Mitsubishi Outlander - Japanese to love
Otezdil year on Outlander 2.4, then another two years on the same only in the maximum configuration (sunroof, leather).
When buying the first Outlander chose among classmates. I chose based on appearance. When buying a second one (generally the same), I considered more expensive crossover options (Nissan Murano, Lexus RX350) as a guide. XL was still only in the project then, otherwise I would have taken it, of course. For reasons of economy - it was necessary to invest in a new business, limited itself to changing the modification. The main differences are in color and configuration. A leather interior appeared, by the way, perforated leather turned out to be quite pleasant to the touch and comfortable. Amused by the presence of hatches. They seem to eat a little from the ceiling, and the feeling of spaciousness and illumination is great. Even the useless fixed rear hatch comes in handy - the wife drives with the child in the back seat, she likes it. The headlight washer works great. Efficient and quite economical, tk. is switched on separately from the windshield washer.
A couple of minor improvements were a pleasant surprise. For example, all glass drives have now become automatic (closed with one click). Previously, only the driver's door was automated. Something has been changed in the electrical circuit, now the windows can be opened and closed for a couple more minutes after the ignition is turned off. Previously, the "network" was cut off immediately.
General summary: a beautiful and technically simple car for more or less fast movement around the city, and even better between cities. Comfort is sacrificed for handling, the car is harsh. Good visibility forward and backward, comfortable fit, very good seats. It can drive relatively fast on the highway (about 180 km / h with a gun), but after 140 it accelerates without much desire. The car pouzhuzhet go faster :-) Comfortable speed 140-150. You can overtake and overtake both the Honda CR-V and the Toyota Rav 4. But according to passenger reviews, compared to the same Rav, the car is much more rigid. Sportiness is emphasized everywhere in the design, although, of course, there is not much real sport.
Fuel consumption on the 2.4 engine fluctuates over a wide range. At a minimum, with a very calm ride on the highway, you can keep within 10 liters. But this requires a lot of effort. The average is 13 liters. In the city - 14-15 liters per 100 km. With a very energetic ride, you can burn 18 liters!
Technically, a car with a 2.4 engine and automatic transmission is quite balanced. There are no serious complaints about either the engine, or the box, or the steering. Everything is at a normal average level. However, Mitsubishi's current financial problems are showing up little by little and everywhere. For example, the machine is an outdated 4-speed. Four speeds - neither this nor that, the fourth is only good for fuel economy. You unscrew the engine in the third (in manual mode), go to the fourth and there is a dip in dynamics. Far transmission. As a result, with heavy traffic on the highway, the 4th can not be included.
On the other hand, the machine itself does not switch up in manual mode, the manual mode is frisky, the box adapts to the driving style. The brakes work well (not BMW, but still), ABC works correctly and does not annoy once again. The dampness of the structure is not felt, everything seems to be as it should be. General summary: good engineers in the absence of sufficient finances (they did not have a 5-speed automatic for a car of this level or a system of exchange rate stability) got out as best they could. Now, of course, this is not cool.
The opinions of observers differ in the cabin. Most seem rustic - few buttons, no native music, no display on the center console. At the same time, in my opinion, there is expressiveness and style. Yes, and to understand the management of everything on the go is easy. I put the DVD on and it seems to be already fun.
Pleasant trifles:
1. Full-size spare tire on an alloy wheel. Not at all redundant, as it turned out.
2. 2-level well-functioning heated seats.
3. Heated mirrors and windshield in the area of the brushes.
4. Plastic body kit (rather durable and flexible), roof rails.
5. Having paid for the car, you practically do not need to pay anything else. Since the configurations, fixed and, as usual, include the main amenities: heating, power windows (sorry, only one automatic), mirror adjustments, antenna, etc.
Bad little things:
1. There is no washer fluid level indicator. Although the volumetric tank (5 liters) partly compensates for this shortcoming.
