Mitsubishi Outlander XL test drive since 2009 SUV

Test drive Mitsubishi Outlander XL. With a Russian accent

Ten years ago, the Mitsubishi ASX concept was presented at the Detroit car dealership, in which the features of the future serial model were clearly guessed. And so it happened, soon the audience saw the AIRTREK crossover, which in 2003 reincarnated into a European version called Outlander. The first outlanders won the reputation of cars with good handling, and turbocharged versions are still popular among fans of fast driving.

When in 2007 a novelty with the XL prefix (due to increasing dimensions) entered our market, the first generation was sold for some more time. We can say that Outlander XL brought the idea of \u200b\u200bthis car to a new level in a way as it happened with the closest competitor to Subaru Forester.

Instead of a sharp and light turbo version, the car received a three-liter V6, plus increased dimensions and mass, which provided a large (in America seven-seater) salon. All this could not but affect the dynamics and controllability. The crossover is no longer able to accelerate to hundreds in seven and a little seconds, and the maximum speed is only 200 km/h.

All metamorphoses are the obvious nod of Mitsubishi towards the more practical and pragmatic operation of the machine. And, I must say, marketers did not lose. Especially in our market. In the class of medium -sized crossovers last month, Outlander took second place for sales. Throughout his career, the car was in stable demand.

In 2007, I first tested a version with a three-liter engine ... Since then, a lot of water has flowed. Due to Outlander crisis, we have not offered us with the most powerful engine for a long time. The car also managed to endure a serious visual rebirth in early 2010. Further more. The passport of the Japanese crossover is now Russian citizenship. And finally, 2011 brought several more good news. The main version in the dealers salons is again available with a modernized six -cylinder engine.

We were able to evaluate the metamorphoses that occurred with the car during a test drive along the route Moscow Kaluga Moscow at the wheel of a 2.4-liter and 3-liter versions.

To someone like, but I like both the original Outlander XL and the option updated under the Lancer. The latest versions are clearly angrier. A gloomy gaze, a big mouth is familiar to us all. And a pleasant surprise is that the back that remained in complete integrity is surprisingly well combined with a new front -line. To the appearance of Outlander XL, it seems to me, there can be no complaints. The profile looks good, and in the arches, at home, pretty 18-inch cast discs.
First, behind the wheel of the maximum equipped version of Ultimate with a 2.4 -liter engine and a variator. The manufacturer estimates such a car at 1,379,000 rubles. For the same money, by the way, you can take a three -liter version in the configuration configuration (differences in bixenon optics, hatch, chrome elements, navigation and non -clock access system). In general, the cheapest out with front -wheel drive, five -speed mechanics and a two -liter engine can be taken for 949,000 rubles. A two -liter all -wheel drive machine with a variator is estimated at least 1,129,000 rubles. It should also be noted that only two -liter outs are still 100% of the Japanese assembly.

Inside the changes compared to the prerestyling version, there are not so many. The architecture of the salon remained unchanged. There is all the same hard plastic everywhere. However, now the interior has been ennobled due to artificial leather inserts. They are beautifully stitched with white seams. It really became more comfortable.

But to modernize the climate control unit, the Japanese did not dare to only dream of separate adjustment for front passengers. Like modern climate control tools. But minimalist and pretty. Despite some ascetic decoration, I like the salon. The landing is comfortable, almost car. The elongated front panel works for this. But you sit like in an ordinary crossover, and you see a step forward than behind the wheel of an ordinary car.

The chairs are moderately comfortable, even lateral support is significantly indicated not only by a visually profile, but also by grip when you go. The steering wheel is convenient, but its position, traditionally for the Japanese, is regulated only in height, which is not enough for a person with great growth. We have to move the chair again, the benefit is electroregulations for the driver. The compromise found on the far way pleased the fatigue after 200 km in the steering wheel, I did not feel.

Of the practical advantages, a large trunk and scope in the second row. Moreover, the tunnel is low, it is convenient to move around the cabin. I sat down behind myself, and felt very freely with a height of 190 cm. There was a small armrest with two cup holders from behind, but the ventilation output was not discovered.

