2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Review

The Mitsubishi Outlander is a compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) that has been in production since 2001.

The first generation (CU/ZE/ZF) was sold as Airtrek in Japan and Outlander in other markets. Production of the Airtrek ceased in 2008 and the name was dropped. The second generation (CW/ZG/ZH) was produced between 2006 and 2012. The third generation (GF/GG/ZJ/ZK/ZL) was produced from 2012 to 2020 and the fourth generation (GM/GN/ZM) from 2021 to the present.

The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander receives a number of updates and enhancements, including a new electrically adjustable lumbar seat for the driver, an available 8-inch infotainment system, and advanced safety features such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and high-beam assist that are now standard. Outlander has also re-tuned its Super All Wheel Control system for even better off-road performance.

The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander offers four engine choices;

Petrol

– 2.4-litre 4J12 MIVEC engine

– 3.0-litre 6B31 MIVEC engine

Diesel engine

– 2.2-litre 4N14 DI-D engine

Hybrid powertrain

– 2.0-litre 4B11 PHEV engine

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Grades

1. 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander ES– This is the base grade that comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, cloth seats, air conditioning, power windows and locks, six-speaker sound system and seven-seater seating.
2. 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander LS– This grade comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reversing camera, Bluetooth phone connectivity, air conditioning, cruise control, electric windows and locks and 7 seats.
3. 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS – This grade adds 18-inch alloy wheels, electric sunroof, leather upholstery, heated rear seats, blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.
4. 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander VRX – This is the top trim level and comes with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, 20-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, surround view camera system, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control.

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Interior

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Cargo Space

The 2020 Outlander has 10.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat and 34.2 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded. With the second and third row seats folded, Outlander has 63 cubic feet of available cargo space. This is enough space to meet the needs of most owners.

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Exterior

The 2020 Outlander has been redesigned and now boasts a bold and dynamic new look that hints at the future of Mitsubishi’s range design. The front end features a new Dynamic Shield grille, bumper, bonnet and fenders that create a bolder and more robust look, while new LED headlights and daytime running lights add a distinctive touch.The side profile of the 2020 Outlander has been enhanced by new grille trims with turn indicators and a new 18-inch wheel design.
At the rear, a redesigned bumper fascia with T-shaped tail lights gives the Outlander an imposing appearance on the road. The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander is also available in three new exterior colours – Sunshine Orange, Red Diamond and Oak Brown.

Safety features; 7 SRS airbags (driver, front passenger, side curtain and driver’s knee airbag), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control, Hill Start Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Automatic High Beam (AHB), Blind Spot Warning (BSW) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Lane Change Assist (LCA).

Performance

The 2020 Outlander offers a comfortable and smooth ride on the road, but feels underpowered compared to other cars in its class.The base 2.4-litre engine delivers 168 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 167 pound-feet of torque at 4,100 rpm, while the 3.0-litre V6 engine produces 224 horsepower and 215 pound-feet of torque.
The 2.0-litre engine is adequate for most driving situations, but can feel sluggish, especially when accelerating uphill. The 3.0-litre engine is more powerful and responsive, but has a lower fuel economy rating. The Outlander PHEV has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, which together produce 197 horsepower.
The 2020 Outlander handles well on tarmac, but is not as sporty as the Mazda CX5 or Toyota Rav4.It has a soft suspension that absorbs bumps well, but can also lead to body roll in corners.
It also has All-Wheel Control (AWC), a four-wheel-drive system that improves traction both on and off the road in all weather conditions. The system has three shift-on-the-fly settings: 2WD, which is used for normal everyday driving; 4WD, which sends power to all four wheels for improved traction and safety in slippery conditions; and LOCK, which is similar to 4WD but sends 60% of available power to the rear wheels for sportier handling.

Reliability

The 2020 Outlander is considered to be a reliable SUV, an improvement on its predecessors, which had average reliability.
However, like any other, the Outlander has a few problems that have been reported by owners, they include; oil leaks, hard shifting, suspension noise and electrical problems.
These problems are relatively rare and most owners will not experience them. It is advisable to have your Outlander serviced regularly by a qualified mechanic.
We also recommend that you read the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Buyer’s Guide and Owner’s Manual for more detailed information.

Verdict