Test Drive Mitsubishi Outlander since 2012 SUV
Overseyling
Test drive Mitsubishi Outlander, which has become an SUV only on paper.watitis regret the Japanese. Yes, in the company Mitsubishi crisis, yes, their factories in Japan shook, and in Thailand Intrusted, yes, sales of new cars are falling, and managers in panic. But they also took and almost completely redested their Outlander. They had no money for the development of a new platform, engine shifts, a fundamentally new design, but they practically created Outlander anew.
The Japanese themselves do not want to call the alteration of Mitsubishi Outlander a deep restyling after all, they changed all body panels, completely changed the interior, which means the buyer should take the car as a completely new one. But is it really?
New exterior Outlander is a bit deceptive. Behind the smooth intensities of the front bumper seems to be hiding all the same aggressive oskal of the radiator lattice, which was at the previous version of the car in the style of air intakes of fighter aircraft. The Japanese themselves argue that the designer inspiration has drawn in Fuji, but, frankly, it is hard to believe.
Outlander is based on the former platform Project Global, though with minor changes. Yes, and the size of the car, in general, remained the same
In the profile of the change is noticeable only in the firewalls of the doors, but it is worth opening them how all the openings are becoming clear. The fifth door has changed stronger, having lost the folding platform, now she is now calm. By changing the appearance, it was possible to improve the air resistance coefficient by 7 percent (0.33 against 0.36).
It seems to be changed not so significant, but the Japanese would not have been the Japanese if they could not put everything from their legs in a limited space. Slightly playing the parameters of the front and rear swells, they managed to turn the crossover to the SUV. Seriously. To meet the norms of approval of the type of vehicle, it was enough to improve the angles of entry in front and rear and the cherished standard in their pocket. Now Outlander is officially called an SUV.
Well, how else, if the situation is developing for a midnight not the best? A sure way to overcome the black strip is to take into account all the shortcomings and try to turn them into advantage. The Japanese says that they have studied the claims and wishes that Russian clients expressed very carefully. We mainly concerned hard plastic and noise in the cabin. Therefore, the torpedo did a completely new, soft, and still unfolded it to the driver and covered with black piano varnish. It looks a little cumbersome, but you do not have to do materials. Yes, and reach the radio or climate control has become much more convenient.
1.outlander got lightweight for 300 grams steering wheel with new controls of the radio tape recorder and onboard computer, as well as a soft plastic finish.
2. Menu by speedometer and tachometer The Japanese placed the color display of the on-board computer size with the smartphone screen.
3. Rigging the screen of the new navigation system has increased twice (up to 800x480 pixels), which means the card will be visible better.
4. In the walker, the transmission modes are now selected by the button.
5. Iarizer is equipped with lower transmission for difficult off-road sites.
6.stand the key, next to the cigarette lighter socket.
7. The USB connector and an additional outlet for charging are hidden by armrest.
8.Otkryt trunk as possible and with the key.
Despite the fact that the seat of the previous Outlander XL no one especially not abused, they also altered. The expensive models the driver's seat is now equipped with electric and cushion themselves slightly changed form. Behind the folding circuit sofa completely altered. Now passenger seat can not move back and forth can only be adjusted back to a comfortable angle. But the trunk length when fully folded seats increased by 23 centimeters.
Underground trunk appeared a real organizer, where you can hide a lot of all small things, as well as the pump and jack. And even for the Blind trunk provided a regular place. To absolutely slay buyers on the spot, the Japanese attach to the fifth door is also motorized for automatic closing.
Folding platform in the trunk no more
In addition to innovations in the cabin, the Japanese made the most important change concerning engines. Actually, the strength units themselves have practically not changed. These are the same two engines 2.0 and 2.4, which put on previous versions of Outlander XL. They only confused some horsepower. Stranglened environmentalists? Not really. The main difference is that they now officially consume 92nd gasoline. And not just can digest, namely it is working on AI-92.