2. Inconvenient (in terms of control and display of information) and low-power on-board computer. From it you can find out the total average fuel consumption, mileage, temperature and range on fuel. For the Japanese, it will be somehow not enough.
3. The thermometer cheats (in winter it gives out 2-3 degrees higher than the actual temperature). Service purges don't help.
4. After stopping and restarting the engine, the thermometer shows an unrealistic temperature for 7-10 minutes after the start of movement (the sensor heats up). Everything goes back to normal on the move.
5. No full-time music, you have to look for something suitable in style to the interior of the cabin. I installed a new JVC with a DVD and a screen integrated into the panel, one acoustic system on a new car. The subwoofer was put in the spare. An expensive solution, but the trunk remained untouched.
6. Not in all modes (in the direction of the air flow) climate control works correctly. This is manifested in the uneven heating of the cabin in winter. In summer there are no problems with cooling.
7. The air filter clogs up pretty quickly and when you turn on the air conditioner, it draws dust from time to time. In many reviews I read about such a problem, apparently some kind of defect in the ventilation system.
8. The turning angle is too big.
9. In the cabin there are very few glove compartments and convenient niches for small items. One of the niches on the center console is not at all convenient and practically unusable.
10. There is no illumination for the passenger door window controls.
11. The intermittent operation of the rear wiper is not adjustable; it is not convenient on the highway in bad weather.
12. The steering wheel is adjustable only in height. Driver's seat cushion adjustment is there, but very small.
Points of contention:
1. Placing a spare wheel in the trunk ate a great usable volume. Although it is impossible without a full-fledged spare tire with low-profile tires.
2. Low-profile tires on 17 discs make their way on road pits, and it is unrealistic to find a native Yokohama Geolander. The dealer refuses to drive one wheel, ordering a $900 kit is expensive.
3. The quality of the plastic in the cabin and the numerous buttons in common with the Lancer are not inspiring.
4. Do not inspire confidence in the system of fixing the hood in the open state. Could make some kind of gas flavoring.
Author's advice to buyers Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2.4 4WD 2006
Now it makes sense to take only used Outlander. The car is about to be taken off the assembly line.
Machine for those who want some excitement and handling. Very close to the concept of "crossover with passenger habits." Be sure to take a test drive to check the stiffness of the suspension and your feelings from it. Install xenon.
More tipsAdvantages:
- Attractive (in my opinion) appearance. Probably the best that Mitsubishi Motors can officially offer in Russia. The car seems
a little more than it actually is due to the small glazing area. Looks good front and side. Rear view - nothing special - Comfortable, moderately hard front seats, with good adjustments. Neither the driver nor the passenger gets tired. You can drive 500 kilometers and not get tired
- Places in the front and rear seats unexpectedly a lot, the ceiling does not press. Revised my opinion on the version with a sunroof. A couple of centimeters of height disappeared, but the ceiling still does not lie on the head
- Dynamics acceptable for all-wheel drive, high-torque engine, decent, although only 4-speed automatic
- Good handling for a crossover. But, apparently, not in the limit modes. I saw a video with moose dough - the machine spun terribly
Mitsubishi has problems with its current line of cars. If you're not looking for a Lancer, choices are limited to the Galant midsize sedan and the Endeavor and Outlander crossovers. The Galant is doing hara-kiri at the moment, and the Endeavor hasn't been "reissued" since the very first model, released in 2003. However, Outlander has something to offer you. It seats seven passengers, has been named the safest car by the Highway Safety Institute, and boasts 8.4 liters per 100 kilometers on the highway.
Mitsubishi knows it's not enough to have just two competitive cars to compete for buyers in the auto market, and it looks like the company is focusing on improving its two bright spots in that regard. Lancer has spawned many variants - the latest being the Lancer Sportback. And the Outlander, meanwhile, has spawned the small 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, a five-passenger crossover eager to compete for every car enthusiast.
