First Drive: The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Is Ready to Be Relevant
Three-row compact SUV has user-friendly interior tech, a well-made cabin, and an improved driving experience
Update: Since this first drive was originally published, we finished testing the Mitsubishi Outlander. Read the complete Mitsubishi Outlander road test.
If you’re in the market for a small SUV that can fit seven people in a pinch, the all-new 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander could be an appealing option. Though none of Mitsubishi’s recent models have impressed us, this new three-row family hauler checks the boxes in terms of its decent handling agility, a pleasingly pretty and well-built cabin, and interior flexibility in a compact package.
The new Outlander’s turnaround appears to be due to the recent Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi Alliance, in which all three automakers share resources. As such, the new Outlander has a lot in common with the redesigned 2021 Nissan Rogue, an SUV that’s more refined than any other current product from Mitsubishi.
The Outlander gives buyers a unique choice: It’s just slightly larger than most two-row compact SUVs, such as the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4, yet it’s considerably smaller than most midsized three-row models like the Kia Telluride, Mazda CX-9, and Toyota Highlander.
What we bought: 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SE Launch Edition 2.5 S-AWC
Powertrain: 181-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine; continuously variable transmission; all-wheel drive
MSRP: $31,795
Total options: $1,350
Destination fee: $1,195
Total cost: $34,340
What we rented: 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL 2.5 S-AWC
Powertrain: 181-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine; continuously variable transmission; all-wheel drive
MSRP: $33,745
Total options: $3,650
Destination fee: $1,195
Total cost: $38,590
