with a bigger 2.4-litre engine and a CVT.

For that, you'll be shelling out $35,000 for the five seat model (add $1000 for the seven seat version), but there's plenty of kit as standard. Like the rest of the LS range, you can expect a new 7.0-inch touchscreen that will mirror your iPhone or Android device, along with a six-speaker stereo, DAB digital radio and steering wheel controls.

What you're really paying for is an extensive suite of bonus safety kit - but we'll come back to that in a moment.

Your seats are cloth, but you get dual-zone climate control, 18-inch alloys, cruise control, power windows and electric mirrors. You can also expect keyless entry and an electric parking brake.

But what you're really paying for is an extensive suite of bonus safety kit - but we'll come back to that in a moment.

The all-wheel-drive LS Safety pack gets the biggest petrol engine on offer, a 2.4-litre unit good for 124kW at 6000rpm and 220Nm from 4200rpm. It's fed to all four wheels thanks to Mitsubishi's 'All Wheel Control' system via a CVT.

The 2.4-litre engine will use a claimed (combined cycle) 7.2L/100km. Its 60 litre tanks takes cheaper 91RON fuel, and it also offers a 1600kg braked towing capacity.

It might be the biggest petrol engine in the Outlander family, but you're unlikely to feel your heart beating any faster when you plant your right foot in the LS Safety Pack AWD. That said, it feels a better match for the Outlander's 1.5-tonne bulk than the smaller 2.0-litre petrol engine in the cheaper models.

It's transport at its uninspiring but dependable best, and there's now plenty of technology in the cabin to keep you amused.

But where the Outlander excels is in smooth and unexciting progress without the driver having to think too much about it. The ride is compliant enough to absorb most road imperfections without bother, the steering is light and easy, and the seats and vision are commendable.

So, it's transport at its uninspiring but dependable best, and there's now plenty of technology in the cabin to keep you amused - including a 7.0-inch screen that offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the first time.

And perhaps more importantly, there's plenty of space in the first and second row of seats, the cabin is quiet enough (except for sound of the CVT doing its thing) and there's a ton of clever safety kit included.

The LS Safety Pack gets the standard suite of safety kit present across the Outlander range, including seven airbags (dual front, side and curtain airbags, as well as a driver's knee airbag), Hill Start Assist, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors. But it adds some critical and clever tech, including AEB, active cruise control, lane departure warning and automatic high beams.

The entire Outlander range was awarded the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating when crash tested in 2014.

The Outlander LS Safety Pack is covered by Mitsubishi's five-year/100,000km warranty and requires a trip to the service centre every 12 months or 15,000kms. It also scores four years complimentary roadside assistance and three years capped-price servicing, with service and maintenance costs published on Mitsubishi's Australian website.