The 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander comes in one body style, a four-door, five- or seven-passenger, compact sport utility vehicle. Three trim levels are available, the ES, the LS and the XLS. The sole powertrain is a 220-hp, 3.0-liter V6 engine with a six-speed automatic featuring a manual-shift, Sportronic function. The ES has front-wheel drive, while the LS and the XLS can be had with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. With all-wheel drive, the tow rating jumps from 2000 to 3500 pounds, thanks to a larger radiator.
The ES comes with air conditioning, the usual trio of power-adjustable features, cruise control with steering wheel-mounted switches, multi-media sound system, fabric upholstery, 60/40-split rear seat, remote keyless entry and P215/70R16 tires on hubcapped, steel wheels. Four-way and seatback recline adjustments for the second-row seat are an unexpected feature for a base model. No manufacturer options are offered on the ES.
The LS adds leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob; steering wheel-mounted remote audio controls and Bluetooth switch pre-wiring; floor mats; roof rails; tonneau cargo cover; and alloy wheels. The LS can be outfitted with two manufacturer options, as well. One is the Sun & Sound Package, comprising a nine-speaker, 650-watt, Rockford-Fosgate premium sound system with in-dash six-CD/MP3 changer, DSP, auxiliary stereo input jack and speed-compensated volume and equalization; six-month trial subscription to Sirius satellite radio; and power glass sunroof with sun shade. The other is the Entertainment Package, essentially a rear seat entertainment system, with a roof-mounted, nine-inch LCD monitor, remote control, infrared wireless headphones, auxiliary video input jack and 115-volt, AC power outlet. The Bluetooth interface with voice-recognition microphone is a dealer-installed option.
The XLS kicks in automatic climate control; underfloor-stowable, compact, third-row seat; steering column-mounted, magnesium shift paddles; Bluetooth interface; fog lights; keyless entry and ignition; and P225/55R18 tires on alloy wheels. Two additional options are offered on the XLS. The Luxury Package has auto-leveling, Xenon, HID headlights; power-adjustable driver's seat; leather seating surfaces; and heated front seats. Finally, there's the Navigation and Multi-Communication System, combining a GPS-based navigation system replacing the more common CDs or DVD with a 30GB hard disk drive for data storage, 6 GB of which is reserved for audio files, and a fully integrated AM/FM tuner with a single CD/DVD drive, both accessed via a seven-inch, touch panel/display. When ordered with the Entertainment Package, both front and rear displays can share source drives.
Safety features include front (seat-mounted) side-impact airbags, which protect the upper body from injury in side impacts; roof-mounted side air curtains covering front and second-row seats, which minimize head injuries in side impacts; and active, front seat head restraints, which cushion the head and neck in rear impacts. That's in addition to the mandated front airbags, seatbelts and child safety seat anchors.
Active safety features (to assist the driver with crash avoidance) that come standard across the Outlander line include antilock brakes (ABS), which allow steering during panic stops; electronic brake-force distribution, which varies front and rear braking force to optimize stopping power in emergency stops; electronic stability control, which automatically minimizes skids during turning maneuvers; traction control, which limits wheel spin in slippery conditions; and tire pressure monitors, which warn drivers of under-inflated tires.
The Outlander goes on sale in November. Pricing had not been announced when this review was published.