The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander sells solid crossover utility with grace notes of throwback SUV style. The Outlander is the first entirely new Mitsubishi SUV in more than a decade. A seven-seat crossover with an architecture shared by the Nissan Rogue, the 2022 Outlander rivals the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, VW Tiguan, and Subaru Forester. It’s a big improvement over the old one, building on the Rogue platform and adding its own twist with solid value and safety scores.
Everything is new for 2022. Sold in ES, SE, SEL, and SEL Touring models, the latest Outlander bypasses curves for folds that recall the rugged shape of the old Montero SUV. The Outlander’s front end has a high-set grille and down the sides, it’s cut like a Crossfitter. The rear end’s banded with thin taillights that sum up the shape: tinged with vintage, but not haunted by it.
The Outlander’s new but familiar drivetrain is a 2.5-liter inline-4 rated at 181 hp, coupled to a continuously variable transmission with eight pre-programmed ratios. Front-wheel drive’s standard and all-wheel drive is available with up to six driver-selectable modes: Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud. The Outlander’s suspension is a mix of front struts and an independent multi-link rear setup.
The Outlander gets below average fuel economy for this class, with an EPA-estimated 24 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, 27 mpg combined for FWD models. AWD models come in slightly behind that at 24/30/26 mpg. On the safety front, the Outlander has standard automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, rear parking sensors, hill descent control, and trailer-sway control; options include adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and a surround-view monitor.
The 2022 Outlander is wider and roomier than before, with about an inch more leg room in the front two rows. Its more spacious interior grants the new Outlander seating for up to seven passengers, though the front seats will be the most comfortable. The Outlander is dressed and blessed with a straightforward horizontal dash design, capped by a stand-up touchscreen and framed by piano-black or aluminum trim. Diamond shapes abound, to go with the three in the logo. A power driver seat is standard, while heated front and second-row seats are an option. The rear two rows fold nearly flat to boost cargo space, which maxes out at 79.7 cubic feet. With the third row up however, cargo room is only 11.7 cubic feet.
The base ES starts at $26,990 and comes with an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, 18-inch alloy wheels, and the safety gear mentioned above. The mid-grade SE will hit the sweet spot for most, starting at $30,040 and adding on a larger 9-inch touchscreen with navigation and wireless charging to go along with wireless Apple CarPlay, as well as USB ports in the rear for backseat passengers. There’s also a surround-view camera system, something usually reserved for the very top trim levels in this class, as well as heated front seats, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and 20-inch alloy wheels.
More premium features such as a 12.3-inch driver display, Bose sound system, and a panoramic sunroof cost an extra $2,300. The top grade SEL starts at $33,140 and adding on the Touring package brings it to $37,640 with AWD. The SEL comes with leather upholstery, a power passenger seat, heated rear seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, and the driver display that’s an option on the SE. On top of that, the Touring package adds semi-aniline leather upholstery, a 10.8-inch head-up display, panoramic sunroof, and strangely a heated steering wheel.
While Mitsubishi’s Outlander has been around for quite some time, it often got lost in the middle of the small SUV pack, not any more. The 2022 Mitsubishi’s Outlander brings new found edgy styling, competitive efficient powertrains, and class-leading technology. The Outlander easily vaults towards the top of its class punching way above its price point giving it the credentials to not get lost in the pack because it’s definitely worth a look.
