Mitsubishi
Outlander
LS AWD
Price (MRLP)
$43,240
It’s not the cheapest model in the Outlander line-up, or the cheapest in the segment. But offers everything you need and maybe a bit more, making this one of the smartest picks within the popular mid-sized SUV market.
The Good:
Interior space
Value for money
Solid driving experience
The Not So Good:
Engine could do with more power
Steering can feel a bit heavy
Suspension is on the firm side
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander LS AWD
For a 2-week road-trip around the South Island of New Zealand, my partner and I needed something comfortable, spacious, and good to drive. We settled on a Mitsubishi Outlander, a natural choice considering the number of awards the current model has won since it was launched in 2022.
Standards were set high from the moment I got the keys.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so say what you will about the Outlander’s bold take on Mitsubishi’s current design language, but I quite like it. At first, I did not, as I thought the front end was too bulgy and the rear lights too slim. It grew on me after a while. I did like the boxy-ness of it, which gave it a more rugged and tough look than its predecessor.
But is there substance underneath the style?
How Much Does it Cost?
The model we’d spend the next 2 weeks with was a New-Zealand spec 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander LS 4WD.
The LS is the second tier in the Outlander line-up. In Australia, pricing for the Outlander starts from $37,240 plus on-roads for the base ES FWD, with this LS model priced at $43,240 plus on-roads. If you don’t need 4WD, the FWD LS starts from $40,240 plus on-roads.
This particular car came with the optional “Sterling Silver” metallic paint, an option that costs $740. With that, a private buyer in New South Wales is looking at a drive-away price of $48,300.
Not really the bargain SUV it once was, but the Outlander is priced similarly to its rivals.
How Much Space Does it Have?
As this is a New Zealand-spec LS 5-seater, we didn’t have a third row of seats to play with. In Australia, the LS AWD is a 7-seater, but the third row is tight, and even Mitsubishi admit it’s more of a 5+2 rather than a proper 7-seater.
You’ll find that there is plenty of space in the second row though. I’m 185cm tall and I had plenty of room behind my own driver’s seat. Head room was good, as was knee and toe room as the seats in front were raised slightly. Shoulder room was good too, and while we didn’t carry 3 adults in the back, given the boxy shape of the cabin, I would imagine 3 adults could sit side-by-side, probably not for long journeys though.
The middle seat folds down and acts as an armrest for rear passengers which houses 2 cup holders. A pair of air-vents, bottle holders and map pockets round-out rear seat amenities.
The whole interior is a step-up from the previous generation. The design is more contemporary, if a little generic mid-size SUV.
The seats in this model grade are trimmed in a cloth material and are manually adjustable. The driver’s got height adjustment and electronic lumbar support which is nice. In terms of space up-front, there was plenty for both driver and passenger.
The cabin feels solidly built and material quality is excellent. Soft-touch plastics adorn the top of the dash and doors. The stitched material panels across the dash and metallic finishes on some of the switch gear make the Outlander feel a little classy too. However, the gloss black plastic on the centre console was prone to scratching though.
Search lower down in the cabin and you’ll find hard, scratchy plastics, but that’s no different to the Outlander’s rivals. And honestly, considering how muddy our shoes got, I appreciate how easy it is to wipe down those surfaces.
The boot in this 5-seater was is 485L with both rows up. It’s a respectable size and big enough for 2 large suitcases and a couple of smaller bags. However, some rivals such as the Toyota Rav4 and Kia Sportage offer a bit more room.
What is the Infotainment like?
The infotainment system can be accessed through a 9-inch touchscreen. The system itself is derived from the one found in the related Nissan X-Trail. The LS gets satellite navigation, digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto.
The system itself is simple and easy to use, though the layout could be better. There are physical dials on either side of the screen and a row of shortcut buttons which make using the system on the move much easier than the touchscreen only systems found in some rivals. There are buttons on the steering wheel that, once you familiarise yourself with the layout, allow you to control basic functions without taking your eyes of the road. There is also a voice control function that worked surprisingly well.
