Fewer features, higher price for updated Outlander

MITSUBISHI has made modest specification and pricing changes to its popular Outlander SUV range as the brand continues to be impacted by what it says are ongoing supply constraints and increasing material, manufacturing and logistical costs.

In introducing its MY22.5 Outlander line-up, the importer adjusted the standard specification levels of certain variants saying the decision will optimise production and minimise supply delays for its SUV customers.

“The all-new Mitsubishi Outlander remains the best-equipped vehicle we have ever sold in Australia, boasting a newly developed platform and powertrain, bold and distinctive exterior styling and a refined interior with high-end finishes,” Mitsubishi Australia CEO Shaun Westcott said.

Exceed and Exceed Tourer variants face a price increase of $500 and $1000 respectively and now retail from $48,490 and $50,990 plus on-road costs. Specifications for the pair are unchanged.  

Entry-grade Outlander ES variants now feature power window one-touch up and down on the driver’s window only while Outlander LS variants lose their powered tailgate. Pricing for both variants is unchanged, still from $34,490 and $37,990 plus on-road costs respectively.

In the middle of the range, we find the Outlander Aspire loses its full-digital driver display in favour of a smaller 7.0-inch multi-information display. The variant is still priced from $41,490 plus on-road costs.

“These changes to 22.5 model-year Outlander specification ensure Mitsubishi Motors Australia can secure timely production in these popular grades for our dealer network and customers,” Mr Westcott added.

The MY22.5 Mitsubishi Outlander range retains the five-star ANCAP safety rating issued to 2022 models.

Updated petrol-powered Outlander variants are expected in local showrooms from April, just ahead of the arrival of the revamped plug-in hybrid (PHEV) range.

Due in Australia from mid-year, the highly anticipated Outlander PHEV range promises significantly increased range over the outgoing line-up, the new drivetrain offering between 83 and 87km of all-electric driving range, up from 54km in the outgoing model.

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) says local pricing and specifications for the Outlander PHEV will be revealed closer to the model’s local launch, however GoAuto understands that an increase of up to 40 per cent in the performance of the Outlander PHEV is expected, in part due to more efficient electric motors and a larger 20kWh battery (up from 13.8kWh).

A carryover internal combustion engine, the 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol unit from the preceding model, soldiers on for the latest PHEV update.

That engine produces 98kW/195Nm (+4kW/-4Nm) and is paired to a duo of electric motors making 85kW/255Nm (+25kW/+118Nm) at the front and 100kW/195Nm (+30kW/unchanged) at the rear.

Mitsubishi says the upgraded front electric motor benefits from a ‘booster’ function as part of numerous drive modes available in the new model: Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Power and Eco. A one-pedal driving mode is also available, like that which debuted in the current Nissan LEAF.

Petrol range is increased due to the inclusion of a larger petrol tank (capacity not supplied), while the brand’s Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) adopts Active Yaw Control (AYC) for the rear axle to better split the torque between the axles as required and torque vectoring by brake (TVBB) is also included to split drive from left to right.

The Outlander PHEV is produced as a five- or seven-seater, rides on 20-inch wheels and is available with a two-tone paint scheme.

It is also fitted with Mitsubishi’s latest MI-PILOT7 safety and driver assistance suite, which includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping and following assistance, traffic sign detection, blind-spot assistance, forward and rearward autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert and driver fatigue monitoring.

The system is also capable of using map data to automatically adjust vehicle speed for corners and “other circumstances on expressways” while automatically starting after the vehicle in front has moved on from standstill within 30 seconds.

Further, the Mitsubishi Connect smartphone app enables owners to check on the vehicle’s remaining range remotely, set charging times and locate it when parked.

Mitsubishi added the original Outlander PHEV to its line-up in 2013 and says the electrified medium SUV had since sold more than 270,000 around the world by the end of 2020.

Both petrol and petrol-electric versions of the fourth-generation Outlander share their underpinnings with Nissan’s CMF-CD architecture, which also forms the basis of the new Nissan X-TRAIL.

The Mitsubishi Outlander is currently one of the best-selling Medium SUVs in the sub $60,000 category. Year-to-date sales figures show the model ranks in fourth place locally with 1352 units sales (or an 11.0% segment share). It is topped by the Mazda CX-5 (3213 units / 26.1%), Subaru Forester (1480 units / 12.0%), and Toyota RAV4 (1425 units / 11.6%).

2022 Mitsubishi Outlander pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.