New-look Outlander has the same heart

MITSUBISHI has given the Outlander a bit of a nip and tuck, with some cosmetic changes that give it a new look, although fundamentally it is very much the same vehicle people have become used to.
It’s called the ‘Dynamic Shield Design’ and they say it gives it a bold and edgy look, and a stylish and purposeful appearance.
Although some motorists may not be big fans of lots of chrome, it seems to work on the front design, where the badge is centred above the grille and chrome ‘strips’ lead from the outside of the headlights towards the lower fog lights. At the back, a large Mitsubishi logo domi­nates below the rear window, again with chrome detail.
It’s still powered by the famil­iar 2.4-litre engine pushing out 123kW and 222Nm; the maker claims fuel-consumption in the re­gion of 8.2 litres per 100km.
Still, it’s a very comfortable drive both on the open road and in town, considering its size, which gives you oodles of space includ­ing a third row of seats, which on a long trip should be comfortable enough, at least for the little peo­ple.
Its multi-select all-wheel drive system gives you 4WD Eco mode, 4WD Auto and 4WD Lock mode, all of which are managed by an electronic system to give optimum road and some less serious off-road performance.
The Rockford Fosgate sound sys­tem, with nine speakers, a 710W eight-channel amplifier and a sub­woofer is enough to give even the loudest taxi a run for their money. But the best thing was the nine-inch roof-mounted, fold down DVD player, which you can listen to via the sound system or infrared headsets.
The steering wheel is fully adjust­able and multifunctional with the gear shift paddles, access to voice controls and hands-free Bluetooth phone functionality.
You get automatic lights and windshield wipers, dual zone cli­mate control (although no air conditioner for the rear passen­gers), and cruise control, while on the safety front are seven airbags, stability control, ABS brakes with emergency brake assist, and hill start assist which is peace of mind when loaded and travelling with the whole family.
The Outlander is priced at R549 900 in South Africa, including a three-year or 100 000km warranty and a five-year or 90 000km ser­vice plan.
– Saturday Star