Introduction

The 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander comes with a choice of two engines, a new four-cylinder that gets good fuel economy and a powerful V6. The new 2.4-liter four-cylinder comes standard on Outlander ES and SE models, which get an EPA-rated 20/25 mpg City/Highway. The four-cylinder engine is matched with a continuously variable transmission, or CVT, designed to improve fuel economy. The 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander LS and XLS come standard with the 220-horsepower V6. Outlander was completely redesigned for the 2007 model year. Bigger than the previous-generation model, it was launched with a powerful 3.0-liter V6, a six-speed automatic transmission with sport-shift, and a sophisticated four-wheel-drive system. Outlander can seat up to seven passengers when equipped with a fold-down, compact third-row seat. All models come with a full complement of occupant safety features. Completely redesigned for 2007, the Outlander features an electronic skid and traction control system and a modern four-wheel independent suspension. Its available four-wheel-drive system is designed more to be pavement-friendly than backwoods-capable. The top models are luxurious, boasting automatic climate control, leather-trimmed seats, a rear-seat entertainment system with a nine-inch LCD screen and wireless remote and headphones. A GPS navigation system featuring a seven-inch touch-screen is available with a hard disk for speedy data retrieval and recorded audio tracks. Formula 1-style magnesium shift paddles mounted on the steering column allow the driver to shift manually, while a keyless ignition system eliminates the need to fuss with keys. The 2008 Outlander models benefit from numerous upgrades. All 2008 models are available with front-wheel drive (2WD) or all-wheel drive (4WD). The four-cylinder is rated to tow 1500 pounds; the V6 is tow-rated at 2000 pounds with 2WD, and 3500 pounds with 4WD because the 4WD models come with a bigger radiator. Competitive performance, fuel economy, and interior space along with aggressive pricing make the Mitsubishi Outlander a compelling SUV.

Walkaround

The Mitsubishi Outlander was re-shaped, re-contoured and refined for 2007. Only minor appearance changes have followed for 2008: The V6 models now sport V6 emblems on their front fenders, and the alloy wheels on XLS models have a new look. The Outlander is a four-door SUV capable of seating five or seven. Styling is more refined and understated than older models. Up front is an understated, traditionally shaped grille opening with the three-diamond Mitsubishi trademark floating on thin, horizontal bars. The lower portion of the front bumper opens into a large air intake above a skid plate-looking under panel. Headlight covers blend cleanly into the surrounding fascia and fenders. The side view shows a sleeker, rounder shape than that of the pre-2007 model. Deeply creased fender blisters outline circular wheel wells, which are better filled by the 18-inch wheels than by the 16-inchers. The side glass tapers toward the back end, playing to the wedge look and ending in a substantial, sharply angular D-pillar. Front and rear bumpers flow seamlessly into their respective quarter panels. Easy-to-grip door handles sit atop full-round indents. The rear has a unified look. The liftgate reaches all the way down to the top of the bumper, which functions also as a small, fold-down tailgate designed to support up to 440 pounds. So no worries sitting on it at tailgate parties. A nice feature of the little tailgate is that it forms a small barrier at the back of the cargo bay, so that when you open the main liftgate your cantaloupe doesn't coming rolling out onto the ground, which has happened to us with other SUVs. The sides of the Outlander bend inward toward the top, adding a distinctively aero-look to an otherwise mostly boxy shape when viewed from behind. Many of the seams and lines draw the eye to the Mitsubishi trademark centered in the lift gate. The spoiler topping the backlight extends directly from the roof.

Interior Features

Inside, the Outlander looks and feels more upscale, quieter, more mature than pre-2007 models, with tasteful metallic trim and tighter integration of controls and fixtures. For 2008, re-styled door panels with cloth inserts give it a more refined look. The front seats are markedly improved over the previous-generation models. Deeper bottom cushions give better thigh support. Side bolsters do their job without being overly confining. Lumbar and height adjustment offer sufficient range to accommodate almost every body shape and dimension. The Outlander competes with the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-7, and Toyota RAV4. Compared with those vehicles, the front seats of the Outlander offer headroom that's firmly in the upper half of the class and comparable legroom, though hip room is relatively tight. The second-row seats are contoured more like bench seats than buckets. Second-row legroom is among the best in the class. The XLS offers reclining rear seatbacks and the second row slides 3.2 inches fore-and-aft. Headroom and hip room for second-row passengers is below average for the class. The second-row seats are split 60/40 for versatility with cargo and passengers. Access to the third-row seat in the XLS model is surprisingly easy for a sport utility of this size. The second-row seat folds flat and then rocks forward against the back of the front seat, opening an expansive path to the rearmost seat; there's even a small courtesy light on the second-row seat bottom that illuminates the floor when the seat bottom is released. Once back there, though, the third-row seats are not comfortable for adults. The seat bottom and seat back are mere inches in thickness, and the seat sits so close to the floor that adult occupants' knees come to about shoulder height. The Outlander's third-row seat comes up short against the RAV4 by a couple of inches in every direction. And the RAV4 seat is really a seat, with cushions instead of pads. Collapsing the third-row seat into the cargo floor is relatively easy, requiring little more than pulling a couple straps and pushing where noted. Not so retrieving it. Even with the short tailgate, getting to a couple of the requisite straps and then leveraging the seat up out of the floor and locking into place makes for some awkward stretches and strains. Still, for kids or short jaunts, the Outlander fulfills its purpose as a seven-passenger vehicle. In cargo room, the Outlander bests all the competition save the CR-V and RAV4, and it loses to those two only slightly. Outlander's short tailgate incorporates a feature we've noticed only on high-end SUVs, a flap that folds down when the gate is open to bridge the gap over the gate's hinges. Thus, not only is there a short tailgate that eases loading and unloading cargo, but also it's a lot easier sliding awkward and heavy boxes into and out of the back. This adds to the Outlander's practicality when moving stuff around. Cubby storage is respectable. A bi-level glove box fills the top and bottom of the right side of the dash. All four doors have bottle holders, the front ones sharing space with maps and the like. The front console has four cup holders, the second-row fold-down center another two. Even the third-row seat has cubbies on the side. Atop the storage compartment in the center console is a padded cover that adjusts fore and aft a couple inches. Sight lines from the driver's seat are good most ways around. The front corners are in view, easing parking and maneuvers in close quarters. The robust D-pillars restrict the over-the-shoulder view, however. The dropped-down screen obscures the rearward view when the kids are using the rear-seat entertainment system, but this is common with most of these. The fabric upholstery that comes standard feels durable, the optional leather in the XLS is pliant. The fit and finish in the cabin impressed us. Easy-to-use knobs and bu