Mitsubishi Outlander test drive since 2007 SUV

The size is larger

Mitsubishi Outlander became crowded in a teenage suit, and he tried to estimate a completely solid size. Hence the additional letters in the name.
 

The increase is noticeable immediately. In the length and height of 10 cm, the base and width increased by 5 cm and thanks to the absolutely new Outlander design, it seems even more solid. The design, according to the manufacturer, is inspired by the Dakarovsky Pajero Evo 2+2 2002. There really is something in common, especially in the front of a massive bumper with a displeased air intake mouth and an overlay for aluminum below, wide wheel arches, specially designed for Europe, the Mount Fuji radiator grille ... Beautiful headlights of the headlight of irregular shape are added to the face of an artificiality. The window sill, dropping the back of the roof, 18-inch wheels, silver door hands and the same overlay on the bottom, inform the silhouette, sharply taken up the silhouette. But most of all I liked the design of the stern. LED lights swimming on the sidewalls are incomparable. And the jumper between them with a proprietary emblem, if you look closely, repeats the profile of the front air intake. Sports notes are an unpainted bumper bottom with a double -barreled release and a rather massive spoiler on the trunk lid.
 

The XL interior is calmer, but it is quite consistent with appearance. The brightest element is two wells of tidy with an information display between them. Ventilation deflectors framed by metallized plastic, three rotating rings of climate control, switches of turn signals, wipers, gearbox lever are made without undertaking and are located in the usual places. The absence of rain and light sensors in a car of this class and in such a configuration was a little surprised, but not upset.
  

The steering wheel is three -spokes, with the Optional Stereosystem buttons Rockford Fosgate (by the way, it does not play very much) and an on -board computer. There is no departure adjustment. I love to sit low, stretching my legs, so I really missed it. But in general, the Outlander leather chair is quite convenient. Planting, of course, is not sports, like the seat itself, on the contrary, I want to fall apart impressive. A 12-volt outlet is built into the central armrest, the upper part of the spacious two-section glove box is cooled. The bad news for smokers is neither an ashtray nor a cigarette lighter. Mitsubishi for a healthy lifestyle! The assembly quality is higher than that of the predecessor, and the selection of materials from Outlander XL is better. True, plastic, as before, is hard.
 

The places inside are much larger than in the usual Outlander, with convenience, three rear passengers will also be placed. The seats of the second row with the adjustable angle of inclination of the back, in addition, it is possible to push them by 80 mm, slightly reducing the volume of the luggage compartment (from 882 to 774 liters). The backs are folded in a ratio of 60/40 by pressing the button, and then the cargo container increases to 1691 l (the previous Outlander with the folded rear row of seats contained only 1049 l). Frankly, a good trunk turns out, for example, I put a mountain bike there without any problems without removing the wheels from it. It seems to me that the second would fit! By the way, it is very easy to roll up. The back door consists of two parts, the lower, opening, reduces the loading height of up to 600 mm and is able to withstand the load up to 200 kg.
 

Outlander XL is positioned as a car for outdoor activities and is supplied to Russia with a 3-liter V6 with a capacity of 220 hp, equipped with an electronic control system for gas distribution and MIVEC valves lifting height. A powerful motor pulls well in the entire speed range. It is aggregated with a 6-speed automatic and all-wheel drive system with AWC electronic control (All Wheel Control). The box is not very quick, but 220 forces and a good torque save. The long sixth gear allows you to move at a speed of 170 km/h at 3500 rpm. True, this is only with uniform movement. Slightly pressed on the gas, you should immediately switch down, and then back. The automatic machine is quite nervous changes the transmission often and not always justified, although smoothly. One way or another, the feeling that one could do with five steps could not be left.
 

The center differential is equipped with an electronic control coupling, the moment is distributed between the axes depending on the selected transmission mode (there is a rotating disk next to the gearbox lever for the choice) and the type of coating. There are three modes: 2WD only the front axle works; 4WD Auto partially throws back in the event of a slip of the front wheels; 4WD Lock, passing back, about one and a half times more than in 4WD Auto. You can switch between modes at any speed.
 

It is worth saying that, of course, Outlander XL cannot be used as a real SUV. For example, the slightest hanging diagonally will immediately stop him, serious dirt too. However, the drive to all the wheels and the clearance of 215 mm allow you to climb to the places where the road is ordered to the regular car. The suspension (McPherson plus multi -leaf) helped me on bad roads, with 15 mm in front and 20 mm in front of the moves. But when under the wheels there is an even asphalt and I want to go quickly, everything is not so good. Mitsubishi assures that the body has become much tougher, the track has grown, a spacer was installed between the front racks, and all this should have a beneficial effect on handling. In my opinion, the previous Outlander was more fun. Although he was shaking stronger, he did not have some kind of inevitability in his suspension, like that of Outlander XL. The reactions to the steering of the steering wheel in the new model are slow and not very accurate, and feedback appears only if you load the car with a maneuver. When turning the steering wheel to small angles, the sensitivity is low. But in general, the management of a reliable, unprepared driver will not frighten anything, but will not surprise the sophisticated. In a difficult situation, the DSC dynamic stabilization systems and the distribution of EBD brake efforts will come to the rescue.
 

You can definitely say XL rides, as it looks, much more solid and confident than its predecessor. It easily flies along the highway with a cruising speed of 160170 km/h, not paying much attention to potholes. At the same time, the riders do not suffer from severe noise, the driver does not strain. In addition, you can move from asphalt to barbecue. Or drive along the shore of some lake. Or get a couple of bicycles from the trunk to call to where Outlander will not pass.
 
Prices and configuration
Mitsubishi Outlander XL can be bought with the only gasoline 6-cylinder engine 3.0 liters (220 hp) and 6-band automatic transmission. Three configurations are offered, in increasing: Intense, Instyle, Inspire. Instyle prices start from the $ 38,490 mark, on Inspire from $ 44 990. Intense includes alloy 18-inch wheels, fog lights, light sensor, on-board computer, Hands Free and climate control system. Instyle is complemented by tinted glasses, a leather interior, an electric driver's seat. In the Inspire version, an electric hatch, xenon headlights and the Rockford Fosgate Acoustic Design are added. In the fall of 2007, a new version of the Outlander XL with a 2.4 liter engine and a 6-band variator with a manual mode or a mechanical 5-speed box will appear on the Russian market.
 
   

   
 
   
 
  
 
  
 

Dmitry Krotov
 
 
 

Source: Motor magazine [May 2007]