My partner and I were both Android users on this trip, so we didn’t get a chance to try out Apple CarPlay. However, Android Auto worked well with only occasional connection issues. When using Google Maps to navigate, it doesn't display directions on the 7-inch display in the dashboard. However, it does when using the inbuilt satellite navigation system. The 7-inch display is not as impressive as the full 12-inch digital dash available on the higher grades, but it’s still a good feature.
Sitting below the infotainment screen are a set of knobs and a bunch of buttons for the dual-zone climate control. Thankfully, unlike some of the Outlander’s rivals, Mitsubishi has kept the air-con controls separate instead of integrating them into the touchscreen meaning it was super easy to make changes whilst on the move.
The centre console is uncluttered, with USB-A and USB-C ports, 12v socket, space for a phone, 2 generously sized cup-holders, the shift-by-wire gear selector, a rotary dial for the drive modes, and the button for the electronic handbrake.
Is it Safe?
Crash tested in 2022 by ANCAP, the Outlander range scored a full five-stars for safety.
It scored 83 percent and 92 percent for adult and child occupants respectively. Active safety technology scored 83 per cent, while vulnerable road users got a protection rating of 81 per cent.
Despite being one of the more affordable models, the LS is equipped with nearly all the safety systems Mitsubishi has to offer. The car came with autonomous emergency braking for both forward and reverse, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rear-cross traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist and lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, driver attention alert and a reversing camera.
It misses out on the 360-degree cameras and the more advanced adaptive cruise control system found in more expensive models.
How Much does it Cost to Run?
Like most manufacturers, Mitsubishi offers a capped-price servicing system. Three years costs $947, Five years costs $1495, and the maximum Ten years costs $4340.
Standard warranty is offered up to five years and 100,000km and doubles to ten years and 200,000km if servicing is carried out through Mitsubishi’s dealership network.
While insurance costs vary depending on demographic and personal factors, a quote for this Outlander ranged between $1603.43 to $2767.01 for a 27-year-old male driver living in Mortdale, NSW.
Mitsubishi claim that the Outlander LS can achieve a fuel consumption figure of 8.1L/100km. During our time we averaged 9.4L/100km, which isn’t too bad considering the consistent use of the heater and the mountainous roads the car was driven on. Around town in heavy traffic figures got as high as 12.3L/100km, dropping to 6.5L/100km during long stretches of flat, open highway.
How Does it Drive?
The driving experience is best described as solid.
The steering is a bit heavy which can be a tiresome in tight urban roads. But manoeuvring this mid-size SUV is still quite easy. The squared-off styling and large glass area makes identifying the corners of the car easy which helps in urban and tight roads.
There is little body-roll in the corners, unless you’re really pushing it, thanks in part to the firm suspension. It’s not overly firm, but it can feel jittery and unsettled depending on the road surface.
The LS model is powered by the same 2.5 litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine found in all non-hybrid Outlander models producing 135kW of power and 244 Nm of torque. This is the same engine found in the Nissan X-Trail.
It may have required some pushing at times, but I had no issues keeping up with traffic in urban environments and it was happy enough to cruise on open highways. It’s only when you push the engine, say on a twisting mountain road for example, that the engine starts to struggle.
The CVT automatic gearbox has 8 “steps” built into it which mimics a traditional gearbox and can be controlled using the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. While CVT’s may not be to everyone’s taste, for the most part, this one matched well with the engine. It could still drone on a bit when pushed hard, however.
So, Should You Buy One?
As the consumer, choosing to buy comes down to your needs and wants.
If you’re looking for something with a bit more performance it may be worth looking elsewhere, or if you can stretch your budget the plug-in hybrid models are worth a look too.
If you want more space or 7 seats you can use, there are larger SUVs for similar money too.
However, the Outlander LS is a solid choice and one that should be on any mid-size SUV buyers’ shopping list. While the LS may not be the cheapest Outlander you can buy, it comes with all the features you need and adequate performance making it solid value for money.