When we talk
about Japanese cars most people think of Toyota and Honda, but the fact is that
Mitsubishi started making cars in 1917. And it was the first company building mass-produced
automobiles in Japanese history. They
even had an electric car back 1970. So with over a hundred years of building
quality cars I am always surprised that many people are not familiar with the
nameplate. Perhaps is has to do with marketing the brand, which is
understandable, not everyone abroad knows the American consumer mindset. Through the years I have seen many good cars from
the brand and the latest flagship seems to be one of the best.
The
Mitsubishi Outlander is a great midsize SUV that can appeal to families or
active singles as well. It has a newly developed platform and power train, very
distinctive exterior styling and a luxury car interior. It is a midsize SUV and
is the only standard third-row seating and places a premium on comfort
and convenience with class-above materials in every trim. I was very surprised
with the ample and comfortable cabin. It
has a 12.3-inch, full color LCD digital driver display which brings this Mitsubishi to be on par with the rest of the
offerings in the segment. There is
another center screen where most of the accessories
and controls are for the gps, a/c, audio and more. It also comes as a PHEV
(Plug-in Electric Vehicle), and this is my favorite model. You can drive 100% "clean" for
about 22-25 miles, so in LA traffic you are not suing any gasoline. The newest
version has an improved power train that
has a bigger and more efficient battery. The rear axle electric motor is a
powerful 70KW unit, and that is big for the car. There is a switch that lets
you change the modes of the all wheel drive system so you can traverse over any
surfaces without troubles.
Sitting on the driver seat you have easy access to the
screen, thus using the nav or apps is easy. I also like the 10.8-inch
full-color head-up display (HUD) with all the driving info reflected on the
windshield. I found the rotating gauges in front of me
something different that i have never seen before. The Outlander comes with Apple CarPlay®3 (wireless on SE and above) and
Android AutoTM4 (wired)
integration standard. There is SiriusXM® compatibility, wireless smart phone
charging, and Mitsubishi Connect with Safeguard and Remote Services with a
24-month free trial. Mitsubishi Connect is also available on models with the
8-inch SDA center touch screen. The audio was adequate, but there is an optional
10-speaker BOSE®5 audio system
if you need it.
Because it is a PHEV the Outlander PHEV is eligible for additional
federal tax incentives. Outlander PHEV is now eligible for $6,587 in federal
tax credits, an increase of $751 compared to the 2020 model year. In California it may be eligible to receive an additional $1,000 clean
air vehicle credit through the California Air Resources Board (CARB) through
it's Clean Vehicle Rebate Program (CVRP). Please check with the dealer about
all the incentives that apply.
On the road the Outlander is quiet and the only thing I
found is that the steering is pretty sensitive to your touch. The ride on par
with anything else in the market.
I drive a lot of cars, and this Mitsubishi I found very
practical and well equiped. Priced in the mid $30's is it something to keep in
mind, specially as a family car. You will be getting a lot for the money. Mitsubishi
has been around a lot longer than most car makers today, there has to be a good
reason for it.