Overview & Reviews

Debuting a few years after the start of the new millennium, the first-generation Mitsubishi Outlander was a late arrival to the small-SUV segment. Like many of its peers, it had a car-based design that translated into good handling and a comfortable ride on paved roads, but limited off-road capability. With so many competitors, Mitsubishi tried to set the Outlander apart with distinctive styling and a sporty demeanor. Compared to popular models from Honda and Toyota, however, the older Outlander models offered less interior space, and their breathless four-cylinder engines failed to live up to Mitsubishi's sporting image.

These problems were addressed in the larger second-generation Mitsubishi Outlander, which gained more interior space and an available V6 engine. Even so, the Outlander still lives in the shadows of its more successful contemporaries, whose reputations for overall quality and reliability are well-known to consumers. In spite of its lower profile, the second-generation Outlander is a competitive small SUV. It has the available all-wheel-drive system, high driving position and versatile cargo space consumers have come to expect in this segment, and sets itself apart with distinctive styling, advanced technology and a lively personality.

Current Mitsubishi Outlander
The Outlander is available in three trim levels: ES, SE and GT. Outlander ES and SE models are powered by a 168-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder, while the GT receives a 230-hp 3.0-liter V6. Four-cylinder Outlanders come standard with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while the V6-powered GT uses a traditional six-speed automatic. Both have manual-shift capability. All Outlander trims are available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The AWD system is notable for its various configurations that allow drivers to select 2WD for maximum fuel economy or 4WD Lock for maximum traction in slippery conditions.

The base ES is equipped with air-conditioning, CD player, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a full array of safety features and an auxiliary audio jack. The SE adds alloy wheels, keyless ignition/entry, a sliding second-row seat, a third-row seat and upgraded upholstery. The GT gets automatic xenon headlights, automatic wipers, automatic climate control and upgraded interior materials.

Many options are grouped into packages and include a sunroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power driver seat, Rockford Fosgate audio system, the Fuse hands-free electronics interface, a rearview camera, a rear-seat entertainment system and a hard-drive-based navigation system with real-time traffic updates.

In our reviews, we've praised the Mitsubishi Outlander for its energetic V6 engine as well as its family-friendly design and moderately sporty handling. Negatives include a ride quality that may be too stiff for some and second-row seating space that is merely adequate. Passengers in the third-row fare even worse, as that seat is frighteningly flimsy, very thinly padded and cramped even for small children. We wouldn't recommend using it. Overall, buyers seeking value, style and fun-to-drive characteristics in a package that doesn't sacrifice daily usability will find the Mitsubishi Outlander to be a decent choice, but we'd recommend that you consider its competitors.

Used Mitsubishi Outlander Models
Debuting for 2007, the latest (second-generation) Mitsubishi Outlander introduced a few key attributes that the original lacked, namely V6 power, a third-row seat and additional cargo room. Three trims were offered initially -- ES, LS and XLS -- and all were equipped with a 220-hp V6 engine. A unique option was the navigation system whose hard drive provided 30GB for music storage.

For 2008 Mitsubishi added the SE trim and the current car's four-cylinder engine. The LS trim was deleted the following year, while a back-up camera and a larger hard drive for the navigation system debuted. Besides the 2010 styling revamp, the V6 received a slight increase in power along with an update to the AWD system.

For 2010, the Mitsubishi Outlander received a major refresh that included new aggressive styling inspired by the Lancer Evolution X. Other changes included a new LCD gauge display, real-time traffic for the navigation system and an available "Fuse" hands-free link system with audio streaming and voice commands for MP3 players and cell phones. Mechanical changes included a slight power bump for the V6 engine (to 230 hp) and an upgraded version of the all-wheel-drive system. The XLS trim was dropped for 2012.

The first-generation Outlander was sold from 2003-'06. Dropped into the highly competitive small-SUV category, the Outlander had unique styling, a carlike ride and comfortable seating for four, but offered few advantages over the more established competition.

In its first year of production, the Mitsubishi Outlander was powered by a 140-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, coupled with a four-speed automatic transmission. Around-town power was adequate with this setup, but Mitsubishi's compact sport-utility proved quite sluggish in passing and high-speed merging situations. A jump in hp to 160 for the 2004 model year helped somewhat, but the Outlander's engine still wasn't a match for the smooth and potent four-cylinders in small SUVs from Honda and Toyota, much less V6-powered Ford and GM models. Throughout the first-generation Outlander's run, both front-wheel-drive and AWD versions were offered.

