Mitsubishi Outlander – What you need to know

The all-new longer, wider, taller and more luxurious Mitsubishi Outlander arrived in Australia late in 2021.

Mitsubishi’s fourth-generation Outlander mid-size SUV is offered in five trim levels, with two drivetrain choices (two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive) and two seating layouts – five-seat and seven-seat.

Kicking off the range is the ES, with a step up to the LS, then a new model, Aspire, followed by the Exceed and another new variant, the range-topping Exceed Tourer.

With plenty on offer, let’s look at what’s what, taking into account that an MY22.5 model updated was announced in February 2022 as Mitsubishi adjusted pricing and specs “due to ongoing supply constraints and increasing material, manufacturing and logistical costs”.

Priced at $34,490 plus on-road costs, the entry-level Outlander ES, with a five-seat layout and two-wheel drive, has the following standard equipment:18-inch alloy wheels

Any colour other than solid white will add to the price of the Mitsubishi Outlander.

Other paints offered for the Outlander are either a metallic adding $740, or pearl-effect for $940.

All Mitsubishi Outlander models feature eight airbags, a reversing camera, parking sensors at both front and rear, and a full suite of electronic aids ensuring traction, stability, terrain and braking performance are kept under control.

Mitsubishi Motors Intuitive Technology (MITEC) is standard across all models and includes adaptive cruise control, brake override system, forward collision warning and mitigation with pedestrian and cyclist detection plus intersection assist.

There’s lane departure and blind spot warnings, lane change and emergency lane assist, as well as hill start assist.

Other systems on board include hill descent control, driver attention alert, traffic sign recognition, five driving modes and, to make towing easier, trailer stability assist.

All variants have LEDs for the headlights, brake lights, front indicators and daytime running lights.

Child seats are secured with the assistance of two ISOFIX points for the outboard seats in row two, and three child seat top tether strap points.

Want more? Step up to the LS and you get LED fog lights, auto rear emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and auto functions for the headlights, high beam operation and the windscreen wipers.

But to get the whole enchilada take another step up to the Aspire with its six drive modes, multi-around monitoring system and self-levelling LED headlights with adaptive driving beam.

Making it easier to keep your eyes on the road is the 10.8-inch head-up display that comes standard in the Aspire.

The 12.3-inch digital dash display that was available on Aspire at launch has been replaced by analogue gauges with a 7.0-inch multi-information display; the full digital instrument cluster is still included on Exceed and Exceed Tourer models.

All-wheel drive variants have six drive modes instead of five together with Mitsubishi’s Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system.

No matter which Mitsubishi Outlander model you throw your hard-earned at, all have a 9.0-inch infotainment touch-screen through which you operate the sat-nav, Android Auto or wireless Apple CarPlay, phone and music streaming, AM/FM and digital radio played through six speakers.

If you want premium sound piped through 10 speakers, head to the Outlander Exceed and its Bose audio system.

Once again, select any Mitsubishi Outlander variant and you’ll enjoy the comfort of dual-zone air-conditioning, with rear vents, a minimum of five drive modes, a second row arm rest with cup holders, a tilt- and telescopic multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifts, keyless entry and power door mirrors.

Also standard on the LS is an auto up/down driver’s window, heated and folding electric door mirrors, a wireless smartphone charger and ‘Smart Key’ entry that allows you to unlock the car by pressing a button on the door handle.

Is privacy glass on your list of features? Then the LS has you covered. But if you want the convenience of a hands-free power tailgate, that’s no longer fitted to the LS so you’ll need to move up to the Aspire.

If you go camping, surfing, stand-up paddle boarding or simply need to carry more from time to time, the LS comes with roof rails.

What about a sunroof? You’ll have to fork out for the Exceed to get the tilt and slide sunroof, and rear seat passengers can stop sun glare with the pull-up shades in the doors.

Additionally, the Exceed benefits from tri-zone climate control, with separate controls in the rear, keeping everyone comfortable.

Do you want your Outlander to have a more luxurious feel? Then slip over to the Exceed and its black (or optional light grey) leather-upholstered seats that are power-operated up front.

But if you’d prefer fabric seat trim the ES, LS or Aspire are for you, with synthetic leather seat bolsters in the Aspire.

The Aspire is also your entry point for heated front seats and a powered driver’s seat, with a touch of class added to the cabin by way of its leather-clad steering wheel and gear shifter.

What about a massage seat function? We’re not joking. What was once the domain of high-end brands is in the Outlander. Both front seats in the Exceed Tourer have this feature in their two-tone leather pews.

A rear spoiler comes standard on all variants but only the ES misses out on roof rails and only the Exceed Tourer gets two-tone body paint.

And while the ES and LS have 18-inch alloy wheels, the Aspire and Exceed variants roll on 20-inch alloys.

A full-size spare is fitted to the ES, while other models use a space-saver spare.

Until the plug-in hybrid versions arrive later in 2022, all Mitsubishi Outlander models have a 135kW/245Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine bolted to an eight-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT) with Sports mode.

Drive is either via the front two wheels or all four wheels, depending on the model.

The Mitsubishi Outlander has taken a big leap forward in comfort, tech, safety, driveability and infotainment with this all-new fourth generation.

Budget-conscious buyers are well catered for with the entry-level ES, and I’d shoot for the ES AWD five-seater if I was keeping an eye on the pennies.

But if I was being more extravagant the Aspire AWD hits the sweet spot for me.

There is the upmarket look of leather decorating the cabin along with many creature comforts to complement that. Plus the full spread of safety tech to look after the troops.

How much does the Mitsubishi Outlander cost?
ES 5-seat 2WD (a) – $34,490
ES 7-seat 2WD (a) – $35,490
ES 5-seat 4WD (a) – $36,990
LS 7-seat 2WD (a) – $37,990
LS 7-seat 4WD (a) – $40,490
Aspire 7-seat 2WD (a) – $41,490
Aspire 7-seat 4WD (a) – $43,990
Exceed 7-seat 4WD (a) – $48,490
Exceed Tourer 7-seat 4WD (a) – $50,990
* Prices exclude on-road costs