If we take into account weight loss, more advanced aerodynamics and translation to cheaper gasoline, then all this together reduced consumption by 10 percent and slightly reduced the cost of refueling the full gasoline tank. But how does the car feel on the road?
Seats now fold in a smooth floor
Click on the start button (the key can be kept in your pocket or in a special compartment next to the cigarette lighter) and we bring a two-liter engine. When driving any difference in the dynamics between the old and the new engine is not felt. The engine is sufficiently damaging and with a known skill allows you to go quite dynamically you just need to keep high speed. But if you want a little more freedom in maneuvers and more adequate dynamics, it is better to choose the 2.4 engine. Still, 167 horsepower are more suitable for such a rather big car.
Compared to the predecessor, the new Outlander has become only one centimeter shorter
Improving the engines, Mitsubishi Motors have not forgotten about the settings of the variator. Previously, even if you were not strongly pressed on gas, the engine first tried to gain momentum and only then the car received acceleration. Now the variator tries to follow the engine at once, without waiting for high revs. Feels like this is closer to the classic machine. The changes affected only electronic fillings, but the effect is noticeable even on a two-liter engine. The acceleration time of up to 100 kilometers per hour decreased by 0.3-0.7 seconds, depending on the modification, the maximum speed increased by 5-10 kilometers per hour, and according to the measurements of engineers, the gas response is now noticeably better than on the previous car.
For an active ride, it is better to choose a version with a motor 2.4 a two-liter unit will suit quite fuxed drivers
We tested the car in the Nizhny Novgorod region. On the roads there are yams, then the waves of asphalt, changing with holes in a word, any test site will be visible. Outlander feels like in his native element. The elastic suspension does not give the body too much, but the inevitable pits meet the collected. Japanese and here worked well. An additional subframe is installed in the front suspension, and the strut is removed between the shock absorbers cups. In the rear suspension, Elastokinematics changed and put new longitudinal levers, which, as the Japanese declare, improved the smoothness of the course, but otherwise it remained unchanged.
In 4WD AUTO mode, the rear-wheel drive is turned on, but the moment can be transferred by the electronics of the electronics from the front to the back axis widely, and in 4WD Lock, the thrust is distributed between the two axes equally.
Running on the village, I had to deal with the new modes of the new full drive instead of the same coupling on Outlander now installed updated. At first, the car coped in 4WD Auto Eco, but on slippery lines I had to quickly switch to Auto or 4WD Lock modes. In them, the four-wheel drive works very quickly, without waiting for the slippage of the front wheels. The fact is that Outlander got the sensor system (as Japanese say) from Lancer Evolution. Now the car takes into account not only the knobs of the front wheels, but also the current engine speed, information from the ABS sensors about the longitudinal and transverse acceleration and even unfolding the moment, and independently selects the operation mode of the full drive system.
A little improving the geometric patency Outlander was able to officially obtain the status of an SUV, the truth is real mud after that he never became
Moving on the rolling rut along the forest, our car, and it went to huge puddles, but, even despite this, the front bumper remained intact degree of geometric pathidity. With a new variator, dosing the effort required to take the lifting of the latitude is simpler than before. Yes, and on the risky soil, add a little bit of speeds to pass the site with a move from the first time, also does not cause any difficulties.
The Japanese managed to create a good tool for light off-road. The four-wheel drive reacts to any change in the coating almost instantly, and the variator does not allow breaking the wheels into the slip or shrink in the sand: Outlander gives it all as many torque as you need, and the car takes all the commands very adequately.
But did he become a real SUV? No.
A good declared clearance of 215 millimeters is easy to reduce, putting into the car three passengers and downloading them to tell
Short sinks in front and rear and good angles of entry, of course, added a little pavement, but on the way of a large off-road future there are two significant problems.
Most of the test machines were not loaded and their road lumen in 215 millimeters was enough even in deep kolas left by forest marks. Our Outlander drove a bunch of bags and four more people, a very large set. In those places where it was impossible to avoid a gauge, a test Outlander desperately scratched the bottom of the bottom on the ground. As a result, the silencer jumped from his mounts.