If the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport had a favorite song, it would be Sister Sledge's "We Are Family". The big "mouth" and muscular "thighs" no doubt indicate that the Outlander Sport is the result of a passionate night of love between the Lancer Evo and the big Outlander. And despite the fact that this car has the same Outlander name as its older brother, the Outlander Sport is a car in its own right, a compact crossover that differs in size, shape and temper.
For example, in front of the nose, like a fighter, "stands" in an aggressive forward-leaning pose. Sharp headlights dig into the face of the Outlander Sport, and the roofline rolls back along the 429.5-centimeter body. This is almost 38 cm less than the Outlander, despite the fact that both crossovers have the same wheelbase and almost the same width. Such plastic surgeries must be carried out clearly, otherwise you can spoil the appearance of the car. Luckily, Mitsubishi's face survived the transplant without a single scar. The 18-inch alloy wheels in Goodyear Eagle 225 55R/18 tires also sit neatly under slightly bulging mudguards.
Inside, the Outlander Sport prefers understated tones, with black plastics and black seats being the only color option available. Fortunately, the control buttons are a simple circuit, and three traditional buttons are responsible for the climate control system, not a touchscreen. The touchscreen is left for music and navigation, moreover, the screen works fine, and the graphics are tolerable. You can also see what's happening behind your car, as the monitor has a $2,000 rear-view camera with a navigation system.
Unfortunately, for $2,000 for navigation, you'll also have to buy an $1,800 premium package that includes a panoramic sunroof, LCD lighting, Rockford-Fosgate sound systems, Sirius satellite radio, and a six-disc CD player. Bottom line, add $4,000 to the price if you want the Outlander Sport to tell you where to go.
What pleases is the level of comfort that the front seats offer. Headroom isn't a problem either, and visibility is excellent no matter where you look. The cabin is pretty basic, aside from the touchscreen, but it did the Outlander Sport a good turn.
If you opt for the base ES model with two-wheel drive, the Outlander Sport starts at $19,275. The all-wheel-drive option will set you back $22,995, and thanks to those aforementioned bells and whistles, the price can rise to $28,570. However, the base price of the Outlander Sport AWD SE is lower than that of the same Honda CR-V EX-L, Hyundai Tucson Limited and Kia Sportage EX. If Kia and Hyundai were equipped in the same way, they would go up to 30 thousand. So the cost of the new Outlander Sport does not seem so intimidating when you compare it with competitors, besides, you still don’t know what it has under hood!
Raise the hood and you will see the familiar smiling face of 4B11. This 2-litre four-cylinder engine, used throughout Mitsubishi's vehicle lineup, produces 148 hp. It may not seem like much, but at 1,480kg, the car is much faster than expected.
The Outlander Sport isn't the fastest car out there, but the four-cylinder does its job well, putting out 9.8L/100km in the city and 8.11 on the highway. The two-wheel-drive models went even further, with 9.41 in the city and 7.59 on the highway.
And it's not just weight that helps the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport save fuel. Connected to this 2-litre engine is a continuously variable transmission that can be “shifted” manually using a pair of steering wheel buttons. These are pretty noisy gadgets, and the buttons on the Outlander Sport are no exception. To be honest, the engine/transmission combo would be pretty boring without these extras.
Outlander Sport has a couple tricks up its sleeve. For a tall car, it's fairly easy to drive. The brakes respond immediately, but on bumps, the tight Lancer-shaped suspension fails in terms of noise and harshness. A slight rattle can be heard in the cabin.
However, even these issues won't let you forget the sporty handling, matching interior and great value of the new 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE AWC. Will it be Mitsubishi's third bright spot after the Lancer and Outlander? Last month, 1290 cars were sold. That's nothing compared to the 19,000 Honda CR-V, but that's almost a fifth of the automaker's total sales. Pretty good for a model that's only a few months old. This shows that Mitsubishi gives its customers exactly what they need.
We are already used to the situation that there is a certain car that bears some name, and there is another car that has the word “Sport” added to the same name, and these are really two completely different cars. You don't have to look far for examples: please, Pajero and Pajero Sport. They look different, and they have a different design ...
