Mitsubishi Outlander

The optional V6 engine has been dropped. The third row is usable in a pinch as long as the second row is slid forward some. The Outlander is not overly powerful but handling is quite nimble. The ride is firm. Controls and infotainment system are easy to use. Standard active safety features include FCW and AEB with pedestrian detection. A new, optional driving assistance system, called MI-PILOT Assist, combines adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist which can reduce stress in stop and go traffic conditions.

The 2.4-liter four-cylinder and the 3.0-liter V6 engines have been dropped. Outdated and outclassed, the Outlander struggles to compete. A tiny third-row seat, that is a high point, is not offered in the plug-in hybrid. When we tested the Outlander with the four-cylinder engine, its ride felt too buoyant and not tied-down. Handling was clumsy, with slow steering response and lots of body lean in corners. Standard active safety features now include FCW, AEB with pedestrian detection, BSW, and lane departure warning with lane change assist. A 2022 redesigned Outlander, based on the Nissan Rogue, is on sale.