MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER LS
$38,990 drive-away 17.5 points
VALUE
4 stars
The Outlander in this guise is a burger with the lot — a seven-seat SUV with decent off-road ability, full-size spare, dual-zone aircon and auto lights and wipers. The national drive-away price makes it great value (though this vehicle has been around for a while). Any colour other than white adds $590. The five-year/ 100,000km warranty and 12 month/15,000km service intervals are better than many and the first three services will cost $840.
DESIGN
3.5 stars
The facelift in 2016 aligned the exterior with the company’s latest looks. The interior upgrades were bigger still, including new but not supportive-enough seats, soft-touch plastics and improved connectivity. Take up all seven seats and there’s only 128L of cargo space; fold the second and third rows and that grows to 1608L. Outward vision is good for an SUV of this size.
ENGINE
3 stars
The 2.4-litre four-cylinder (124kW/220Nm) has no turbo, so it needs to rev and even then response is sedate with four or more bodies on board. The claimed 7.2L/100km is good for its size but expect more like 9L-plus in regular urban driving. A continuously variable transmission sends power to all four wheels.
SAFETY
4 stars
Blind spot and lane departure warnings are standard, along with adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking. ANCAP rated the Outlander at 35.58/37 when it was tested in 2015. Seven airbags are standard but the curtain bags don’t extend to the third row of seats.
DRIVING
3 stars
A plush ride makes for comfortable family transport. It doesn’t do corners at pace but is consistent and predictable. Off-road prowess is limited only by the 190mm ride height. The steering won’t win awards for feedback or precision but the lightness of the tiller — and a hatch-like 10.6m turning circle — make it easy to manoeuvre. Petrol Outlanders tow up to 1600kg.
NISSAN X-TRAIL ST-L 2WD
$40,768 drive-away 18 pts
VALUE
3.5 stars
Nissan doesn’t do an all-wheel drive seven-seat X-Trail. The ST-L front-driver matches the Outlander’s seven-inch infotainment screen with satnav and digital radio but lacks smartphone mirroring, full-size spare and auto wipers. Any paint other than red adds $570. Warranty is three years/100,000km and servicing is 12 months/10,000km. With average annual driving, you’ll total $1232 for four trips to the dealership in three years.
DESIGN
3.5 stars
The styling is rounded compared with the predecessor but the tapering looks and chunky roof pillars limit rearward vision. The cabin layout is conventional, though still easy to operate. Cargo capacity is 135L with seven seats in use and there’s underfloor storage for wet items. As with the Outlander, the third row is effectively for the smaller family members.
ENGINE
3.5 stars
Nissan’s 2.5-litre four-cylinder (126kW/226Nm) turns a CVT — it does the job but sounds a bit harsh under load. A turbo engine from the allied Renault stable would address performance and refinement. The claimed thirst of 8.1L/100km translates into mid-9L in a real-world mix of city and highway driving.
SAFETY
4 stars
ANCAP tested the X-Trail last year and assessed it at 35.28/37. It misses out on a driver’s knee airbag and, as with the rival, curtain airbags don’t extend to the third row. AEB is standard, as is blind-spot warning. It lacks the Outlander’s lane-departure alert but compensates with a rear cross-traffic alarm.
DRIVING
3.5 stars
Slow steering and an 11.2m turning circle make the X-Trail slightly less agile in carparks but it is a better ride over potholes and corrugations. The engine response feels marginally better whether off the line or overtaking. It sets no dynamic benchmarks but it’s a high-riding seven-seat family wagon after all. Braked tow rating for the petrol X-Trail is 1500kg.
VERDICT
The Outlander is a capable all-rounder, especially at the price, but the newer and slightly sharper X-Trail has its measure. That’s why it is the second best-selling vehicle in the segment.
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