In addition to the LS and the XLS trims, Mitsubishi added a high-line Outlander Limited trim in 2005, with unique interior and exterior trim enhancements as well as leather seating. Also significant for '05 was the addition of a five-speed manual as the standard transmission on the LS. Highly observant customers may also notice the slightly revised rear styling introduced during this model year.

In 2006, the midlevel XLS was replaced by the SE trim level, while base LS and high-end Limited trims remained. That model year also saw antilock brakes and side airbags find their way to the list of standard equipment for all trims. Models prior to 2006 reserved those safety features for premium models, making older LS-trim Outlanders less desirable for used car buyers. In general, we would advise used-car shoppers to look at '04 and newer Outlanders -- unless, that is, you find that you like the less powerful original engine more than we did.

User Reviews:

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  Excellent Value - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By susieris - August 8 - 6:53 am

  I have had my Outlander for 3 1/2 yrs. I checked Edmunds before I bought it, looking for an SUV that got good gas mileage, was economical to insure, and that was able to accommodate two tall adults. It has made two long trips (over 1,600 miles) and several 400 mile trips each year with no problems.

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  Underpowered - 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Wally - June 20 - 1:33 am

  Outlander is a nice vehicle but is sluggish to drive. To upgrade to a 6 cylinder brings the price up too high. There are other vehicles available for less money. Also to get the safety options you have to pay more. The base models dont have them.

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  Take another look. - 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Jeff W. - June 16 - 5:32 am

  This is as honest as a car gets. Theres no flashy advertising, no crazy hamsters driving it around, you get the picture. I bought this when we traded in our 2011 GMC Terrain. Our Terrain was loaded to the gills with options but it was becoming unreliable. We got the Outlander SEL with AWD and the safety package which comes with rain sensing wipers, automatic headlights, adaptive cruise and collision mitigation. I was surprised when we were shopping to learn that this was a top safety pick, so we gave it a shot. So far it has been great in this Buffalo winter and has had no issues in the slop that populates the roadway this time of year. No heavy snow yet but Im confident this will be fine. The rear seat fits both our car seats with ease and I dont have to have my seat all the way forward for them to be comfortable (Im 64"). The passenger seat could use some more room for us tall folk but that seems to be the norm for this segment. The warranty cant be beaten since its bumper to bumper for 60k for 5 years and it includes free roadside during that time as well. The financing options are very good also. We have average credit and were able to get 3.5% for 65 months with the option to turn the car in at 48 months with 60k miles and just walk away. (We had some negative equity on the GMC) So if youre sitting there thinking you cant afford a new car, you really can and it will be worth it to have a warranty for 60k miles. Overall you cant beat what you get for the money with this car. If youre in the market for a crossover that gets decent gas mileage, take another look at Mitsubishi. Youll be surprised what you find.

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  The 2016 Highlander SEL is well worth a look - 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Jon - June 14 - 12:54 pm

