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“I get by with a little help from my friends,” is a line from a
classic Beatles song. It could also apply to Mitsubishi — a
member of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance — that
uses the Nissan Rogue framework for the 2022 Outlander.
Compared with the outgoing model, the new version
is somewhat longer, wider and taller. The wheelbase
also increases slightly. Most of the size adjustments
are identical or closely similar to the Rogue’s. The new
Outlander is a bit more massive looking than the Rogue,
especially the grille and headlight surrounds. The rest of
the bodywork differs slightly from the Nissan’s. Unique to
the Outlander is a two-person third row bench seat. Both
second- and third-row seats are split folding, so you can
configure a variety of passenger and cargo arrangements.
Front-row folks get a lovely dashboard and control panel
that’s fronted by a dominant touch-screen. The Outlander’s
2.5-liter four-cylinder engine makes 181 horsepower
and 181 pound-feet of torque and is matched with a
continuously variable transmission with eight built-in steps
to somewhat emulate a conventional geared automatic.
All trims come with front-wheel-drive, with all-wheel-
N E W F O R 2022
2022 Mitsubishi Outlander
Base price: $28,100
Type: Midsize utility vehicle
Engine (h.p.): 2.5-liter I-4 (181)
Transmission: Continuously variable
Layout: Front- /all-wheel-drive
Base MPG (city/highway/combined): 24/31/27 (FWD)
Base weight (lb.): 3,710
drive available as an option. The system has
Eco, Normal, Tarmac (pavement), Gravel,
Snow and Mud settings that vary the engine,
transmission and steering programming
(front-wheel-drive models don’t get the Mud
setting). The Outlander plug-in hybrid returns
in mid-2022.