The 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander is an all-new SUV similar in size and character to the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. And it goes well with these two. Built on a car platform, it's smooth and quiet, and feels confident at high speeds. It has four doors and a spacious cargo area, and loading things in the back is easy.
Like other compact SUVs, the Mitsubishi Outlander offers raised seats for better visibility. But he is not tall and not wobbly. Its compact size helps it navigate the often hostile asphalt jungle. All-wheel drive is an option when the asphalt disappears under snow and ice or dissolves into a dusty, rocky trail.
Tight and taut, Mitsubishi's styling is bolder and more aggressive than that of Honda, Toyota or Subaru. The Mitsubishi Outlander is a good alternative to these cars, but is priced aggressively compared to them. The Outlander's base MSRP ranges from $17 to a full MSRP of $997.
The lineup
Mitsubishi Outlander is available in two versions: LS and XLS. Each is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Mitsubishi expects 65 percent of Outlander buyers will choose the upgraded XLS version, and 55 percent of buyers will want all-wheel drive.
All Outlanders are powered by Mitsubishi's 140-horsepower 2,4-liter four-cylinder engine. All are equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 140/21 mpg City/Highway for Outlander with two-wheel drive and 26/20 mpg with all-wheel drive.
Front airbags, three-point seat belts for all five seating positions and child seat anchors are standard. Driver and front passenger side airbags and anti-lock brakes are optional on the XLS model.
The LS is not a stripped-down model and comes standard with air conditioning; cruise control; power windows and locks; power folding rear view mirrors; height-adjustable steering wheel; height-adjustable driver's seat; 140-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with four speakers; analog clock; center console with storage space; two additional 12 V outlets; 60/40 split folding and reclining rear seat; intermittent windshield and rear window wipers, and 16-inch steel wheels. Options for the LS include a convenience package with a trunk lid, floor mats, keyless entry and roof rails. There's also an appearance package with privacy glass and alloy wheels.
XLS adds a rear spoiler, premium cloth seats, a 140-watt six-speaker audio system, white gauges and clock, clear headrests and alloy wheels. Options for the XLS include a Sun and Sound package with Infinity audio and sunroof, and a Luxury package with auto-dimming mirror, compass and temperature readouts, heated outside mirrors, heated leather seats and side airbags.
Design
The all-new 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander features a bolder appearance than other SUVs in its class. Mitsubishi says style is very important to its customers, so it wanted its entry-level SUV to differentiate itself from the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. Mitsubishi expects the majority of Outlander buyers to be women, typically between 30 and 45 years old, most of whom are married with a young family or a large dog.
Mitsubishi believes Outlander buyers want an SUV with a muscular, masculine, aggressive appearance. To achieve this look, designers created a wide nose that splits the grille and flows onto the hood. Mitsubishi believes that this thick, dynamic column with a three-diamond emblem in the middle demonstrates that the Outlander owner is not going to be afraid of those who drive other good-looking cars. Its styling is reminiscent of the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe.
This attitude is reinforced by the large tinted headlight covers and especially by the fog lamps mounted at the edges of the bumper on the XLS model. Gray cladding on the bumpers and side sills adds an aggressive appearance, while 16-inch wheels (the same diameter as the RAV4 and Forester, but larger than the CR-V) give the Outlander a solid presence.
The Outlander's styling doesn't attract much attention, but it doesn't create unnecessary noise on the road either. Mitsubishi's Outlander has a wedge-shaped profile that blocks wind and produces a drag coefficient of 0,43, making it sleeker than the CR-V, RAV4 and Forester. However, its standard rear spoiler and especially the optional roof racks with tubular rails give it a solid appearance. More importantly, it has large door handles that are easy to grasp.
Interior Features
The Mitsubishi Outlander offers a spacious and comfortable interior, benefiting from a long wheelbase. We found all the controls easy to operate.
It's easy to get in and out. The Outlander's h-point, the distance between your hips and the ground when you're in the car, has been designed to make landing easier. The Outlander's h-point is 25,79 inches, meaning virtually anyone can easily enter or exit the vehicle. Once you're seated, you'll have a van-like edge. Low-slung sports cars have low h-points, while tall SUVs and 4X4 pickups have high h-points. Once inside, there is plenty of headroom for taller drivers.
The seats use high-density foam padding, and the standard fabric is comfortable. The driver's seat has height adjustment and effective lumbar support. Leather seating is an option on the XLS model, and the leather seats feel a little firmer; the package includes heated seats and side airbags for the driver and front passenger. The passenger seat and back seat are comfortable and the car feels secure, making it a good place to put in the miles. Both front seats are equipped with seat belt pretensioners and force limiters to help reduce the risk of injury in a crash.
The instrument panel features an analog clock in the center of the large titanium-textured trim panel. The watch is easy to customize and has a black dial on the LS model and a white dial on the XLS version. The instrument panel includes a large speedometer and tachometer. The XLS comes with light-colored gauges, which are much easier for us to read; in addition, they combine better with titanium. Heating and air conditioning controls are simple and easy to operate. Various storage pockets available. Rubber latches securely hold items in the illuminated glove box. But there is no compass.
The rear seat is designed with additional lumbar support. It is split 60/40. There's no need to remove the headrests before folding the rear seats, which opens up an expanded, if not perfectly flat, cargo space. There are 24,4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, and 60,3 cubic feet behind the rear seats. ft. with seats folded. The rear seat has three head restraints and three sets of shoulder belts. It also has a fold-down center armrest with two cup holders.
A single rear tailgate makes access to the cargo area easy. A slim, divided storage space under the cargo floor lid provides convenient storage, and the cargo area includes hooks for grocery bags and a 12-volt power outlet. The cargo area floor is approximately 30 inches off the ground, making loading and unloading easy. A rear trunk lid is available for the Outlander to stash valuables, and Mitsubishi has cleverly designed a space under the trunk floor to hide the trunk lid. Other SUVs don't have space to store a cargo cover (except in your garage), which means it takes up space and can get damaged when not in use.
Driving Impressions
The Mitsubishi Outlander is smooth, quiet and comfortable. The Outlander's long wheelbase and car-like suspension provide a comfortable ride. There is no noise from the road or wind. The main sound that can be heard is wind noise from the large side mirrors, and we wouldn't want to give up the nice big mirrors. The Mitsubishi isn't as smooth as the Honda, and there's some road vibration felt through the steering wheel. All-wheel drive Outlanders feel smoother and more peppy than all-wheel drive models.
One of the first things we noticed about the Outlander is that it is very stable at high speeds. The Mitsubishi feels more stable than the Honda CR-V in crosswinds and at higher speeds. The Outlander's 103,3-inch wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) is longer than the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester.
The Outlander leans in corners but handles well. The steering is slow and there is a little play in the steering, but it is easy to control smoothly, providing a pleasant ride for your passengers. This is an easy to drive vehicle.
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