2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Review

To kick off in 2021, we are starting with the latest from Mitsubishi. This is the new 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander. Being a very popular choice amongst Australians, we thought we’d put the latest model to the test throughout this review.

In this article we will be analysing everything you need to know about the car including, features, interior and exterior design, engine specs, technology elements, safety standards and of course, pricing.

While not currently available, but flagged for an official release in February 2021, there has been a long-awaited anticipation of the 2021 model since the Japanese manufacturer released details in June 2020. The official release event will take place during a live-streamed presentation where the full model will be unveiled. It is rumoured that the car will be available shortly after its launch.

Features

The current Mitsubishi Outlander models have been clearly advertised and marketed towards the traditional ‘growing family’. With space for 5-7 adults, a spacious cabin, 18-inch alloy wheels, this is the SUV most families fall in love with. With a choice of 2WD or AWD, the Mitsubishi Outlander is the perfect and obvious choice for a lot of families.

The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander features include autonomous emergency braking, a choice of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains and a clever front or all-shell drive. Not to mention, the standard features which we are seeing more of including smartphone integration such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which allows their customers to find a way to be connected regardless of their preferred device. 

The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander also has cruise control to help create a seamless journey if travelling far and also reduce the cost per KM of fuel. In addition, this vehicle comes with dual-zone climate control which is something we are seeing more and more of. This is especially helpful for the driver to remain at their most comfortable position and temperature while accommodating the needs of their passengers.

Clearly, the features list is extensive, which is why we’ve broken them up into the most important elements below.

Interior and exterior design

Let’s start with the interior features, after all it is what’s on the inside that counts right? What we’ve loved about Mitsubishi in the past is the attention to detail when it comes to the interiors of these cars.

In the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander, you’ll be blown away with a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear shift handle providing a luxe finish to the car. The wheel also has integrated controls including cruise control, a speed limiter, access to sound and music and of course hands-free telephone access. They designed this to provide simplicity and safety when driving to ensure that no matter how busy you are you will never be distracted.

Not only have they thought hard about the wheel but there is also power-operated lunar support for the driver’s seat and great suspension to absorb the road bumps well. The cabin and dashboard are among the best from Mitsubishi, with exquisite use of soft-touch materials and a high class and luxurious, gloss black finish.

One of our favourite features of the interior is also the storage capabilities. This is a large car, but thoughtfully made for function and ease for the busy family. Inside the car, the third row backrests split-fold 50/50 to create a flat floor. In addition to this, the second row also falls forward 60/40, which opens up an even larger space. This level of storage gives you at least two options of storage when going on large trips, or transporting big items. The ability for the rear seats to fall completely flat makes for a seamless way to pack and unpack the car without having to manoeuvre tricky angles.

Externally, the car is also fitted with a range of features which tick a lot of boxes. With a huge towing capacity (1600kg braked trailer to be exact) we know you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how versatile the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander can be.

Items such as exterior camera, automatic headlights, blind spot warnings, lane change assist and a powered sunroof. 

Engine

It is clear a lot of thought has been put into the engine behind the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander. While their turbo-diesel engine brings surging power from low speeds, it remains relatively smooth and quiet on the roads.

Because of this clever engine, the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander offers superior traction and stability across a range of terrains. Whether is it muddy, wet, gravel roads or even snowy the Outlanders clever engine controls the car with ease making it a safe and smart option.

Technology

As we’ve mentioned, the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander is already built with a large list of impressive tech features. An aesthetically pleasing touchscreen with Mitsubishi’s Smartphone Link Display Audio, allows you to display some apps from compatible phones on the screen and control them from there.

This can include Apply Car Play for Android Auto. Not too mention, standard Bluetooth connectivity for phone calls and voice control but also multiple USB inputs in the front and rear seats for charging capabilities too. A new car without this level of front and rear USB inputs is simply put to shame now. You cannot go without this feature and we’re seeing more and more cars create clever designs like this.

Safety

While the safety features across the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander are impressive, it has drawn some criticism. While there are an impressive seven airbags across the car, the third-row seats are simply unprotected from side crashes. The scary part about this design flaw is that your kids are most likely to be sitting in the third row (if you’ve got a growing family or you are driving the car at full capacity).

If you’re upgrading from the previous generation Outlander, you might miss the convenience of having a horizontally split tailgate, which has been replaced by a single tailgate hinged from the top. The previous design made it easy to load small items by flipping up the top half, making it safe and easy to load the car, especially if in a rush or in a tight space where you don’t have full access to other doors.

Other than those two elements, it is still great to note that all automatic Outlander variants are equipped with autonomous emergency braking, which Mitsubishi calls Forward Collision Mitigation.

Pricing

The all-important pricing structure of the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander. While we may not know for certain until the new model is released, we’ve taken this structure from Car Expert as an example of what to expect:

• 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander ES 2.0 manual: $29,990 (+$500)
  
• 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander ES 2.4 auto: $32,490 (+$700)
  
• 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Black Edition 2.4 auto: $34,990 (+$1000)
  
• 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander LS 2.4 auto: $35,490 (+$900)
  
• 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander ES AWD 2.4 auto: $34,990 (+$300)
• 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Black Edition AWD 2.4 auto: $37,490 (+$1000)
• 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander LS AWD 2.4 auto: $37,990 (+$800)
• 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander LS AWD diesel auto: $41,490 (+$800)
• 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed AWD 2.4 auto: $43,990 (+$300)
• 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed AWD diesel auto: $47,490 (+$300)
• 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV ES AWD auto: $47,990 (+$600)
• 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GSR AWD auto: $52,490
• 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Exceed AWD auto: $56,490 (+$100)
  

All prices exclude on-road costs.

Overall, if you are debating whether the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander is for you and your family, we hope that this review has provided you with some clarity of what to expect from the Japanese manufacturer.

See Our Review Of The New 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

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