THE MITSUBISHI Outlander is something of a quiet achiever in the Medium SUV segment. Locally, it is the third best-selling vehicle in its class behind the RAV4 and CX-5 and, dollar for dollar, it offers a lot more equipment – and a far longer warranty – than its Toyota and Mazda rivals. 

Yet, you never seem to hear too much about the humble Outlander; it kind of blends into the background… almost as if it purposely avoids the time in the spotlight that it truly deserves.

Built on an all-new Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance platform, the Outlander shares its underpinnings with the Nissan X-TRAIL. Like its cousin, it has a 2705mm wheelbase, but is slightly longer, wider and taller overall. It’s also somewhat larger than the outgoing model – it measures 4710mm (+15mm) in length, 1862mm (+52mm) in width, and 1745mm (+35mm) in height.

Priced from $34,490 (plus on-road costs), the Outlander features a radical new look and an all-new engine for 2022. The nine-variant range includes five- and seven-seat options, two- and all-wheel driveline configurations, and will soon feature a pair of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants.

Currently, all Outlander variants are powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine developing 135kW/245Nm. Power is delivered to the wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and, in two-wheel-drive format, the claimed combined cycle fuel consumption figure is 7.5 litres per 100km (8.1L/100km for AWD variants).

The level of equipment offered across the Outlander range is extensive. All variants receive alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, climate control, a reversing camera, hill descent control, adaptive cruise control and an electric park brake with auto-hold function. 

Quilted leather upholstery, auto headlights and wipers, wireless phone charging, keyless entry and an auto tailgate are found higher up the range, the second-from-top Exceed variant on test ($47,990 +ORCs – an increase of $4000 over the outgoing model) including seat heaters, 20-inch alloys, LED fog lights, tri-zone climate control, a BOSE premium audio system, 360-degree camera and panoramic sunroof among its many inclusions.

The Outlander also packs a lot of standard safety inclusions for the money. The range features the latest suite of airbags – but, importantly, without curtain airbags for third-row occupants – and driver assist systems, including driver attention alert, forward collision mitigation with cyclist detection and junction assist, blind-spot warning with brake assist, emergency lane change alert with brake assist, trailer stability assist, lane departure warning and lane departure prevention. 

Rear automatic emergency braking, AEB and rear cross-traffic alert are also available on higher grades. 

All Mitsubishi Outlander variants – and indeed all Mitsubishi passenger vehicles – are available with a 10-year/200,000km warranty and capped-price servicing package. Service intervals are set at 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first) and are priced at $199 each for the first five years. Over the course of a decade, the Outlander will cost $3190 to service.

Roadside assistance is included for the first four years of ownership.