ROAD TEST: Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4 GLS Exceed
Johannesburg - Try it, you may like it, said Weekend Wheels editor Brendan Seery. I did and I didn’t.
Let’s get the didn’t bit out of the way first. It has a normally aspirated four-cylinder engine that puts out a credible 123kW and 222Nm with a top speed of 195km/h. That’s all pretty much in line with what you’d expect when you get behind the wheel of the Mitsubishi Outlander, and closing the door gives you a feeling of quality although not yet of the German variety.
A DEAL BREAKER
It’s easy to look past that, but what wasn’t so easy, was trying to get past the continuously variable transmission (CVT) that had me wailing and gnashing my teeth.
Now, you could say that we’re spoilt because of the variety of vehicles that we get to test, but to be honest, if I were to spend almost R430 000 on a car and I was faced with this every day, it would be a deal breaker.
It’s fine for getting to school and back again with the kids, or when you’re in peak-hour Joburg traffic, but the moment you want to accelerate or need more power to tackle a hill, you’re greeted with a loud whining sound, revs shooting up and not much else.
I was wondering how it would react if it was fully loaded and perhaps towing a caravan or trailer, when I remembered it also had steering paddles which I then used quite often.
Put in a decent auto box and be done with it.
SPACE AND LUXURY
On to the good stuff that this softroader SUV has to offer.
First up, it’s the only one in its price class that has an extra two seats. Not big ones though, but they’re fine to stick a couple of toddlers in when needed and they fold in neatly to give ample space for the monthly shopping or cricket and rugby bags after school.
On the spec sheet, you get decent bang for buck with cruise control, climate control, park distance control, Bluetooth, USB port and a touch screen audio system linked to a Rockford Fosgate sound system that would put a smile on the most difficult teenager’s face. Also ideal for the kids is the rear DVD player connected via wireless headphones while mom and dad get heated leather seats upfront.
On the safety front, seven airbags, ABS brakes, and stability control keep you out of harm’s way.
The Outlander doesn’t exactly stand out in a crowd, but it’s attractive enough not to be described as boring.
4WD WITH LOCK MODE
It has a four-wheel drive system selected by button normally driven by two wheels, but automatically engages 4WD once it hits sand and dirt roads.
It also has a lock mode giving it maximum traction in tricky situations. Don’t be fooled though: you’re not going to conquer kilometres of difficult passes, but with 190mm of ground clearance, you’ll go a whole lot further than some other SUVs on the market.
Economy-wise, expect closer to 10.5 litres/100km than the claimed 8.2 on the open road and about 11.5 litres/100km on a combined cycle.
Because we South Africans so like our SUVs and 4x4s, it will probably do relatively well in our market. As a family car, it certainly ticks all the right boxes particularly with the two extra seats, but it will take a patient driver who will look past the CVT transmission without wondering what else is on the market. -Saturday Star
FACTS
Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4 GLS Exceed
Engine: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder petrol
Gearbox: CVT
Power: 123kW @ 6000rpm
Torque: 222Nm @ 4100rpm
0-100km/h (claimed): 0.0 seconds
Top speed (claimed): 000km/h
Consumption (claimed): 8.2 litres per 100km
Price: R439 900
Warranty: Three-year/100 000km
Service/Maintenance plan: Five-year/90 000km