2019 Mitsubishi Outlander Road Test and Review

Mitsubishi is on a bit of a roll. Fueled by the introduction of its latest SUV, the Eclipse Cross, the Japanese brand had its best sales summer in a decade, and its sales in 2018 are up for many of its products, including the Mirage, Outlander Sport, and its largest SUV: the seven-passenger Outlander, which is the most affordable three-row SUV on the market.

For 2019, the Outlander receives a list of improvements, including a few exterior enhancements as well as increased comfort and features. Mitsubishi has also retuned the crossover’s steering and suspension for more ride comfort and better handling. Built in Japan, it competes with other stylish, fun-to-drive, and fuel-efficient crossovers in the fast-growing segment, including the Kia Sorento, Nissan Pathfinder, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-9, and Toyota Highlander.

Five trim levels are available on the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander: ES, SE, LE, SEL, and GT. Prices start right around $24,000, including a $995 destination charge, for the ES with front-wheel drive. The better-equipped SE, which is the lowest trim to get the third-row seat, costs about $1,000 more, while the LE and SEL drive the price up to about $27,000. The top of the line GT, like our test vehicle, costs just over $33,000. Each is available with standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive for an additional $2,000, except for the GT, which gets all-wheel drive standard.

Most Outlander models are powered by a smooth and fuel-efficient 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 166 horsepower. The GT, however, is the muscle car of the pack. Under its hood is a 224 hp 3.0-liter V6. Four-cylinder Outlanders have a continuously variable automatic transmission, or CVT, while the V6 uses a six-speed automatic and has manual control with paddle shifters.

Mitsubishi has gotten more aggressive with the 2019 Outlander’s new look. All trim levels get a revised front end that is intensely modern and ruggedly upscale. There’s much more visual appeal than before, and the new panels work well with the Outlander’s sleek profile and crisp lines.

The new two-bar grille and squinted headlamps are unique, and the front bumper is so well integrated into the design you easily forget it’s there. The new look isn’t exactly understated; instead, it’s sporty, purposeful, and athletic. Although there’s still an opportunity for Mitsubishi to add some muscularity to the Outlander’s flanks, maybe in the form of some subtle fender bulges, the design is clean and youthful. At the same time, we appreciate the Outlander’s lack of black plastic trim, which adorns so many other SUVs. There is some, but not too much. And the new design gets noticed. During our week with the Outlander, friends and neighbors asked about it.

For many driving enthusiasts, Mitsubishi is best known for its turbocharged, all-wheel drive, high-performance models like the Eclipse and Evolution. The 2019 Outlander can’t keep up with those hot rods, but it is sporty with good power and athletic handling. With 224 horsepower, the Outlander GT is powerful for its class and quick enough for most buyers. It can accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 7.6 seconds, which makes it one of the speediest SUVs its size, outrunning the Mazda CX-5, the Volkswagen Tiguan, and the Toyota RAV4.

The Outlander’s six-speed automatic transmission is a bit lazy, but it’s well geared, and it's fun to choose your own gears manually with its paddle shifters. There’s also an Eco mode, which will increase fuel economy slightly at the expense of response, and a Snow mode that recalibrates the all-wheel drive system for slippery conditions. The Outlander’s ride is comfortable, and its handling is sporty with quick steering, good balance, and ample grip from the GT’s 18-inch tires.

That strong performance also comes with good fuel economy. The big V6 in the Outlander GT is rated for 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. We averaged 21 mpg during a week of mixed driving around Los Angeles, and 26 mpg on a 300-mile all-highway road trip, on premium fuel.

Other models are slightly more fuel-efficient and also use less-expensive regular-grade fuel. With front-wheel drive and the 2.4-liter engine, the Outlander is rated at 25 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. With the additional weight of the optional all-wheel drive system, those numbers drop slightly to 24 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. For comparison, the Kia Sorento, which starts around $27,000, is rated at 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway with front-wheel drive and the standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, and 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway with its optional V6 and all-wheel drive.

Mitsubishi has done an admirable job with the interior of the 2019 Outlander. The front seats have been reshaped for more comfort, it’s quieter than before, and the parking brake is now electric in most trims. The heated leather front seats in our Outlander GT test vehicle were firm, supportive, and comfortable. Both the driver’s seat and passenger seat are power-adjustable, and the driver’s seat is height-adjustable, which can be important for shorter drivers. Our test car also featured a heated steering wheel, and there’s a tilt and telescopic steering wheel so it’s easy to find your preferred driving position.

All the controls are well placed and function well. The chrome trim on many controls, including the engine start/stop button, adds an upscale feel, and the piano black trim looks rich, although it scratches easily. The gauges are clean and attractive, and overall visibility is excellent.

Up on the dash is a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, which is easy to use. There’s also a volume knob and redundant audio controls on the steering wheel, but another knob to change the radio station would be an ergonomic improvement. Bluetooth is standard, and the system is compatible with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Onboard Wi-Fi is not offered, and the sound quality from the nine-speaker Rockford Fosgate premium audio system was disappointing.

Although the Outlander has three rows of seats, the way back is very small and only useful for small children. Two adults fit comfortably in the second row, but it can haul three if the ride is short. For 2019, rear air conditioning vents and a rear USB port are standard on all trims. Headroom is abundant. When the third row isn’t needed, it folds easily, but you must first remove its sizable headrests and stow them in a bin below the cargo floor. The process is simple and takes about a minute.

If you’re looking for an expanse of cargo volume, the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander has what you’re after. The SUV offers 10.3 cubic feet of space behind its third row. That doesn’t sound like much but it can handle about five grocery bags. Fold the third row and the space more than triples to 34.2 cubic feet, which is large for this class. Every Outlander comes standard with a 60/40 split fold down second row, which are easily folded flat to expand that space again to 63.3 cubic feet. A power liftgate is standard on the LE, SEL and GT.

There’s also sufficient storage inside the Outlander. The console bin isn’t huge, but it’s deep and the door pockets are sizable and have slots for water bottles. The two front seat cupholders are large and behind the shifter, but very tall drinks can interfere with the dash. The two rear cupholders are smaller and housed in a center fold-down armrest. Third row occupants also get a cupholder.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander is one of the safest SUVs in its class. NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall crash test rating, and the IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick.

All Outlanders come with a backup camera, stability control, and child safety rear door locks. Blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert and lane-change assist are available on SE trim and standard on the SEL and GT. Forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, a lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams are also available on the SEL and GT.

Comfortable, versatile, and attractive, the new 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander represents a high value in the seven-passenger world of SUVs. Although other crossovers in this price range do have more performance and refinement than the Mitsubishi, few offer a third row. And that’s a very important feature for many families on a tight budget. The Outlander also has plenty of cargo space, good fuel economy, and exceptional safety features.

The Outlander ES is priced attractively, but we recommend stepping up to the SE model for another $1,000. You’ll appreciate the additional features like that third row, the 18-inch wheels, Bluetooth, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, and push-button start. The extra safety systems on the upper trims should also be considered.