Road Test: 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander

[NFS4]

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/roadtest/77806/article.html

I thought the Aztek designers were taken out back, shot in the back of the head, doused with gasoline, and then set on fire? Guess not:disgust:

 

[Heisenberg]

Eh. It's not a Jeep so I really don't care that much. It is pretty ugly though.

 

[UNCjigga]

I dunno why, but I like it. Or maybe I just like that ad (it was shot in Toronto! w00t for the ol' hometown!)

Just breathe...

 

[BigSmooth]

Like the Lancer, it's underpowered. Plus, it's ugly - especially the "I wish I was in an RX300" Altezzas that just look cheap.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: bigsmooth
Like the Lancer, it's underpowered. Plus, it's ugly - especially the "I wish I was in an RX300" Altezzas that just look cheap.

I really like how everyone says these vehicles are underpowered. I personally own a Jeep Cherokee with that inline 6...plenty of power. However, I would much rather have a Mitsubishi 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine in my jeep than that inline 6. Those engines are amazing because of how long they last. As for power, the transmission gearing ratios are finely tuned and can get amazing acceleration out of a small engine. If you were really wanting to pull a boat trailer or something, you should get a truck anyway.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi

Originally posted by: bigsmooth
Like the Lancer, it's underpowered. Plus, it's ugly - especially the "I wish I was in an RX300" Altezzas that just look cheap.

I really like how everyone says these vehicles are underpowered. I personally own a Jeep Cherokee with that inline 6...plenty of power. However, I would much rather have a Mitsubishi 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine in my jeep than that inline 6. Those engines are amazing because of how long they last. As for power, the transmission gearing ratios are finely tuned and can get amazing acceleration out of a small engine. If you were really wanting to pull a boat trailer or something, you should get a truck anyway.

Under the scrutiny of our instrumented testing, the Outlander took 11.5 seconds to run from zero to 60 mph. With most small SUVs dispatching this sprint in anywhere from the high 8s to low 10s, it puts the Outlander out at the back of the pack. The gearbox makes the most of the engine's available thrust, downshifting promptly when needed.

Underpowered POS sounds about right to me

 

[Heisenberg]

My Wrangler has an inline 6 and I wouldn't trade it for a 4 cylinder. No way. Torque is what matters, whether you're towing or using 4wd to slosh through mud or snow. I could care less about the hp rating and 0-60 times really.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi

Originally posted by: bigsmooth
Like the Lancer, it's underpowered. Plus, it's ugly - especially the "I wish I was in an RX300" Altezzas that just look cheap.

I really like how everyone says these vehicles are underpowered. I personally own a Jeep Cherokee with that inline 6...plenty of power. However, I would much rather have a Mitsubishi 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine in my jeep than that inline 6. Those engines are amazing because of how long they last. As for power, the transmission gearing ratios are finely tuned and can get amazing acceleration out of a small engine. If you were really wanting to pull a boat trailer or something, you should get a truck anyway.

Under the scrutiny of our instrumented testing, the Outlander took 11.5 seconds to run from zero to 60 mph. With most small SUVs dispatching this sprint in anywhere from the high 8s to low 10s, it puts the Outlander out at the back of the pack. The gearbox makes the most of the engine's available thrust, downshifting promptly when needed.

Underpowered POS sounds about right to me

Well....I didn't actually READ the article. The funny thing is that it sounds to me like they just took the Chasis of a Galant and threw a new body on it. I own a Galant...that's how I knew so much about the engine/transmission. They'll probably throw a 6 cylinder in it next year. The Galant at least offers one of those.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
My Wrangler has an inline 6 and I wouldn't trade it for a 4 cylinder. No way. Torque is what matters, whether you're towing or using 4wd to slosh through mud or snow. I could care less about the hp rating and 0-60 times really.

Well, the Honda CRV out HP's and out torques this POS Mitsubishi. And I'd trust a Honda over a Mitsu anyday. And you can actually get the CRV with a 5-speed tranny.

 

[Heisenberg]

From just browsing the article I wasn't really impressed. I don't really keep up with the import SUV market though, so I don't have a basis for comparison. The only SUV's I know anything at all about are GM or Jeep. I'll take your word for it though. I consider anything less than a 6 cylinder not powerful enough for anything so I'm probably biased.

 

[JC]

The Outlandish is one ugly muddah.....

JC

 

[Scarpozzi]

I think NFS4 has the best point of all. You really would NEED a 5 speed in this thing. It makes me mad that you can't buy a decent vehicle these days in a 5 speed without searching for one. It's like only 10% of cars/trucks/suvs out there are 5 speeds. I wish the manufacturers would just force the drivers to learn how to drive rather than making it easy for them. If you can't drive stick, you shouldn't have a license IMHO.

 

[Cyberian]

Didn't Isuzu have a model that looked similar to that a couple of years ago?

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
I think NFS4 has the best point of all. You really would NEED a 5 speed in this thing. It makes me mad that you can't buy a decent vehicle these days in a 5 speed without searching for one. It's like only 10% of cars/trucks/suvs out there are 5 speeds. I wish the manufacturers would just force the drivers to learn how to drive rather than making it easy for them. If you can't drive stick, you shouldn't have a license IMHO.

Thank God I got a manual car.. I can be smug and superior too! Bwahaha!

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: Cyberian
Didn't Isuzu have a model that looked similar to that a couple of years ago?

you mean the Axiom? it still exists, but Isuzu won't. (can't find link to a thread about Isuzu shutting manufacturing operation in North America)

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi I wish the manufacturers would just force the drivers to learn how to drive rather than making it easy for them. If you can't drive stick, you shouldn't have a license IMHO.

I don't suppose you would like to elaborate a bit on that, would you?

I guess everyone should have to know DOS and kill their own food, too.