Mitsubishi Outlander : The Foreigner that wants to make a mark in Malaysia

Introduction

While Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia may have recently introduced the locally-assembled Outlander 2.0 here, the model is not exactly new, as this particular generation has been around since 2012. A massive facelift was introduced in 2015, giving us the Outlander we’re used to seeing here.

The name outlander is defined as a foreigner or a stranger. Indeed Mitsubishi is deemed as a foreign brand in Malaysia due to the lack of advertising and marketing to establish the brand as renown brand in the hearts of Malaysians.

Specifications for Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0 4WD

· Engine: 2.0-litre, Inline-four cylinder, transverse, naturally-aspirated

· Power: 145 PS @ 6,000 rpm

· Torque: 196 Nm @ 4,200 rpm

· Transmission: CVT-type automatic, four-wheel drive

· Safety: Seven airbags, ABS, Active Stability Control (ASC), Traction Control (TC), Hill-Start Assist (HSA), ABS with EBD, Brake Assist (BA), Rest Reminder, ISOFIX anchor points

· Price: RM 137,888 without insurance

· Assembly: Locally-assembled in Segambut

Exterior of the Outlander

The Outlander 2.0 you see here is finished in a shade of dark purple called Ruby Black. No, it isn’t a true black, and under the right lighting conditions, the Outlander appears purple. This colour is exclusive to the Malaysian market, as this colour can only be had with the plug-in hybrid variant which isn’t available here.

Compared to the rest of its core rivals, the Outlander does not look as outlandish, opting instead for a more subdued design that we reckon would age better over time.

Interior of the Outlander

Moving inside, you’ll notice that the Outlander’s interior was built with simplicity in mind. There are no fancy rotary dials or a large centre arm rest to be found here. Every button and switch is laid out in a logical and easy-to-reach position.

The infotainment system features a Kenwood head unit with a 7-inch capacitive touch screen with Apple CarPlay support. While the overall design of the head unit is easy and convenient to use simple, it is quite obvious that it is looks like an after-market solution, rather than a factory-installed unit.

One of the major downside of the Outlander are the front air-conditioning vents. In an effort to make the dashboard driver-centric, the centre and driver's side air vents are angled towards the driver, making it unbearably cold on longer drives.

To make matters worse, occupants sitting in the second and third row are likely to suffer from the scorching heat especially during the afternoon when the sun is shining at its brightest.This is mainly 

because there are no vents or blowers in the rear.

Will the Outlander be able to handle Malaysian roads with ease?

For starters the 2.0-litre 4B11 four-cylinder engine may not be earth-shattering in terms of output figures, but it does its job just fine. Acceleration is smooth and brisk, thanks to the seamless shifting CVT-type automatic transmission.

Punch the throttle to the floorboard however, the CVT's characteristic will become apparent.

Mitsubishi has also done a great job with the sound insulation on the Outlander, as when cruising along at highway speeds we did not notice much droning when cruising on highways, which makes driving long distances in the Outlander.

Furthermore, when compared to its rival the CR-V, the Outlander's cabin was significantly quieter, even when cruising at highway speeds of 110km/h. This came as a surprise because one would assume that the CR-V would haven been able to deliver a more comfortable ride when cruising at highway speeds.

Newton’s law holds true, “what goes up must come down”. While the outlander triumphs on sound insulation at highway speeds it falls short dynamically at handling. It is quite a letdown to know that the Outlander's steering doesn't feel as sharp as either the five-seater CR-V or CX-5, despite being sufficiently weighted.

The turning radius of the Outlander does not disappoint as it feels rather tight for an SUV of its stature, which aids driving in the city. The tight turning radius made it much easier to navigate up multi-storey car parks.

Fuel Consumption of the Outlander

With a vehicles of its stature, one would assume that the outlander would not be a vehicle with good fuel economy. However the Outlander doesn’t disappoint. Amidst the fact that it was push to its limits from time to time on the highway it was still able to return a decent fuel economy of 8.5-litre/100 km. However, when driving in parts of the golden triangle of Kuala Lumpur, the Outlander can be rather thirsty, averaging around 12-litre/100 km.

Summary

It is safe to assume that the Outlander is a rather underrated product from Mitsubishi.

With that said, we still believe that the Outlander is an excellent choice for potential buyers who which to travel in style while arrive safely from time to time. This is mainly because you'll be hard pressed another seven-seater SUV that offers seven airbags at this price point.

Despite its shortcomings, the Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0 is still a solid option, offering a well-built interior, ample safety equipment, and great ride comfort all of wrapped into the excellent Mitsubishi after-sales experience.

For detailed review of the Outlander, kindly click on the video below. Credits to Kon Wai Luen for reviewing the 2.0 Outlander.

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0 CKD Review