But in the case of the Outlander Sport, this logic does not work, because the Sport version can be distinguished from any other version of the model only by the modest V6 nameplate on the front fender and the chrome molding that runs along the window sill. The most powerful and most expensive Outlander configuration has no other differences either in appearance or in interior design (naturally, when compared with Instyle and Ultimate trim levels).
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Outlander Sport is just as solid and full of family values. The new design of the front end with chrome-plated "mandibles" added a certain brutality, which the car had previously lacked. Calm clean lines, neat surfaces, proportions that are more reminiscent of a solid station wagon than a classic SUV. The car does not try to pretend to be either an Olympic champion or a sort of Indiana Jones.
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By the way, is it just me who associates the name Dynamic Shield with the code name of a major exercise or military operation? Apparently, the turbulent military past of Mitsubishi, in which the Ha-Go and Chi-Ha tanks kneaded clay in the jungles of Burma and Malaysia with caterpillars, and A6M fighters and B4M bombers drew the sky over the Pacific Ocean, you can’t just cross out. That's how names such as “Jet Fighter Style” (Jet Fighter) or Dynamic Shield appear ... But something we digress.
Three corner theorem
If you put in a row all the competitors of the Outlander from the class of mid-size crossovers, it will immediately become clear that the offspring of Mitsubishi looks like the most "extensively folded". And this is not an optical illusion: of all this cohort, the Outlander really has the longest body. But his wheelbase is about the same as everyone else, which means that he has a little more overhangs. But the body is designed in such a way that all the corners of the geometric cross (entry, exit and ramp) of the Outlander are exactly the same and amount to 21 degrees.
And this is very correct, because it means that if the front of the car has passed through an obstacle, then you will no longer be in danger of tearing off the rear bumper or landing on your belly. In combination with a solid ground clearance (215 mm - quite a decent figure even for a classic SUV), all this inspires confidence that you will get to your favorite picnic spot without any problems.
And almost the entire difference in the length of the body went to increase the space in the cabin (the Outlander trunk has a decent, but by no means champion, volume of 477 liters). It is larger than the boot space of a Toyota RAV4 (410L) or VW Tiguan (430L), but smaller than a Honda CR-V (556L), Nissan X-Trail (603L) or Kia Sportage (564L) offers.
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I also liked that in the trunk of the Outlander under the raised floor there are two organizer containers for all sorts of little things. The wheel arches protruding into the trunk are crowned with cup holders, except for the seven-seater version, which is not supplied to us. Well, that's right, all the same, the third row in cars of this dimension can be considered "conditionally inhabited." But passengers in the rear sofa can enjoy the space, as in executive class sedans.
Strict but not stiff
In general, the Outlander's interior style is in complete harmony with its appearance: light top, dark bottom - in a word, strictly, but not stiffly. It is clear that cars in the top configuration flaunt seats covered with high-quality perforated leather, a leather steering wheel and electric seats (though only the driver's).
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The adjustment range is quite sufficient, and with my height of 182 cm I did not have to choose it completely. Soft plastic dash, leather-wrapped visor above the instrument cluster, a four-inch information display between the analogue speedometer and tachometer, and a large Mitsubishi Connect touchscreen with navigation crowning the center console. The only complaint is the button responsible for displaying information on a small information display. She hid behind the steering column switch and is not visible from the driver's seat.
What else will please Outlander Sport? A servo tailgate and a sunroof included in the top package. Actually, this is not the main thing. The main advantages of this machine are learned on the go.
Fly and crawl
An important trump card of the Outlander Sport is the 230-horsepower V6 petrol. There is no similar engine in the lines of crossovers of competing brands today. To some extent, only the Subaru Forester XT with its 240-horsepower turbo four can act as a competitor, but a V6 is a V6. Six cylinders and three liters of volume - this is not only power, but also high elasticity, and low vibration load ... Well, and sound, of course.