  I had done my research and test drove a few of the SUVs that I thought were worth my consideration and at first, Mitsubishi was not on my list. Ive heard nothing but unkind things about the Outlander and Mitsubishi in general to even think about looking at them, but Im glad I did. My list of vehicles were as follows: Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Buick Encore and even the Kia Soul. As you can see, the Outlander wasnt on my list. I just happened across an article while doing my research that mentioned the Mitsubishi had made over 100 updates to the 2016 model. My first thought was, "Of course they did, they had to to try and keep relevant in the market." So that made me go ahead and look into it. The reviews I came across were very mixed, some good some bad and some in between. So the only way to tell would be to go take a test drive and see it in person. At this point I had already test drove all the other vehicles on my list. A big plus for any of these vehicles was if they offered adaptive cruise control, backup camera, lane departure warning, blind spot alert and brake assist. Only a couple of these features could be found in any one of these vehicles and some had none of them or just a back up camera. All of the vehicles on my list are worthy of purchasing, but some more than others. They each had their own pluses and minuses, but when I had calculated features, comfort, mileage and price the Outlander came out as the victor. The Outlander didnt hit all the top marks, but it hit most of them and was never at the bottom of my scorecard. I know beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but I really like the looks of the 2016 Outlander. The front grill is ok, but the rest of the vehicle to me is very well done. The Outlander as stated, didt hit the high marks on most of my list, but overall scored best. For exterior styling, I give it a 8 of 10, the interior has been upgraded, but still not going to blow you away, but it does well in my comparison test and I score it a 7 of 10. One of the places it did score high with me, was how you fold the seats down to extend the cargo space. It cant get any easier and all the seats (3rd row included) fold very flat for easy loading of whatever you need to load. The features that are available on the Outlander SEL level are great. Mitsubishi is one of very few car makers that have separated the safety tech you can buy from the sound/sunroof packages most cars bundle now. The 3 packages they offer are: Premium Package $1900 -inc: SEL , Power Glass Sunroof, Power Remote Tailgate, Power Folding Side View Mirrors, Front Windshield Wiper De-Icer, Radio: AM/FM Rockford-Fosgate Premium Sound System 710-watt, 9 speakers, FUSE Handsfree Link system w/USB port, 6.1 inch touch panel display and SiriusXM satellite radio w/3-month subscription Safety Package $1550 -inc: SEL , Adaptive Cruise Control, Power Folding Side View Mirrors, Front Windshield Wiper De-Icer, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Mitigation, Auto Headlamp Control, Rain Sensing Wipers Touring Package $5,250 -inc: SEL , Adaptive Cruise Control, Power Glass Sunroof, Power Remote Tailgate, Power Folding Side View Mirrors, Front Windshield Wiper De-Icer, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Mitigation, Radio: AM/FM Rockford-Fosgate Premium Sound System 710-watt, 9 speakers, FUSE Handsfree Link system w/USB port, 6.1 inch touch panel display and SiriusXM satellite radio w/3-month subscription, MMCS Navigation System, 2 annual Mapcare updates (replaces audio head unit), Auto Headlamp Control, Rain Sensing Wipers I really only wanted the safety package, I use my phone for GPS and Music and I dont care for a sunroof, but of course since these cars are just rolling out, they didnt have one with only the safety package. So I got the fully loaded Touring Package, but I negotiated the $5,200 package down to $2,500. I will admit I do like the hands free tailgate feature that I wouldnt of had had I only bought the safety package. The Outlander drives well for its size. It wont win any races, but it moves along just fine. The 4 cylinder is pretty smooth considering it has a CVT (not a huge fan of them...yet) and it does have a "Sport" setting which holds the gears to a higher RPM, but I dont use it much. Ive just turned the 1000 mile mark (Ive owned it for two weeks) and Im averaging about 27/28 mpg, not too bad for this size of vehicle. The cabin is quiet enough, Id give it a 7 of 10 and the sound system once set up is a 8 of 10. The adaptive cruise control is excellent, 10 of 10 and the other tech all works well too. I really enjoy the comfort of the drivers seat although it lacks a lumbar support setting. Also, for a vehicle in this price range, Id expect the passenger side seat to also be electric but its not. Another thing that I would of added was heated and cooled seats, but you can only get heated.

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  2004 Outlander sport xls - 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By teddyjames - June 3 - 1:30 pm

  Purchased my outlander with 93k, now at 109k. So far no issues, smooth ride, decent gas mileage overall solid car for $7500. I was told there may be suspension issues with this model, but nothing too serious from my experience so far. Its put a smile on my face and would recommend to buyers looking to spend under 10k on a crossover with lots of room for storage. If this car had either a turbo or V6 it would be 10x better lol.

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  Reliable, family oriented, fun - 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By chrisgr1 - May 17 - 11:42 pm

  Excelent SUV, handling, room space, cargo space. AWC is really impresive. Cheap plastics insight. Emphasis on Utility

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  The car is good - 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Anthony - May 6 - 4:00 pm

  I have been continously suprised by the performance of my Outlander. We recently came over the mountains in the snow and the car performed remarkabley. I am able go faster than is safe and able to get up to speed and keep up with other higher performing cars that is acceptable. My wife and I purchased this car for her benefit, she wanted a car she was comfortable with in terms of size. I initially wanted to get the endeavor, but I think the outlander was a better purchase in terms of cost and efficiency.

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  good family car - 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By jsk - May 5 - 10:00 am

  Overall, very good. Dependable, handles well. A little cramped on long trips, but good fuel economy.

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  Oz Test - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Paul T - April 27 - 10:00 am

  A very comfortable car, easy to drive, very quite after my last 4x4. Costs less to insure and run.

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  Great Car, Bad Dealer - 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
  By Quality Engineer - April 16 - 10:00 am

  Put 1000 miles on car and it drives like a dream. Get 29 MPG overall driving. Thats 75 MPH thru the mts. Who said this car cant climb? It sure can, and no problem either. This car is very satisfying so far. I love it. To bad Mark Mitsubishi is giving Mitsubishi such a black eye thru underhanded delings and false advertising. Oh well, there must be some good dealers out there.