2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is all-new and improved

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Of all the smaller vehicle brands available today, Mitsubishi is probably the most frequently overlooked. That’s a shame, because the latest generation of the Mitsubishi Outlander three-row compact SUV is well worth any buyer’s attention.

The first thing is the three rows of seats. The Outlander will seat seven passengers, provided two of them are small enough to ride comfortably in the third row. The only other compact SUV that can do that is the Volkswagen Tiguan. So if you occasionally need to haul the soccer team but you don’t want to drive around in a larger SUV every day, the Outlander could be a great choice for you.

The other thing to know is that the new 2022 Outlander has been updated inside and out. The previous generation Outlander had been around a long time and lacked many current technological advances. The 2022 Outlander fixes all that, delivering a state-of-the-art comfort and technology package. It starts with MI-Pilot Assist, which blends GPS navigation, lane keeping and lane centering, adaptive cruise control, as well as assistance with turning and highway exits. MI-Pilot Assist will also keep your Outlander to the posted speed limits, if you ask for that.

Safety is a priority in any family-oriented vehicle, and the 2022 Outlander offers blind spot monitoring with active assistance, reverse automatic braking, and forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection.

In top trims, the Outander offers a 9-inch touchscreen interface and a 12.3-inch driver information screen. Even the base trims come with a seven-inch center touchscreen. A Bose sound system is optional, as is a 10.8-inch head-up display.

Under the hood, Mitsubishi equips all trims with a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine rated at 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. That might not sound like a lot of power in this modern era, and it’s not, but the Outlander makes good use of its continuously variable transmission. There’s plenty of acceleration and top speed available for family-oriented driving, and you’ll be rewarded with up to 30 MPG on the highway.

The Outlander is available with front-wheel-drive or with all-wheel-drive, which Mitsubishi calls “Super All Wheel Control.” If your winter driving involves a lot of snow and ice, or deep water and wet leaves, the S-AWC is a worthy option, but for most of us in the greater Portland area, the traction and stability control included on all Outlanders is plenty to get us through the winter.

On the road, the new Outlander is extremely comfortable. The top trims offer quilted leather upholstery with heated seats and steering wheel. There’s a big panoramic sunroof, and plenty of space in the second row. With all the back seats down, the Outlander offers 79.7 cubic feet of space, or 33.5 cubic feet behind the second row. That’s enough for a camping trip or a trip to the big box store. Any Outlander can also tow up to 2,000 pounds, making it a great choice for your summer outdoor activities.

One thing Mitsubishi didn’t upgrade was the price of the Outlander. It still starts at $26,095. If you check all the boxes and get the top of the line, you’ll spend about $38,000. That’s where the premium brands are just getting started. So before you make any SUV choice this year, plan on test driving the Mitsubishi Outlander. You’ll be glad you did.

2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

Base price: $26,095

Price as tested: $37,995

Type: Compact SUV

Engine: 2.5-liter TYPE (181 hp, 181 lbs-ft)

Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission

EPA estimated mileage: 24/30

Overall length: 185.4 inches

Curb weight: 3,803 pounds

Final assembly: Okazaki, Japan