The Mitsubishi Outlander, which debuted in 2003 as a raised wagon based on the Subaru Outback, is currently in its fourth generation, with a complete redesign scheduled for 2022. This newest Outlander may be the most dramatic change yet, as it now travels on the CMF-CD platform common with the existing Nissan Rogue from the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Despite the fact that Outlander and Rogue are based on the same foundations, you'd be difficult to see the parallels. The tiny Outlander crossover is bigger, broader, and higher than the Rogue, with distinctive appearance inspired by Mitsubishi's Engelberg Tourer Concept.

After a break for the 2021 model year, the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is a completely new vehicle, with just the name and triple-diamond insignia continuing over from the previous generation. It's all new, even down to the wheelbase, which is almost an inch larger. In reality, the new Outlander shares its architecture and powertrain with the Nissan Rogue, thus it doesn't even employ a Mitsubishi base.

Exterior:

You could easily stroll straight past the old Outlander set. It was as uninteresting and forgettable as a superhero sequel. The new automobile is eye-catching, but the verdict on whether it's attractive is yet out. In any case, it's a significant improvement. It has a dramatic front end with narrow daytime running lights and LED daytime running lights, which is primarily inspired by the Mitsubishi Engelberg Tourer Concept. These thin lights, on the other hand, aren't the major lights. At first appearance, the real headlights located right below may be overlooked. The back is a little bland, but the side profile is perfect. The strong contours and floating roof design appeal to us.The base model comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, but all higher-trim vehicles have 20-inch wheels, which fill the arches much better.

The new Outlander has an overall length of 185.4 inches and a wheelbase of 106.5 inches, which is the same as the Nissan Rogue with which it shares underpinnings. With the mirrors in place, the overall width is 84.4 inches, and with the mirrors folded in, the overall width is 74.7 inches. The base ES is 68.7 inches tall, with higher trim variants being 0.1 inch taller. The SE has a ground clearance of 8.3 inches, which is 0.1 inch higher than the rest of the range. Despite the fact that the Outlander and the Rogue have the same wheelbase, the Outlander is taller, wider, and longer overall.

Interior:

The Nissan Rogue and the Mitsubishi Outlander share many components, yet there are enough differences to give each car its own personality. This is how badge engineering should be done.  The inside of the previous Outlander was a shambles. You could tell it was an ancient interior that was constantly being updated with new technology. There was no overarching concept, simply a scattering of things wherever they could find an open area.  

Mitsubishi's new interior isn't just a small step ahead; it's a massive Hulk-sized leap forward. It now has a sleek minimalist design, but that's just half of the tale. The inside quality has been much improved, and the variety of fabric possibilities is breathtaking.

More than that, you can tell the interior design was done by someone with a family. A smartphone holder is included in every seat, and all versions include a digital instrument cluster. Small features like these can make or break a car, and we respect Mitsubishi's meticulous attention to detail.

The Mitsubishi Outlander seems to be the only small crossover with seating for seven people and a third-row, although a small one, except from the Volkswagen Tiguan. Mitsubishi managed to cram more legroom into the Outlander's two front seats, with 81.6 inches of total legroom compared to the Rogue's 80 inches. These measurements are 41.7 inches in the front and 39.9 inches in the back, indicating that both front and back seat passengers will have plenty of room.

The third row, on the other hand, only provides 18.7 inches of legroom. Only very little children will be able to sit comfortably in the third row, therefore it's better to save it for short excursions.

Instead of being class-leading, practicality is praised in Outlander. The Outlander has an 11.7cubic-foot trunk with all seven seats in position. This is more than plenty for regular errands, but if you want to transport seven people on vacation, you'll need to tow something.

Performance:

The former model's naturally aspirated 2.4-liter four-cylinder and 3.0-liter V6 engines have both been dropped. The Outlander uses a 2.5-liter normally aspirated four-cylinder engine from the Nissan Rogue instead of a modest capacity turbocharged engine or a hybrid powertrain. Frontwheel drive is standard, however all models are available with all-wheel drive. The Outlander PHEV is still available from Mitsubishi, however it's based on the previous model rather than the Nissan chassis. The redesigned Outlander Hybrid is expected to debut in 2023.

This 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. That's the same amount of power a turbocharged 1.5-liter Ford produces these days. Maximum power is only available at 6,000 rpm, while peak torque is available at a more approachable 3,600 rpm, indicating that this automobile wasn't meant for pure performance. The findings can be seen in independently tested 0-60 mph data, which show that the Outlander takes 8.2 seconds to reach 60 mph. In terms of towing, the news isn't good. Mitsubishi boasts that the full range can pull 2,000 pounds. This is far less than comparable competitors, such as the Jeep Cherokee, which can tow up to 4,500 pounds.

Although the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander's drivetrain is uninspired, it does offer decent fuel efficiency. According to the EPA, FWD versions get 24/31/27 mpg in the city, highway, and combined, while AWD variants get 24/30/26 mpg. With a combined mileage of 27 mpg, we narrowly topped that average.  

However, the 14.5-gallon tank is on the modest side. The AWD vehicles have a theoretical range of 377 miles, while the FWD models have a range of 392 miles. The Nissan Rogue is more fuelefficient, but it's only a five-seater.

In the 2022 Outlander, the 2.5-liter engine delivers 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive Outlander variants are both offered, with the same CVT gearbox. Mitsubishi calls it an eight-speed sport mode CVT and includes paddle shifters on the steering wheel for adjusting the ratios. We left the transmission to its own devices because we don't see the value in "shifting" a CVT. The CVT simulates gear shifts, but it isn't a genuine automatic, as we discovered. This powertrain isn't what we'd call "sporty," but it's sufficient for casual driving.

Safety:

A rear view mirror camera, tire pressure tracking, auto high lights, and rear parking sensors are all standard features on every Outlander. There are ten airbags in total, including twin front knee airbags and rear-seat side airbags. On the driver assistance front, the base ES model has frontal collision prevention with pedestrian recognition, driver attention alert, blind-spot warning with lane change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert, among other features. Mi-Pilot Assist with Navi-Link adaptive cruise control with a stop & function, lane maintain assist, lane departure prevention, and traffic sign recognition is available on SE and SEL models.