Test drive: Mitsubishi Outlander 2.2 DI-D GX4 4WD 6-speed manual

Crossovers and SUVs (sports utility vehicles) come in two mostly distinct types; purely on-road, car-based, probably front wheel-driving and less rugged-looking crossovers, and the more rugged, four-wheel drive, truck-based SUVs that tend to offer taller suspension and some off-road capabilities. And this chunky truckin’ Mitsubishi Outlander GX4 falls – with a satisfying thud – into the latter category.

With this tougher chap we’re looking for a taller, more commanding view of the road, that chunky keep-on-truckin’ style and a spacious, hardwearing and comfortable interior to haul big loads; be that kids, furniture or outdoor adventure equipment. But we don’t expect it to swallow a canoe whole!

And after a full week of TotallyMotor test-driving we can confirm that the £28,599 GX4 is tough-truck-rugged; although a little bouncy on its off-road-ready suspension, smoothly powerful yet reasonably frugal, and benefits from a large and luxurious interior.



Test drive: Mitsubishi Outlander 2.2 DI-D GX4 4WD 6-speed manual

First impressions:
The obvious place to start with most of the current Mitsubishi range is at that “Jet Fighter” front-end, seen with its stern stare etched across the faces of this Outlander, the city car Colt and the family-size Lancer. Not to mention the snarling Lancer Evolution X and new ASX car-crossover. 

For me, the Jet Fighter front-end as seen on our metallic Orient Red Outlander (a £460 optional paint extra) is standout from the crowd, proud ‘n’ purposeful, and as a fan of Japanese automotive styling it’s right up my street. 

Outlander’s side profile is pretty standard truck-based SUV fare, but details like widely flared wheel arches curving over chunky 7-spoke “premium finish” 18-inch alloy wheels and silver-backed LED taillights add enough pizzazz to finish off the rest of the Outlander’s styling package at a pace to almost match that super-sharp front-end. But it’s definitely more truck than crossover, so if that’s your bag you’re in luck. 



Into the interior:
At a shade under £30k this Outlander GX4 enjoys a decent specification level considering how much outer metal and interior space you get, including up to seven seats with the third row pairing stowed neatly in the boot floor for occasional use. 

Climbing up into the driver’s seat and there’s lots of leather to greet the eye and the posterior, and while the seating design isn’t particularly adventurous, the leather is very soft to the touch and tidily stitched. They’re both heated up front and the driver’s seat gets electric adjustment too.

There’s more leather to be found dotted around the dashboard, door cards and arm rests, and as soft-touch surfaces go, the soft black skin is probably the ultimate finish. 

Comfort levels once seated are good with acres of head, elbow and knee room, and once settled the driving position ergonomics felt very good with a high road-view, plenty of glasshouse visibility and, dare I say it, that slightly superior feeling that can come with driving more imposing vehicles. 

The second row of seating features two full-size seats at either end and a smaller seat to bridge the gap. I felt a little “perched” when sitting here and I’d imagine that this smaller middle seat would be best reserved for a kiddie, with the two adults either side. The same goes for the occasional rear seats; fun-size rather than full-size – but there if you need them. Rear legroom is estate car large. 

Outlander’s boot is big and square when the third row of seats are stowed and distinctly van-like with the second seating row also folded down, but the rear wheel arches do make a quite large impression on the width of your load. 

There’s a Rockford Fosgate 12-inch subwoofer box in the left corner that also takes a bite out of the boot space, but that’s a price I’m personally prepared to pay for the wonderfully deep, rich and punchy bass it produces. This is one of the best factory fitted stereos I’ve ever heard, pumping 700watts of musical joy through nine speakers, via a large colour touchscreen head unit from the same American manufacturer. The navigation and reversing camera display live here too. 



The drive:
As we’ve said, the Outlander has off-road-ready suspension to match its switchable two- or four-wheel drive transmission, and as such there is some payback on the road. However, off the road and the Outlander would leave less well equipped “soft-roaders” floundering in the first vaguely deep muddy puddle.

There is a longer length and more pronounced “bounce” to the GX4’s suspension travel so deep road undulations are dealt with more noticeably than a conventional road car, however flatter roads like motorways are a smooth cruise and Outlander simply laughs in the face of even the biggest of potholes, kerbs and speedbumps. And that’s one of the main reasons for my driving enjoyment with this SUV. It’s tough, torquey and full of guts - you could park it in a bomb crater! The brakes bite reassuringly hard and the steering has an averagely good weight to it.

New to the Outlander for 2011 is the 2.2-litre turbocharged intercooled Direct Injection Diesel
(Di-D) engine producing 174bhp at 3500rpm and 280lb ft of torque at just 2000rpm. This modern motor also features variable valve timing to make the most of each squirt of fuel.

And what a power-peach it is. There’s a lovely high-pitched whistle from the turbo as the engine revs rise and as the turbo spins faster a smooth and juicy wave of pulling torque soon follows. Coupled with one of the most knife-through-butter-like 6-speed manual gearboxes I’ve ever had the pleasure to flick through and we’ve got an SUV that makes hard and fast progress. 

Mitsubishi quote the main performance figure as 9.8secs to 62mph but the Outlander feels quicker, and there’s more than enough grunt to spin-up the rear wheels - that get the drive in 2WD mode - should you manhandle the clutch. I can’t imagine this truck struggling in anything but the most adverse of conditions.

Top speed is a reasonable 124mph and CO2 is quoted at 169g/km, which is sound for a big car. Economy-wise I was regularly seeing between 40 and 45mpg during a mixture of urban commuting, motorway cruising and even a bit of point ‘n’ hustle back lane fun. This modern engine really impressed for refinement, engagement and frugality. 



Ten second sum up:
The Mitsubishi Outlander GX4 is an honest, rugged and powerful “truck” with serious off-road capability on the outside, and a large and comfortable family car on the inside. The standout front-end styling, cracking powerplant and transmission, and rockin’ stereo also helped to build a strong bond with this driver. 



Prices and availability:
The Mitsubishi Outlander range starts at £22,499 for the GX2 4WD, rising to £28,999 for the GX4 (plus £460 for the Oriental Red metallic paint) as tested here. The GX3 2WD is priced at £23,749. Available now. 

www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/outlander/



Words & pics: Daniel Anslow

Follow us @totallymotor