2003 Mitsubishi Outlander

It was one of those weeks when I could never remember what I was driving. ’It’s an uh, um … Outback…no, wait, that’s Subaru. It’s a Mitsubishi, I know that … oh um, it’s an Out…Out…Outlander! Yes, that’s it. Blame it partly on middle age, mostly on having to remember one more compact sport utility vehicle with a big, outdoorsy name. No offense to Mitsubishi, who can hardly be blamed for wanting a piece of this hot compact class. It’s just that the party is getting awfully crowded and latecomers are at a distinct disadvantage against those who have already staked out the best seats.

The Good News
The reasons most people choose compact sport utilities are they like the ride height, the foul-weather capabilities and the extra cargo convenience. Most of them want carlike ride and handling and demand a reasonable price. The Outlander hits all those points right on. Like the popular Toyota RAV4 and several others compact sport utes, the Outlander is based on a car, in this case the Lancer. It comes in both two-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive and two trim levels. I tested an uplevel XLS with two-wheel drive.

It’s the ride and handling I admire most about this Outlander. A particularly stiff structure, good suspension and nicely weighted steering make it responsive around curves. But passengers aren’t subjected to the ol’ toss-and-roll we get in other SUVs. It’s a very settled, solid ride. Add to that comfortable cabin dimensions with good headroom and legroom and extra supportive seats, and you have a very rider-friendly Outlander all around.

There is only one powertrain offered, a 2.4-liter single overhead cam 16-valve 4-cylinder mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission. It produces 140 horses at 5,000 rpm, 157 lb-ft of torque at a low 2,500 rpm. The latter gives the Outlander its around-town pep, which is where it does the best. The power-to-weight ratio presents some challenges here, especially on heavier AWD models. But even in my 2WD Outlander, I found long, steep hills required some flogging. Ditto for interstate on-ramps and other gutsy maneuvers. But it’s a gem to drive from Blockbuster to the mall.

Mitsubishi gives the Outlander XLS a luxury load of comfort/convenience goodies to flaunt and an interesting outfit to wear to this party. It’s somewhere between a wagon and a sport utility: sedately sporty, if you will. The front end is its most distinctive angle, although it’s slightly reminiscent of some past Pontiac. The clear lens taillamps are also a nice touch. But there’s certainly nothing outlandish about this Outlander’s looks. In this day and class, that can be a drawback.

The Bad News
Having already picked on its power challenges and non-descript looks under “good news,” I have only to voice my disappointment with the cargo space. At 24 cubic feet with rear seats up, 60 with them down, the Outlander doesn’t rank very well among its competitors. And this is an important consideration for many sport utility buyers.

Complicating the cargo situation is the Outlander’s multilink rear suspension, which takes up a lot of room and forces the rear cargo floor up to knee height. While Mitsubishi tries to sell this as a positive for easier load-in, the fact remains that any load at all quickly obscures rear visibility.

There is a compartmented, in-floor rear cargo area storage bin, but it’s only a couple of inches deep – perfect for hauling individual, relatively flat picnic items, sorting your Olympic pin collection or some other miniscule endeavor.

Gas mileage
EPA rated at 21 mpg city/26 highway

Price
Manufacturer’s base, $19,490;
Price as tested, $23,170

Is it worth it?
The price here reflects optional packages that add power sunroof, high-end audio, leather and heated seating, dual front side airbags and a few other goodies. As I said, this Outlander is extraordinarily well turned out.

And, with that in mind, the price compares evenly to others in its class. It may not beat the competition in great acceleration, off-road aspirations, cargo room or radically distinctive looks, but the Outlander doesn’t embarrass itself either. It deserves a chance and, when given one, proves likeable. Even if I have trouble remembering its name.

Beth Stein is a life-long car buff and free-lance journalist living in Nashville. She has reviewed new vehicles in print for 12 years as a weekly columnist for Nashville’s daily newspapers and on television for Road Test Magazine and Motor Trend Television. Currently, her reviews appear nationally on Car And Driver Television.