It’s laborious to shake a repute, and for the Outlander that repute was considered one of, effectively, mediocrity. Whether or not it was climbing into the again of a ride-share, choosing up a rental automobile or getting zapped by a cell velocity digicam, the common individual’s interactions with the previous-generation Outlander in all probability didn’t excite or impress.
The driving expertise wasn’t horrible, thoughts you, however in Australia’s best automobile phase there was no scarcity of better-driving choices – being a middle-of-the-pack performer merely isn’t sufficient.
Nonetheless, sharp pricing can counter a boring providing to an incredible extent, and by way of gross sales quantity the final Outlander was routinely a top-five finisher in VFACTS reviews.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia (MMAL) has pledged the all-new Outlander shall be a podium performer on this nation however this time across the firm desires to do issues a bit otherwise. At MMAL head workplace, the brass understands that so as to advance the model, the Outlander must really feel so much much less abnormal.
And so the nameplate has upward aspirations, buoyed by box-fresh styling and equally inexperienced mechanicals. When Mitsu says ‘all new’, they imply it this time – there’s no carryover right here, with the brand new Outlander one of many first Mitsubishi merchandise to learn from the corporate’s company hyperlinks to Nissan.
The platform is Renault-Nissan’s CMF-D structure and its PR25DD engine can also be a Nissan unit, each of which is able to characteristic in Nissan’s next-gen X-Path that’s due right here within the second half of 2022.
One should marvel how Nissan feels about its company cousin getting virtually a 12 months’s head begin with its new {hardware} within the all-important mid-size SUV class. Regardless, divorcing the Outlander title from the underwhelming platform of the final era can solely be a great factor.
One other necessary change issues the vary construction. Whereas a keenly-priced entry level stays within the type of the Outlander ES 2WD 5-seater at $34,490 earlier than on-road prices (which MMAL admits is meant as fleet fodder), there’s now extra alternative on the prime finish of the spec tree. The Aspire grade has returned from hiatus and sits beneath the Exceed, whereas an Exceed Tourer flagship joins the household and caps the vary off at $49,990 earlier than on-roads.
The Aspire, out there in both front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive type and with seven seats as commonplace, is predicted to be the volume-seller of the vary, and with a fats tools checklist coupled to a $41,490 beginning value ($43,990 for AWD) it’s not laborious to grasp why.
However does the brand new era have the correct stuff to draw the non-public consumers that MMAL is concentrating on with its new Outlander, and assist carry the common transaction value of considered one of its mainstay SUVs?
