When you need an SUV, you will find a dizzying array of options. Typing into the search bar “used car dealership near me” will yield the potential for any number of choices, and no doubt every single one will offer a plethora of SUVs on the lot. Which one to choose? If you haven’t thought about the Mitsubishi Outlander, perhaps this can clear up the fog a bit. It might be time to consider the used Mitsubishi value you could find at a dealership near you, and you could snag yourself a great deal.
Mitsubishi Outlander Overview
Going back to 2014, the Mitsubishi Outlander has been given credit for having rewarding features like fuel economy, the best CVT (continuous variable transmission) on the market, and a great ten-year warranty on the powertrain when purchasing new. Over the last six years, the Outlander has added great safety features, an impressive audio system, and has room for seven. When seeking true value, the Outlander tends to be priced on the lower end of the SUV spectrum, which means purchasing used will most likely offer up a lower price than other SUV competitors.
For buyers seeking that lower price, fuel economy, and safety, the Outlander is a great fit. This vehicle is considered compact for its class, which means lighter and less space than other three-row SUVs, but you can expect to be able to drive this car-based SUV for a long time with a powertrain that should last up to 200,000 miles. If you are looking for sporty, this is not your SUV, but it will serve as a great family car that rides well on the highway, offers light duty for towing with the standard 4-cylinder engine, and has the advantage of a lesser footprint for city drivers who still need enough room for either more passengers, or who need to lug more stuff in the cargo area.
In all honesty, the Outlander has been dinged for the third-row seat being very cramped, but this is a problem most third-row seats in SUVs experience. Few of the seats in this nose-bleed section of any vehicle are made for adults, so if you plan to transport kids, you will most likely find this works fine. The lack of sportiness has also been criticized, and yet it handles well off-road and in the snow thanks to its all-wheel drive system, which has a number of settings to adjust to changing road conditions. Isn’t that why you buy an SUV? To be able to drive through weather and rough road conditions? If that’s part of your goal, then the Mitsubishi Outlander may be exactly what you need.
Powertrain and Engines
Going back to the 2014 models, the Outlander comes standard with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with a CVT that is rated one of the best on the market. Reviews point to the CVT as being excellent at utilizing fuel to keep it one of the best in its class for economy and is smooth at transitioning from starting and stopping when at rest. With the 4-cylinder engine, you get towing power up to 1,500 pounds. An option for the 3.0-liter V6 engine is only available on the GT trim level, and for those in need of more towing power, this engine can lug up to 3,000 pounds in earlier years and increases to 3,500 in more recent models.
The base model ES in 2014-16 only comes as front-wheel drive, while the mid-level model SE has the option of either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The GT, which is the most expensive trim level, is only available as all-wheel drive. In 2017, the option for upgrading to all-wheel drive was added for all trim levels. Gas mileage for the front-wheel drive 4-cylinder engine will fall into the range of 25 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway, which is above competitors. All-wheel drive for the same engine will come in at 24 MPG in the city and 29 MPG in the highway, and the V6 brings up the rear at 20 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway.
The best news? Even when you buy used, some of the original powertrain warranty will transfer. You can enjoy a 5-year, 60,000-mile warranty on a used vehicle if you get an Outlander lightly driven. Ask your dealership what other warranties may still apply.
Interior Features
The Outlander, in its third generation, added the third row of seats to accommodate more passengers while still offering a comfortable ride. Front row seats offer generous legroom, as do the second-row seats, which can slide front to back. Third-row seating will accommodate kids best, though the sliding second-row seats may serve to allow for more space in the back. Cargo space with all seats folded down is 63.3 cubic feet, and with the third row folded down is 34.2 cubic feet.
All models in 2014-15 will come standard with hill start assist, tilting/telescoping steering wheel, steering wheel controls, rear parking sensor, traction and stability control, child seat anchors, a 12-volt power outlet, hands-free phone, cruise control, navigation system, voice recognition, remote engine start, remote keyless entry, real-time traffic information, USB port, an MP3 and CD player, and cloth seats. The Outlander has been extended accolades for being generous when it comes to technology and safety features compared with competitors with higher price tags.
In 2016-17 models, Mitsubishi refreshed the styling to gain a quieter cabin and more upscale feel, along with a new flip-and-fold second-row seat. Bluetooth, dual climate control, rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, and push-button start come standard on all models. 2018 adds on a 7-inch touchscreen as standard to all models, and two more trim levels with an option for the hybrid PHEV. The hybrid only comes as a five-passenger, two-row seating arrangement due to the need for housing the battery.
Bumping up to the second trim level for any year will add more driver-assisted safety features and options for more technology. In newer Outlanders you may find the added option for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto (2017+) and cozy additions like heated seats. Some models could also have the option of the sunroof, power tailgate, paddle shifting, or rain-sensing wipers, among many other exciting features to make driving safer, easier, and more comfortable.
Exterior Features
Mitsubishi chose to take the SUV down a notch by lowering the height of the Outlander, which gives it more of a station wagon or car-like appearance and feel. The edges of the 2014 styling were softened to bring down fuel consumption, but then the restyling of the 2016 models brought back a slightly more sporty appearance again. All the way back to 2014, the Outlander came standard on base models with rear privacy glass, roof rails, and fog lights, features which are considered extras on many competitors. In 2016, the Outlander gets back to standing out with the addition of the rear spoiler and alloy wheels, the styling of which it keeps through the remaining years.
Safety
The Mitsubishi Outlander has been awarded an overall rating of five out of five stars in overall crash testing, and every model comes standard with airbags in front, side, and curtain areas of the vehicle. Mid to upper-tier trim levels have added driver-assist technology features, which could be added options when you look through used models, going all the way back to 2014. Lane-departure warning and forward-collision mitigation could be added options in 2014 models above the base trim, and in 2018 models, the rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot warning were added.
The used Mitsubishi SUV value is clear if you need a family vehicle ready to handle the weather or rough roads. What you gain in safety, technology, and fuel economy are evident if you are seeking a used SUV with those values in place. The fact that Mitsubishi is seen as a lesser competitor on the SUV scene will work in the used car buyer’s favor, as you will pay less for a vehicle which still retains the value of a great warranty and the knowledge that your engine has the potential for 200,000 miles of life or more. Give the Outlander a test drive to decide. This could be your next ride!