The second problem lies in the imperfection of the full drive system. Outlander has a forced blocking of the coupling, activating which, you can confidently move on a relatively smooth, albeit slippery, surfaces. But it is worth diagonally to hang two wheels like Outlander turns into real estate. In many crossovers (and SUVs), the pavement wheels slow down the electronics, imitating the operation of the interchellers' differential locks, but for some reason it is not done in Outlander. It is strange that with such a scrupulous work carried out over the car, the Japanese forgot about such an important function for the present SUV. And after all, this mistake can not be fixed so much and it is only difficult to reconfigure the stabilization system algorithm
The total power of electric motors is 120 kilowatt, and on clean electricity, a car can drive 50 kilometers. With the help of a gasoline motor, the stroke step will increase to 800 kilometers. Then it will be necessary either to connect to the outlet, or simply fill the fuel. In Russia, he may be sold from next year.
But despite the complete alteration, the Japanese managed to keep prices on Outlander almost at the same level as before. If the price of some configuration and has grown, then only due to the extended equipment list. True, the most accessible version for 969 thousand rubles should not be able to qualify for the SUV title, since only the front-wheel drive received. A double-liter Outlander with a variator is also available with a full drive in three trim sets: Invite, Intense and Instyle from 1,099,000 rubles to 1,249,000 rubles. A fully packaged car with a navigation system, rear view camera, leather interior and automatic closure of the rear door will cost 1,419,000 rubles. A year later, a version with a manual transmission should appear, the possibility of selling in the Russian Federation modifications with a V6 motor and even rechargeable hybrid.
Creating a new Outlander, Mitsubishi engineers clearly demonstrated the qualities and skills that are so lacking by Vazov specialists. The Japanese has unconditional talent to improve indefinitely that they have now, despite all the difficulties. They proved that they carefully relate to their customers and their new SUV certainly deserves respect. Although he is not quite a new and not quite an SUV.
Pseudo-Radai
In the transmissions of the new Outlander there was a special algorithm - L, imitating lower transmission. However, no additional dispandate of the crossover is not: Redechaika variator only imitates, trying to pick a gear ratio to ensure maximum thrust.
4WD in a new way
In fact, the Japanese abandoned the regime with a pure monather, putting the 4WD Auto Eco algorithm instead. In this mode, the coupling is blocked by 10 percent at the start and when driving on slippery roads, the drive, in general, still remains.
Soon and hybrid
The hybrid version of Outlander is called PHEV or an electric vehicle with an enlarged stroke. It is clear from the name that the car can not only recharge the batteries on the go using the engine power or recuperative energy when braking, but also to fully charge the batteries from the network while it is in the parking lot. Two electric motors stand on each axis, and the cardan shaft and the disduction between them are not, so help from a gasoline engine can come only on the front axle.
Alternative
Hyundai Santa Fe is just with the podium of the Moscow Motor Show. The novelty is offered in five and seminal variant with two gasoline 2.4 engines and diesel 2.2, and the motor on heavy fuel is more powerful. The prices for the Korean novelty will start from 1,29,000 rubles for all-wheel drive modification with a gasoline engine, and the most expensive equipment with a diesel engine costs 1,840,000 rubles.
Opel Antara, which quite recently received an excellent appearance, sold from us in three versions. The most affordable ENJOY equipment for 1,020,000 is equipped with almost everything necessary including all ESP and climate control. And in the more expensive configuration Cosmo, in addition to leather and xenon headlights, there are two options two-liter motor (from 1,215,000 rubles) or a powerful V6 (from 1,258,000 rubles).
Toyota RAV4 is a permanent leader among crossovers. Especially among the wonderful sex buyers. In our RAV4 market is available with motors 2.0 and 2.4: for 967,000 front-wheel drive with manual gearbox. For 1,104,000 rubles, the all-wheel drive two-liter crossover with a variator. And for 1,336,000 you can buy a car with an engine 2.4 and a machine gun.
A source: Motor magazine [September 2012]
