2007 Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Outlander: Passing the Lab test

Sat, Jun 2nd 2007

VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS
type	5 door, suv - small, 4wd
msrp	$29,000
trans	automatic
gas mi.	18mpg/23mpg
rating

Mitsubishi Outlander: Passing the Lab test

When the Mitsubishi Outlander arrived, I could do nothing but nod in appreciation. It’s sleekly styled and well-sized – a little bigger than a “cute-ute” but a lot smaller than a full-sized SUV.

Impressive numbers, too. The top-end luxury package, with heated leather seats, great sound system (yeah, like the dogs care about the latter) and more, in a car priced thousands less than others offering similar — $29,000 on the tester I drove. Gas mileage isn’t bad either, EPA rated at 19 city, 26 highway.

But I had to raise an eyebrow at the name Mitsubishi gives to its glossiest black:

“Labrador Black Pearl.”

Now, that’s what I call pandering.

The Mitsubishi Outlander is a great dog car any human would enjoy driving. The cargo space is large and well-shaped, without the sloping rear that ruins it on many other SUVs. The seats flip forward to open it all up, and the door lifts easily out of the way to make loading everything easier.

Even better: The bottom of the rear gate flips down, giving dogs a good target for jumping in, or humans a good place to sit while tailgating.

The Outlander feels tight and well-made, and in four-wheel-drive it handles as close to a sports car as any SUV can. Again, performance on par with vehicles costing thousands more.

It’s one of the few dog cars I’ve driven where compromise isn’t necessary. It’s a great car, at a great price – and a lot of fun to drive.

-- Gina Spadafori

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Carguy Comments: The Outlander is the first Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) V-6 SUV in the U.S. and is available in three trim models: the basic ES, the well-equipped LS and the sport/luxury XLS. Both the LS and XLS are available with an optional electronically controlled all-wheel drive system. Cargo area behind the front seat is a hefty 72.6 cubic feet total.

Barking Lot Banter:The Mitsubishi Outlander is not the flashiest compact SUV on the market, but it has plenty to offer at a decent price. The 3.0-liter, V-6 aluminum engine produces 220 horsepower and is mated with a six-speed Sportronic automatic transmission.

-- Keith Turner, The Family Car