Mitsubishi Outlander (2012 – 2021) Review

Mitsubishi Outlander (2012 – 2021) At A Glance

3/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The Mitsubishi Outlander is a very capable SUV with four-wheel drive and frugal diesel engines, but its cabin feels more workhorse than thoroughbred next to rivals.

+Easy to drive. Most variants have seven seats. Economical diesel engines. Large and practical boot. Decent safety kit.

-Interior isn't as plush as rivals. A bit bland to drive.

Insurance Groups are between 22–27
On average it achieves 77% of the official MPG figure

The Mitsubishi Outlander is often overshadowed by its plug-in hybrid sister model, but if you’re in the market for a used mid-size SUV, it’s a good call. A rival for the Land Rover Freelander, dependable Honda CR-V and popular Toyota RAV4, the Mitsubishi Outlander offers four-wheel drive and an economical diesel engine. It’s not as upmarket inside as its competitors, but it’s solidly made and decent value. Read on for our Mitsubishi Outlander review.

With a practical cabin offering space for up to seven and real 4x4 ability, the Mitsubishi Outlander is a smart choice of rural workhorse in 2.2-litre diesel form.

Official economy is 55.3mpg for the GX2 manual and – rather unusually – it’s actually almost achievable in real world driving.

The Mitsubishi Outlander is also comfortable and spacious compared to some SUV rivals. The cabin may lack style and sophistication, but it is durable and offers plenty of room in both the front and rear.

There’s a large boot and all but the entry-level model come with seven seats, the back two of which are surprisingly roomy. Folding all of the seats flat frees up a huge 1680 litres of space.

All models feature all-wheel drive as standard, and the system is aimed at genuine off-road driving rather than just helping out on a patch of on-road slush.

The differential can be locked and the gearbox set to low range, so on undulating, muddy or gravel-covered surfaces there is plenty of traction. Paired with a braked tow weight of 2000kg, the Mitsubishi Outlander is an ideal car for towing horseboxes or caravans.

It drives decently – the controls are nicely weighted, although the steering could be a little more precise. But the suspension does a good job of absorbing the worst lumps and bumps, even if body roll is a problem at higher speeds on particularly twisty roads.

That said, the Mitsubishi Outlander has plenty of grip and always feels safe, stable and secure.

The Mitsubishi Outlander offers a worthwhile used 4x4 package. It’s large, practical and capable, yet it has real off-road and poor weather capability, plus it manages reasonable fuel economy.

Inside it may lack the the polish and upmarket ‘feel’ of some rival cars, but if rugged durability is what you value above all else, then the Mitsubishi Outlander is worth a look.

Fancy a second opinion? Read heycar’s Mitsubishi Outlander review.

Ask Honest John

Which tyres should I buy for driving off road?

"I have a Mitsubishi Outlander which I regularly drive on farm tracks. At the weekend I nearly slid sideways into another vehicle. The tracks are heavily rutted, muddy and very slippery. I need to change tyres and have been advised that Pirelli Scorpion ATR, Michelin Cross Climate or Michelin Latitude would be suitable. I would appreciate your advice."
A friend uses Falken Wildpeaks, he says they offer decent value for money, good off and on road performance. They're a bit noisier/firmer than a road tyre but that's pretty typical.
Answered by Russell Campbell

What hybrid should I replace my Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV with?

"I have a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. I have been happy with it, with the exception of the battery mileage - which dropped from 30 to 24miles within 2 years. I would like another hybrid. What would you recommend?"
The plug-in hybrid market has grown considerably since you bought your Outlander, so there are quite a few good replacements available. We'd recommend the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid or the new Toyota RAV4 Plug-in. You could consider upmarket alternatives like the Volvo XC40 Recharge PHEV, too.
Answered by Andrew Brady

We paid for a reconditioned engine and now the turbo has failed - where do we stand?

"I went to a specialist garage that charged us close to £4600 for a reconditioned engine replacement job for my Mitsubishi Outlander. With this we also received a three month/3000 mile warranty. There is now a whining sound every time I accelerate. The mechanic at the specialist garage confirms that its the turbo. I asked if the turbo would be covered in the warranty and he said no it wouldn't. He also said that there may have been a possibility that when the piston damaged the engine block it could have affected the turbo. The mechanic is now saying including labour to install a new turbo it will cost around £1000. Is this right? Should I even be thinking about paying for this?"
They didn't replace the turbo when they rebuilt the engine and your bill did not include a replacement turbo. But there may be a simple reason for the turbo whine. The turbo bearing has an oil feed and oil return pipe. Any blockage in those (usually carbon from switching off when the engine is too hot) will reduce the oil supply to the turbo bearing, as would failing to re-install the pipes correctly. So, first thing, have fresh turbo bearing oil feed and oil return pipes fitted. If that doesn't solve the problem and you need a new turbo, you needed the new oil pipes anyway.
Answered by Honest John

Do I have any recourse against Jaguar Land Rover for the EGR failure in my 2013 Evoque?

"My 2013 Range Rover Evoque was in for a service a month ago. During the service they reported that there was a coolant leak. This was confirmed to be coming from the EGR cooler and this will require both the EGR and cooler replacing at a cost of £925. I have researched the issue on the internet and note that a significant number of JLR customers have reported issues across the range with EGR failures. I wrote to JLR to complain that this was a widespread issue and was surprised that this was not being covered on a recall. They have eventually responded and after going back and forth they have offered a gesture of goodwill of 50 per cent towards the cost as my vehicle was four years old and now out of warranty. My response was that this was a fault in manufacture and I shouldn't be having to pay for something that is clearly not a one off fail. They said they would review it again but have just come back with the same offer. A concern is that I could be looking at a similar bill in a few years time when the new parts fail again. Do I have any other course of action?"
This is a PSA/Ford engine, not a JLR engine, and I have not seen a massive number of other complaints over other vehicles fitted with it. One previous report in the Evoque suggests that the problem may be the way it is installed in the car: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/land-rover/range-rover-evoque-2011/?section=good/ Only one report of an EGR failure in the Freelander II with the same engine: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/land-rover/freelander-2-2006/?section=good/ None reported in Discovery Sport, Outlander, 4007 or C Crosser with the same engine.
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

What does a Mitsubishi Outlander (2012 – 2021) cost?