And the Outlander Sport is the only version that is not equipped with a CVT, but with a classic hydromechanical six-speed “automatic”. And this “machine” works almost flawlessly, without jerks and serious delays. Well, for those who want to squeeze the maximum acceleration out of the car and experiment with manual gear shifting, there are paddle shifters. Only I somehow didn’t have such a desire: even during overtaking, you constantly feel that the gas pedal still has a decent power reserve, and the power potential is far from being fully used.
However, the inhabitant of a big city should be able not only to fly fast, but also to crawl well. And I do not mean crawling through meadows, forests, etc., but driving through traffic jams. After all, as often happens: the car accelerates normally, but at low speeds it is possible to stay in the stream only by constantly moving the foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal and back. Well, this does not apply to the Outlander Sport - the car perfectly “follows the pedal” at any speed.
But the off-road Outlander Sport is quite capable (of course, within the framework available for the crossover). For such exercises, it is worth switching the box to L mode, and it will remain in low gear at any speed.
The worse the better
And yet Sport is not just an Outlander with the most powerful engine in the lineup. Another highlight is S-AWC's advanced all-wheel drive system, Super All-Wheel Control, designed to win on rally and rally raid tracks. The usual clutch for an automatic all-wheel drive is complemented by an active front differential, as well as electronically controlled brake mechanisms for each of the four wheels and steering. The result is significantly better control over acceleration, handling and braking in all conditions.
Fortunately, the navigator led me during a test trip along a not very popular and busy winding road leading along the Moscow River from Kubinka station to the village of Anikovo. It was then that I had the opportunity to fully appreciate the work of the S-AWC. It works like this: you enter a corner, and the system brakes the inside front wheel to create a turning moment.
At the apex, when you add gas, the electronics begin to increase the proportion of power sent to the rear axle, which gives a more efficient distribution of traction to all four wheels. Finally, the output increases the moment on the outer front wheel, fending off the car sliding out of the corner. This way, you go through the corner as fast as possible, and the drift begins much later than in the case of a front-wheel drive car or a simpler all-wheel drive system.
And the more difficult the situation in which the machine has fallen, the more clearly the operation of the system is manifested. For example, even when in a corner you do fall off the side of the road and the right wheels are on the substrate with a completely different grip coefficient, the car retains complete stability and controllability.
Snow on sand
The system has four modes, which are switched by a button on the tunnel near the automatic transmission selector. The "Eco" mode implies movement mainly with a drive only to the front axle and is sharpened for maximum fuel efficiency. The rear wheels are included in the work only in critical situations. “Normal” is the main and fairly versatile mode, but for difficult conditions the “Snow” modes are intended (which is good not only for ice and snow, but also for any surfaces with insufficient traction with wheels, for example, sand, clay or wet grass ) and "Lock" for maximum traction.
Feelings from the car are ambiguous. The car is big, there is a lot of space, inside and out, the design is nice. The driver's seat is organized conveniently. There are, of course, jambs, but not critical.
The front seats are comfortable, but the electric driver's seat wobbles for some reason during acceleration. The officials said that this is a design feature and will not come loose in the future. Let's see. The steering wheel looks nice and, importantly, it is very comfortable to use.
In general, the feeling in the cabin is that they saved on everything they can. Shumka is not bad, soft plastic is a plus. But really it was impossible to make the backlight of the windows buttons ?! Runs terribly! There is no eyeglass case and sockets in the trunk. This is sorely lacking.
Glasses must be kept either closed or completely open, because. the half-open glass rattles godlessly on the go. The trunk is comfortable and large, the transformation is also 5. However, the fifth electric door opens very slowly.
The climate works well, no complaints. True, at the expense of the two-zone system - it looks more like a marketing ploy. But why do the heating of the windshield, which turns on only at a temperature overboard of +5 and below, is not entirely clear.
Crickets in the cabin appeared about a thousand on the fifth. One in the torpedo, in the area of speedometers, one in the trunk, and very nasty (some kind of creak or rattle when driving through bumps).