The trunk in the standard offers 541 liters of volume (say thanks to the absent third row). Moreover, the fifth door is bipped. The side of the below can be thrown back and used as a loading platform or as a table during a picnic on the sidelines. On the walls of the trunk are also found the keys of fast folding of the second row One Touch. He pressed it, and a chair, like a trace -former, bent his back itself, and then it can do it completely, pressing against the seat of the first row. Beauty! True, back the whole thing is already laid out not by one or a slight touch. Girls should be prepared.

The overview of the crossover is excellent due to the classic body proportions. What is good, we are for a good old school, if it is modern and appropriate. The motor is started with a handle under a steering column, and a chip key can be left in a pocket. The voice of a 2.4-liter engine can be called neither pleasant nor nasty. Worse, in tandem with the variator, he is inclined to howl monotonously.

In order to get entertained and distracted, you can choose a manual mode with fixed gears and, becoming like a rider, delight yourself with switching, wielding elongated petals behind the steering wheel. However, these toys are quickly boring, and the selector moves back to Drive.

The car accelerates well. If you look at the passport, the 170-horsepower Outlander is slower than the V6 version in acceleration to hundreds per second with a small one (10.8 versus 9.7), and the maximum speed does not differ in catastrophically 190 versus 200 km/h. But is the 2.4-liter motor much more economical when driving a slipper on the floor will be? Big question! As a result of a trip in the route mode, we have a car with V6 won a small advantage (12.1 versus 12.4). We did not particularly stand on ceremony with the accelerator pedal.

Recall that Outlander is equipped with a full -wheel drive system on demand. This makes it possible to choose. You can only drive on the front -wheel drive, and 4x4 is turned on as desired. Full -wheel drive has two modes. The first automatic, where the rear axle is completely headed by electronics. The second 4x4 Lock, for driving on very how many and unstable coatings.

Unfortunately, the test drive did not provide for full-fledged off-road plots, and the weather was extremely dry. It was possible to grab only by primer. But in general, it can be assumed that the cross -country ability of this crossover is hardly able to stand out from a number of similar, fifty -light cars. After all, there is not even imitation of inter -long locks here.

The suspension is generally configured to good roads, but as the trip showed around the field, and on the primer it is able to inform the riders a tolerant level of comfort. It is shaking, of course, but there is no dentistry at all. And if you put 17 or 16-inch wheels, then the move will become even smoother. The energy intensity of the suspension is very good. Moreover, with an increase in speed, it has the ability to make less pits. If you are not burdened with riders in the form of old people, children and pregnant women, then you can confidently blame even a sufficiently broken road. The machine holds the trajectory, filtering the profile well. There is no swing, and the rolls are at an acceptable level.

Outlander XL rides well along the asphalt road. Almost like a car. It is convenient and pleasant to manage it. Mitsubishi sports genes are felt in the settings. Although it is obvious to me personally that even a simple 2.4-liter first-generation Outlander (ARTREK) was an order of magnitude more acute and more interesting. Not to mention Outlander Turbo. Maybe a three -liter car will make blood if you do not boil, then at least lift a degree?

A good pleasant roar of the wound V6, which immediately switches to inaudible rustling of idle rpm. The speed set is tangibly more powerful, and the understandable 6-speed automatic is more pleasant than the bore-option. This version is really more interesting! Despite the fact that in terms of numbers the dynamics differs slightly, in fact it is a different car. A full-fledged top version.

True, you will not find any sports accents here. And the front suspension seemed even slightly softer than that of a 2.4-liter version. Nevertheless, driving such a car is more pleasant. She has better sound, more than the moment, she takes much more confidently at high speed. And at least sometimes the machine is inhibited, but in general it makes the dynamics control process clearer and more pleasant.

In addition, given the difference in the price of machines with a 2.4 and 3.0 liter engine (100,000 for the configuration of Instyle), I would definitely vote for the last option. Yes, and fuel saving on a heavy four -cylinder machine will probably turn into a significant deterioration in the dynamics. After all, as our test showed, if you put pressure on the floor, she eats almost at the level of a three -liter brother.

Well, Rolf-Import did everything right. The introduction of a three -liter version probably raises customer demand and expand the capabilities of sellers. The car itself, even despite their age and some budgetary decisions, will remain in sales leaders in terms of price and consumer qualities, because trust in the Mitsubishi brand in our country is still very high. Well, to you specifically, Outlander XL, we will most likely return next year, when the full production of these machines is established in Kaluga, and not the complement of what has already been done in Japan.

Source: Drom.ru