Quick Take: 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander
During WAJ Media Days in Half Moon Bay, we managed to get a first drive of the significantly updated 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander, one of the world's most popular compact SUVs. With a standard third-row seat, an upscale interior, and a large amount of standard equipment, the Outlander is tailored for appealing to growing families. As we have been long been looking forward to the redesigned Outlander, we got behind the wheel to garner some impressions and discover how driver- and family-friendly it is.
We drove the Outlander up and down Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay and enjoyed the high seating position as well as the upscale interior (with quilted leather!) of the SEL trim level test vehicle we had. Features we really liked included the MI-PILOT adaptive cruise control which helped in stop-and-go traffic, the 12.3-inch digital driver display in the gauge cluster, power lumbar support for the driver’s seat, 10-speaker Bose sound system, and the 10.8-inch head-up display.
Our Outlander SEL 2.5 S-AWC also had a panoramic sunroof which made the interior feel even more airy and a 9-inch screen for the infotainment system which provided for intuitive navigation. The SEL trim level also comes with heated front and rear seats along with a hands-free power liftgate. Furthermore, the standard third-row seat doesn’t take up a substantial amount of cargo room; however, the seat is best for children as adults may find it too cramped.
Pickup from the 181-horsepower 4-cylinder engine and 8-speed automatic transmission was good and could easily maintain healthy speeds on the highway while returning very good fuel economy for an all-wheel-drive 7-passenger vehicle, being rated at 24 miles per gallon in the city, 30 on the highway, and 26 MPG combined.
Overall, Mitsubishi has provided a very competitive SUV with the 2022 Outlander, with features that wouldn’t be out of place on much more expensive vehicles and a refinement which many compact SUV shoppers will appreciate. We think the Outlander should and will find its way to many short lists due its mix of high-tech features, driving comfort, and wonderful interior.
