The all-new 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander has been revealed ahead of a second half 2021 Australian launch. Sitting on a new platform shared with the new Nissan X-Trail, featuring a new engine and all-new sheetmetal, the fourth generation Outlander appears to be a big step forward for the Mitsubishi brand. But while the Outlander’s exterior follows a similar styling theme to cars such as the facelifted Eclipse Cross, the interior is unlike any Mitsubishi product before it with a new layout and more premium materials.
“Based on the product concept ’I-Fu-Do-Do’, which means authentic and majestic in Japanese, the all-new Outlander has been crafted into a reliable SUV with significantly upgraded styling, road performance, and a high-quality feel to satisfy the needs of customers who want to expand their horizons and take on challenges of every kind,” said Takao Kato, chief executive officer of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.
Stylistically, the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is a much more modern take on the brand’s ‘shield’ styling theme. Featuring an angular face with split headlights, a huge grille, a ‘floating’ roofline and long horizontal tailights, the new Outlander is a big departure on the current model.
The interior of the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is also a big departure from the current model. It features a simple and clean layout, with a lot of new tech such as a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and a 10.8-inch heads-up display. Even from the photos, the quality appears to have been greatly improved with a lot of soft touch surfaces and high-quality leather upholstery.
Centre of the new Outlander’s cabin is a new 9.0-inch touchscreen that features navigation with live traffic updates, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – it’s shared with the new X-Trail, though will likely feature Mitsubishi’s own graphics. Lower models will feature a smaller 8.0-inch screen.
Creature comforts around the cabin of the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander include USB A and USB C inputs in the first and second rows, wireless phone charging, a 10-speaker Bose sound system, tri-zone climate control, a panoramic glass sunroof, 40:20:40-split middle seats, rear window sunblinds and heated front and rear seats.
The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander has grown compared with the outgoing model. At 4,709mm long, 1,862mm wide, 1,748mm tall and with a 2,705mm long wheelbase, it’s 15mm longer, 51mm wider, 38mm taller and its wheelbase is 36mm longer than the current model. Mitsubishi is yet to quote a bootspace figure, though it’s likely to be larger than the current car’s range of between 128L (with all three rows of seats erect) to 1,608L with them all folded.
Mitsubishi is yet to confirm global engines for the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander, though for most markets a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with around 135kW of power and 245Nm of torque will be standard, alongside a CVT automatic transmission and optional all-wheel drive. No doubt hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains will feature at some point as well.
The safety credentials of the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander have also improved significantly, with up to 11 airbags (including a front centre unit) available, as well as auto emergency braking (AEB) in both forward and reverse, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, lane centre assist, traffic sign recognition, auto high beam, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and a 360-degree camera.
The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander will be launching locally in the second half of 2021, with Mitsubishi yet to confirm local pricing and specs at this stage.
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