2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Reviews

Our long term Aspire Premium has all the driver assist aids you can get in the new Outlander and it's a better everyday vehicle as a result.

Size counts in the SUV class and right now, the focus is on small and medium size models with diesel engines and either all-wheel drive or two wheel drive.

It's early days with our Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire, but we're already liking many things about the SUV -- including its new design, the efficiency and raft of equipment fit-out.We got hold of the top of the range new Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire that sells for about $51K with the optional $5500 Premium pack included in that price. But you can get one for as little as $28,990 for the base 2WD model.This one has everything including stuff normally fitted to vehicles costing twice as much. Driver assist goodies like adaptive cruise control which maintains a set distance from cars in front, hill start assist, reverse sensors, and forward collision mitigation which is an auto braking system.Of course, there's leather upholstery, power tailgate, auto headlights and wipers, Rockford Fosgate audio with a big sub-woofer, paddle shift for the six speed auto transmission, 7-inch touch screen and a whole lot more to make you happy.The Outlander is built on an integral ladder chassis with button select all-wheel drive and a terrific powertrain driving through a slick six speed auto.  It's the perfect set up as far as we are concerned.The engine is a 2.2-litre turbodiesel with 110kW/360Nm output. That's not startling in the greater scheme of things but it delivers full grunt at just 1500 revs  pretty much straight off idle.This is the new generation Outlander with a more rounded and capacious body, and we like the styling. But looks aren't everything. The Outlander Aspire is economical, has plenty of performance, is robust enough to go a fair way off road, has good towing capacity of 2.0 tonnes and is not a bad looker either, though we reckon it needs bigger bumpers. It gets going a treat and pulls strongly through a wide rev range. Equally important is the five star crash rating and fuel economy of an impressive 5.8 litres/100km.Mitsu' has fitted a selection of `eco' kit to the Outlander including a coaching system to help you minimise fuel use and engine friction reduction along with optimised ancillary functions such as the air conditioning and the 4WD system. There's a plug-in diesel hybrid Outlander just around the corner that really takes fuel economy to a new level. But this one is impressive in its own right.We like the chrome body hardware, the stylish and functional interior and the smart key ignition. And it's the right size for city and country use -- not too big despite offering seven seats.

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

Nothing gets the weight off quicker than a car company chasing the best fuel economy. Until recently, cars were like a sweet-tooth in a lolly shop, greedy for more and failing to heed a burgeoning paunch.Now, like a sadistic personal trainer, the threat of excessive fuel thirst means the weight has to come off. Mitsubishi carved more than 100kg off its new Outlander and though it lost a few centimetres in length, created an SUV that has a much larger cabin, more equipment and an improved safety package.Even its base model gets it all. Losing weight hurts - in this case the pain is that the newest Outlander is subjectively less attractive than the old model - but it's possible.VALUEMitsubishi fires the front-wheel drive, manual gearbox Outlander with its 2-litre petrol engine right amongst its rivals. At $28,990 this base-model is affordable, spacious, economical and well equipped but you'll need to add $2250 for the auto.Disappointingly, there's no seven-seat option and no diesel in this model. Resale demand is strong with a 51 per cent retained value after three years and the capped-price service is a reasonable $340 a year for the first four years.Standard gear includes rear park sensors, Bluetooth with hands-free phone service, six-speaker audio, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, climate control air-conditioning and a full-size spare wheel.DESIGNAt 4655mm long this is the biggest front-drive SUV in its class, 100mm longer than the next longest, the Honda CR-V. But rear park sensors and its square silhouette don't make it a hard car to park while the size rewards with a spacious cabin.But it's not the most stylish SUV on the block with a conservative plumpness - a return to its 2003 roots - at odds with the sharp lines of the RAV4, for example. The Outlander's dash is, however, refreshing. Soft materials, easy-to-read and use switchgear, a good driving position and the sense of space make it a comfortable car.The single lift-up hatch isn't as handy as the old model's horizontally split tailgate. The spare wheel is carried in a under-chassis cradle so its access doesn't disturb any luggage.TECHNOLOGYThe 2-litre engine is a single-overhead cam design - rivals are all twin-cam - and has been around for a while, though from last year adds an improved valve train. At 110kW/190Nm it's on par with rivals and claims 7L/100km, beaten only by the miserly Mazda CX-5.Sparing fuel is helped by the Outlander's “Eco Drive” mode that prompts the driver to watch a dashboard score chart. The five-speed manual is one cog less than rivals - though drivers may appreciate the omission - and electric steering is now standard.The Outlander is externally smaller and significantly lighter - up to 100kg - than the old model yet the cargo bed is 340mm longer at 1690mm.SAFETYIt gets a five-star rating, has seven airbags and all the normal electronic aids. It also has hill-start assist - appreciated in the manual version - and reverse sensors. The Outlander has a full-size spare wheel.DRIVINGFrom the expansive cabin, you wouldn't guess this is the entry-level Outlander. The dash looks and feels quality and leather trim to the steering wheel and gear knob add class. The petrol engine is quiet and its delivery smooth and tractable from low revs.It's no powerhouse but even with three adults aboard it gets along without fuss. Ride comfort is one of the best in its class and road noise is relatively low, more than likely because of the less-expensive high-profile tyres.Fuel-saving electric-assist steering isn't as precise as some others, especially through quick corners, but you get used to it. Better is its touring ability. The ride quality and the leisurely engine make it lope along with ease at 100km/h.Fuel use on test was 8.2L/100km, not bad for predominantly city and suburban  driving. However, the auto is more fuel efficient (6.6L/100km compared with manual Outlander's official 7.0L/100km) and the idea choice for suburbia.VERDICTDespite its price, it's not low rent and offers lots of room for the bucks. Want more space? CR-V has even more cabin room.Mitsubishi Outlander ESPrice: from $28,990Warranty: 5 years/130,000km, roadside assist Resale: 51% Service Interval: 12mths/15,000kmSafety: 7 airbags, ABS, ESC, EBD, TCCrash rating: 5-starEngine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrol, 110kW/190NmTransmission: 5-spd manual; front drive Thirst: 7.0L/100km; 91RON; 161g/km CO2Dimensions: 4.7m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.7m (H)Weight: 1395kgSpare: Full-size steel 

Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire Diesel  and Honda CR-V VTi-L go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Love the movie, love the name but can't say I love the car that much. Outlander is good, but certainly not the "outstanding" as it is being touted. It is however one of the few mid-sized SUVs to offer seven seats which is a big plus  even if they're rather small.VALUEComes in ES, LS and Aspire specifications, priced from $28,990. Our test vehicle, the top of the line Aspire will set you back a hefty $43,490 and it's another $2000 for the diesel. It's a fair old wack for a mid-sized SUV, although competitive with others in the segment  but it's worth seeing what the competition has to offer.As well as additional safety features the Premium option adds a power tailgate and new 7 inch touch panel satnav system. Audio is also upgraded to the Rockford Fosgate Premium system with nine speakers including four tweeters and a 10-inch sub.TECHNOLOGYImpressed they can fit seven seats into a wagon this size, bearing in mind it's 23cm shorter than a Territory. The 2.2-litre turbo diesel is the pick of the bunch, but the most expensive.It produces 110kW of power and 360Nm of torque from a low 1500 revs. It's paired with a six-speed auto, complete with paddle shifts  unlike petrol models which get a CVT.DESIGNCan't quite put my finger on it but there's something flawed in the latest interpretation of Mitsubishi's design DNA. The removal of flared fenders certainly takes away some of its masculinity.Dare I say it doesn't look as good as the previous model? No quibbles with the standard of trim inside which is first rate, apart from the appalling wood inlays either side of the piano black centre instrument cluster say what?Incidently they've moved the third row seats backwards to give rear passengers more room, but at the expense of load capacity.DRIVINGSignificantly, the diesel lugs a lot. By that I mean it struggles in high gear rather than change down, all in the name of better fuel economy. In Eco mode, it feels even worse so keep that Eco button switched off.All-wheel drive also has an Eco mode which I interpret as meaning two-wheel drive, also in the name of better economy. But, plant the right foot, and the thing takes off pedal off and it returns largely uninspiring performance.Rated at 5.8 litres/100km, we were getting between 6 and 7 litres/100km from the 60 litre tank (although you need to set the trip computer to manual or it resets every time you start the engine).The diesel by the way can tow up to 2 tonnes. The automatic emergency braking system is good but active cruise is a royal pain in the butt.The gap it leaves beween you and the car in front is too large and other drivers are constantly cutting in. Touted as 3D the satnav graphics are ordinary compared to some and the system doesn't warn of speed cameras. In operation, we also found the power tailgate unresponsive to the key fob.SAFETYAs well as achieving the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, the all-new Outlander comes with a comprehensive range of safety features including seven airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic traction and stability control systems and a reversing camera.The Aspire adds Forward Collision Mitigation System (FCM) which detects obstacles on the road ahead and automatically applies the brakes and Adaptive Cruise Control System which automatically keeps as safe distance from the car in front.VERDICTIn two minds about this car. On the one hand it ticks all the boxes in terms of a well equipped, seven seat family bus. On the other, the dynamics are uninspiring and we'd be in real danger of nodding off.Mitsubishi OutlanderPrice: from $28,990 (petrol) from $40,990 (diesel)Warranty: 5 years/130,000kmService interval: 15,000kmCrash rating:  5 star ANCAPSafety: 7 airbags, ABS, EBD, TC, ESC, HSC (Hill Start Control)Engine: 2.2L four-cylinder turbo diesel, 110kW/360NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, AWDDimensions: 4.65m (L), 2.02 (W), 1.8m (H)Weight: 1610kgSpare: Full sizeThirst: Diesel 5.3L/100km, 153g/km CO2