Silencer sounds harsh. At first I liked it, but now it's starting to get a little boring. It feels like saving money here.
Now on the way. Rulitsya Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is very good. Four-wheel drive in terms of technology and work for 5 s +. I have a complete set with a front active differential and a controlled thrust vector. I tested both in ice and on light off-road - everything is very reliable and inspires confidence.
Suspension leaves a very contradictory feeling. On a good road, everything works for 5. Quiet, cultural. Car holds the road perfectly. Cruise speed on the highway 130 - 140. Very comfortable and reliable.
The movie starts on broken pavement. On a bad road, something rumbles in the front end and all this is transmitted to the steering wheel. Therefore, all these sensations immediately discourage the desire to go fast. The same is true for primers. Diagnostics at the officers did not reveal anything.
Yes, here's another feature, maybe it's just my car. Several times I flew into the potholes with the right side and each time the collapse was lost. The car began to pull to the right. Interestingly, before the Outlander was Hyundai ix35. So, it had to fly into bigger holes, but there were no problems with the collapse.
In general, in terms of energy intensity, the suspension does not add confidence, compared to the same ix35. She, apparently, was made for good roads. Although, maybe I have big requests for the SUV. There is just something to compare.
From the very first thousand, I noticed that when passing speed bumps, something creaks from behind. It turned out that this is not only on my car, but also on other owners. The forums say that these are the rubber bands of the rear stabilizer should be changed to rubber bands from XL and the problem disappears. Let's check.
So far, I can express the general impression of the suspension on a bad road like this: you ride like a big cart: something rumbles, something creaks, but nothing falls apart and everything works.
Now about the engine and box. Somewhere I read a review from an enthusiastic client that the three-liter Outlander 3 is a rocket! I will say this: there is always enough motor, but there is no smell of a rocket here. The box ruins everything. I don’t know how it works on other roads, but in the Crimea it is terribly stupid in mountainous directions.
When overtaking uphill, you press on the gas and nothing, the car barely accelerates. You push harder and nothing. You press on the floor, and then this unit begins to understand what they want from it and jumps 2 or even 3 steps down, the speed flies under 5 thousand, the engine starts yelling like a deaf-mute, a kick in the ass and the car starts to go.
But if during this action you release the gas a little, then the box immediately jumps 2-3 steps up (apparently to save fuel), and for some reason the car immediately stops driving and 230 mares disappear somewhere in a moment.
Such an algorithm of work is very annoying and sometimes very unsafe. Apparently, the firmware of the box is sharpened for fuel economy, but then why call this equipment SPORT? Now I'm scratching my head and looking for a solution to this inconvenience. I feel that the motor is enough, but the box spoils everything.
Music in the car for an amateur. I'm not really a fan of this kind of music, so I pumped it up a bit. Put the amp, subwoofer in the trunk and changed the front acoustics. I didn’t touch my head, it completely suits me. In the course of replacing the acoustics, I rustled the doors and the trunk, stuck an outlet in the trunk, and also put the DVR on two cameras.
Diode dipped beam and diode fogs are super. Very satisfied. But for long distances I had to change the lamps to remove this yellow spot on the road at night in front of the car. Now the distant shines well. Of course, not LEDs, but I almost hit the color, and the illumination improved significantly.
Now about the consumption of gasoline. I get an average on a computer in the city of 11 - 15 liters. On the highway 9 - 14 l. In principle, satisfied, given our mountain roads. On the plain, I think the consumption is less. Somehow he brought down 160 - the consumption showed 17 liters. I refuel at 95 m. I tried to pour premiums and the 98th, but I didn’t feel any difference either in consumption or in dynamics.
Outcome
Summing up, I’ll say that the car is probably worth its money, given its size and technique. I hope the reliability will be at the level. But, apparently, this is my last parquet, the next one will be framed. Since the hope for improving the quality of our roads has almost melted away, and over the years, for some reason, I want comfort more and more.
