The first-generation Mitsubishi Outlander was a dog thanks to a thoroughly underwhelming powertrain. For 2007, Mitsubishi is giving the compact SUV segment another go with a totally redesigned Outlander. No four-cylinder if even offered this time around: a 3.0-liter V6 good for 220 horsepower is standard.

That said, Toyota has recently introduced an all-new RAV4, and Honda has done the same with the CR-V. Does the new Outlander have what it takes to measure up to these two?

I would have preferred to drive an AWD XLS, the top trim complete with attractive 18-inch alloys. However, the only XLS was parked in the showroom. Outside were a pair of the base trim front-drive ES, complete with the special intro price of $19,990 plus $625 destination. So take this review with a grain of salt--an AWD XLS would likely do better.

Styling

Exterior styling is a strong point--as long as you get the XLS. Unlike many past Mitsubishis, the sheetmetal is clean and classy. There are no tacky tacked-on bits to be found. Though there is more than a little similarly to the Saturn VUE's exterior, the execution here is more polished.

Why just with the XLS? Because the 16-inch steelies on the ES I drove could not do more to ruin the overall appearance of the vehicle. They're too small and too plain. The lack of fog lamps also leaves the front end appearing unfinished.

Inside the styling is similarly clean, perhaps to a fault. The old interior had more detail to it while remaining tasteful, and looked more upscale. Hard plastic abounds, and the padding on the armrests, though better than none at all, is very thin. The doors feel tinny when opened and closed. The larger, more expensive Endeavor has a much richer feeling interior. That in the Outlander was clearly developed with a very low price in mind.

Accommodations

The view forward is dominated by the heavily raked windshield and the resulting ultra-deep instrument panel. Livable, but not my preference. The steering wheel felt much to far away to me, and it does not telescope.

The seats provide a marginal level of comfort and support. The side bolsters are soft, and thus cave when called upon to perform.

There's enough room for adults in the reclinable second row even when it's fully forward. Slide it back a few inches, and there's plenty of legroom. But this is fairly typical of the class these days. Unfortunately, the seat is flat, hard, and generally not comfortable to sit on.

As with the RAV4, a third-row seat is available. In this case, it's standard on the XLS and not available with the other trims. With the second row all the way forward, I had just enough room for my 5-9 self back there. But of course it's mostly for kids, and for them it'll do fine.

The seat's padding is extremely thin, so that it takes up as little space as possible when stowed in the floor. Putting the seat up and down is very complicated. The instructions are unclear, and it took the salesman a few minutes and multiple attempts to erect it.

The cargo area is a plus. It is access through a liftgate-tailgate combination. The tailgate is essentially the rar bumper--making me wonder about damage in a minor rear-ender. But there's no disputing the ultra-low flat load floor this enables--just 24 inches off the pavement. As in the CR-V, the second row tips forward against the front seats to enlarge the cargo area. Given this implementation, it would not make sense for the front passenger seat to fold, and it does not. In the RAV4 the second row folds flat.

As in the CR-V but not the RAV4, the spare stows beneath the load floor rather than on the tailgate.

On the Road

The V6 certainly aids acceleration, such that the Outlander feels quicker than the four-cylinder-only CR-V. The 269-horsepower V6 RAV4 is much quicker still, though. In addition to being less powerful, the Mitsubishi six is not nearly as refined as Toyota's. And, mated to a front-wheel-drive powertrain, it generates considerable torque steer and frequent wheelspin. In turns, the inside front wheel struggles to transfer power to the pavement.

Implication: if you want an Outlander, you want one with all-wheel-drive.

Handling is also well behind Honda and Toyota. The Outlander's body leans more than the others in turns, and the chassis generally lacks composure. The larger touring tires on the XLS might help a bit, but my understanding is that the suspension is the same.

Nor is ride quality good. Over pocked pavement the Outlander feels unsettled, with subpar body control and impact absorption. Over coarse pavement there's more road noise than you'll find in the newly refined CR-V.

Mitsubishi Outlander Price Comparisons and Pricing

The Outlander was clearly designed to sell at a low price. But how much do you save?

Base MSRP to base MSRP, the Outlander ES comes in $580 below the Honda CR-V. Adjusting for feature differences cuts the gap to under $300. The Mitsubishi does give you a couple of extra cylinders, but I can see how this will shake out for most people.

Performing the same comparison with the Toyota RAV4, but this time with a V6-AWD powertrain, the Mitsubishi is just $535 below the Toyota (the special intro rebate isn't available with AWD). Adjusting for features widens the gap to about $1,300. I don't see this one often going in the Mitsubishi's favor, either.

Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate these and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, www.truedelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.)

TrueDelta's page for the Outlander:

http://www.truedelta.com/models/Outlander.php

Last Words

The stylish exterior, standard V6, and available third-row seat had me personally excited about the new 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander. But a test drive found that it comes up short, sometimes very short, in many areas. And it's not that much less than the superior competition. So, for now, I'd stay away.

A Note on Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability

I cannot practically cover reliability within the context of this review. However, many people are interested in such information, so I've started collecting my own data. Results, once they are available, will be posted to my site, www.truedelta.com, with updates every three months.

Unlike other sources, TrueDelta will clearly identify what difference it will make if you buy an Outlander rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" and "days in the shop" stats (among others). You will be able to specify the number of years, annual miles, and types of repairs to include in Mitsubishi Outlander reliability comparisons.

Before I can report results, I need reliability data on all cars--not just the Outlander--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive free access to the site's reliability information. Non-participants will have to pay an access fee.

For the details, and to sign up, visit www.truedelta.com.

A link to this website and alphabetized links to my other vehicle reviews can be found on my profile page.

Some of my reviews of related vehicles:
Mitsubishi Outlander review (previous generation)
Honda CR-V review
Hyundai Tucson review (note: my review was written before the current RAV4 and CR-V were available)
Subaru Forester review
Suzuki Grand Vitara review
Toyota RAV4 review