2016 Mitsubishi Outlander

The 2016 Outlander is priced at $22,995 and is offered in four trim levels. The car packs in a great fuel economy and an upscale cabin with a lot of focus on safety. The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander goes up against the 2016 Ford Escape, the 2016 Honda CR-V, and the 2016 Nissan Rogue. 

The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander comes in four trims: ES, SE, SEL, and GT. Each trim comes with a front-wheel-drive configuration as standard and can be equipped with the four-wheel-drive with a premium of $2,000. Pricing starts at $22,995 for the base trim and goes up to $30,995 for the top trim. Standard features across all trims include alloy wheels, LED DRLs and taillights, heated mirrors, cruise control, tilt-and-telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic climate control, 50/50 split third-row seat, and Mitsubishi’s ‘Fuse’ voice command system.

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The SEL trim is surely the way. Although it gets an underpowered engine, it features leather upholstery, heated seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat along with an upgraded infotainment system. The most notable benefit of the SEL trim is that it only costs $2,000 more than the base trim with FWD. However, the 4WD is the preferred choice. 

There are two engine options for the Outlander, a 2.4L inline-4 engine and a 3.0L V6 engine for the GT trim. The 2.4L inline-4 engine makes 166 horsepower along with 162 lb-ft of torque through a CVT transmission. The 3.0L V6 makes 224 horsepower and 215 lb-ft of torque through a 6-speed transmission with paddle shifters. The 3.0L V6 is available only on the GT trim.

Handling is not a forte for the Outlander. Nor is the acceleration. The car’s performance is adequate in the city, but it loses out steam on the highway. Around the turns, the handling is uninspiring and there is body roll as well. However, the steering is pretty good and turns are light and easy. The car comes with an FWD or a 4WD system.

The Honda CR-V, which produces the most power and torque, is the quickest of the lot. It takes only 8.3 seconds to reach the 0-60 mph mark. The Rogue takes 9.1 seconds, slightly ahead of the Outlander. The Outlander with takes 9.2 seconds to reach the 60 mph mark which isn't impressive at all. The Ford Escape also takes the same time. 

According to the EPA ratings, the 2016 FWD Outlander does 25 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined. The four-wheel-drive configuration drops the combined mileage by 2 mpg which is still quite impressive for a three-row crossover SUV. The Outlander GT with the V6 is rated at 20 mpg in the city, 27 on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. The car gets a 16.6-gallon fuel tank.

The Honda is the most efficient car with its combined average of 29 mpg. The Rogue returns 28 mpg combined, while the Escape returns the least at 25 mpg combined. In terms of range, the Outlander offers the most range, at 415 city miles and 514 highway miles. The Escape offers the least at 332 city miles and 468 highway miles.

The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander’s interior is very satisfying in terms of material and the quality delivered. There is the usage of both hard and soft plastics both, along with cleverly placed soft-touch materials throughout the cabin. Not only the quality but the fit and finish are top-notch as well. There is one weird part though: the dash on the driver’s side is full of controls and buttons, but on the passenger side it is barren and causes a very off-effect overall.

Coming to the seating as a 7-seater, the experience offered is mixed. The front row is comfortable and supportive, but lacks bolstering in some areas. The second row has better comfort levels, better support, and better bolstering as well. The rear row however is not very spacious and is best suited for kids. The seats in the third row are pretty comfortable. 

The Rogue’s front is very well balanced in terms of space and was the most impressive of the lot. In the second row, the Ford Escape maintains a decent headroom whereas the Honda offers the best leg space at the rear. The cargo capacity on the Outlander is disappointing at 10 cu-ft, where competitors offer 35 cu-ft+ spaces. Some interior features on the Outlander are:

• Cruise control
• Power accessories
• Height-adjustable driver’s seat
• Heated front seats
• Dual-zone climate control
• Keyless ignition and entry

How intuitive is the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander’s infotainment unit?

The Outlander’s infotainment system is very well finished. It is pretty competitive for the class, and is completed feature-loaded. The 6.1-inch touchscreen is very easy to use, and the interface is well laid out. The system is responsive, but it does lag sometimes. Mitsubishi’s ‘Fuse’ voice-command system is flawless. Some standard infotainment features are:

• Mitsubishi ‘Fuse’ voice-command system
• Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity
• CD player
• HD radio
• 7-inch touchscreen with navigation
• Nine-speaker Rockford Fosgate music system

The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander has received a slight refreshment to its looks this year. There have been refreshments to the hood design, with changes to the grille and bumper to match the looks. There is a lot of chrome on the front now. The rear fascia isn't as impressive as the front but still looks tasteful than some of its competitors. Looking at it from the outside the Outlander looks good and subtle with its typical crossover-like design language that every brand seems to follow. The ground clearance is still quite high at 8.5 inches which adds some aggression to otherwise subdued styling.

These four cars vary a lot by dimensions. The Outlander is the longest of them all. The width is most on the Escape and the Rogue. The CR-V is the shortest of them all and also sits the closest to the ground. The Nissan Rogue has the most wheelbase at 106.5 inches, whereas the CR-V has the tightest wheelbase at 103.1. In terms of weight, the Escape is the heaviest and the Outlander weighs the least. Some exterior features are:

• Alloy wheels
• LED taillights
• Heated mirrors
• Foglights
• Black roof rails
• Automatic wipers

The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander is very well equipped in terms of safety, and is much better than the class. The Outlander comes loaded with antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, hill-start assist, and airbags for the first and second rows. Lane departure and Forward collision are optional features. Some Safety Features are:

• Active Stability Control
• Traction Control Logic
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Airbags
• LATCH child-restraint system
• Anti-theft security alarm system

The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander is the only three-row-seater crossover at this price point. It offers a decent interior with good space and has a technologically loaded infotainment system. The rivals offer a much-balanced package but lack the utility of the extra seats. It lacks the performance and comfort that some of its competitors can provide but still it provides some of the best safety features at an affordable price.