Mitsubishi unveils the new Outlander in the USA

Mitsubishi makes it serious: The study “Engelberg Tourer” shown in Geneva in 2018 has now become the new Outlander, which has increased in size and quality. The design is particularly unusual at the front and is characterized by the typical Mitsubishi chrome strip, large lights, and large air intakes in the lower part of the bumper. In contrast, the rear is very tidy, and inside it significantly improves in haptics and optics compared to the current model. Mitsubishi also aligns the design with its Japanese roots and places the design under the motto “I-Fu-Do-Do,” which sounds as unusual as it looks at the front and can be translated as “majestic and authentic.” This is indeed true, as the new Outlander comes with a visually powerful front and grows in dimensions and material quality.

Interior space and quality noticeably increase

The new model optionally offers three rows of seats. To accommodate them well, it grows in length by around fifty and in height by around forty millimeters. The wheelbase grows by 35 to 2,705 millimeters. This is supposed to provide significantly more space both at the front and in the rear. Appropriately, the interior has been massively upgraded, at least if you order the top equipment: The dashboard has been elegantly tidied up, and the optional digital instruments can be programmed with vertical knurled scales as with Peugeot. The entire dashboard is covered in fabric or leather depending on the equipment, and the door panels in the top equipment feature a noble diamond quilting. In addition to the standard multimedia display, there is a colored head-up display. Of course, there are several USB-A and USB-C sockets, as well as the option to charge your smartphone wirelessly. Apple Car-Play and Android Auto are naturally included.

Mitsubishi also boosts its assistance systems

The Japanese also step up their game with the assistance systems: Among other things, lane departure warning, fatigue monitoring, collision warning, automatic high beam control, adaptive cruise control, and a lane keeping assistant with blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking are on board. Very important in the USA is also a kind of “pilot” that allows semi-autonomous cruising. It is called “MI-Pilot Assist” here.

The drives start with a petrol engine, followed by the plug-in hybrid

The model now presented in the USA is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine delivering 181 hp and transmitting its power through a continuously variable CVT transmission. This simulates eight gears through software. Front-wheel drive comes standard, while all-wheel drive costs extra.

Further data is not yet known, unfortunately, nor are details on the expected plug-in hybrid and the plans for Europe. The prices for the US base model are favorable: The new Outlander is expected to start there from $25,795 before taxes in April 2021, which is roughly €21,500 net. In Europe, the new model could therefore start at under €30,000 gross.

What does that mean?

The new Outlander has gained in size and quality. Unfortunately, it still lacks data on the important plug-in and initially launches only as a base petrol model. It remains to be seen if it will also come to Europe, where it would then differentiate itself more from the Eclipse Cross. It would complement the Nissan and Renault program well.