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2003 Mitsubishi Outlander SUV
The "SUV-Lite"

Susan Frissell
Women With Wheels

SUNRIVER,OR. "Crossover vehicle:" What does it mean?

"Different things to different people," Pierre Gagnon, President/CEO of Mitsubishi North America assured us, here in Sunriver, Oregon, as we acquainted ourselves with Mitsubishi’s newest sibling: Outlander sport-utility-vehicle.

After surveying the marketplace and consulting their loyal customer base, Mitsubishi made the decision to create a crossover species of its own. Appealing to a growing niche of consumers growing out of a sedan, this new crossover vehicle-Outlander- offers an attractive package for the buyer who maintains a active lifestyle, with equipment to tote and a modest checkbook balance.

According to Gagnon, Outlander is "expected to play a huge role in Mitsubishi’s success." Outlander, he continued, is "stylish, spirited, practical and priced to sell." With overall sales up 15 percent over the last year, and three years of record sales, Mitsubishi is on a roll, and set to launch seven new products within the next three years.

Why another SUV, you ask? We might pose the same question, especially with a 1.2 percent overall reduction in car and truck sales for 2001. Sales levels for the entry-level SUV category, however, were up 29.3 percent, and remain the fastest growing segment in the sport-ute market. How could Mitsubishi not get in on the action? In an attempt to grab some of the sales going toward Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, Mitsubishi took great pains to make the Outlander a viable contender.

Mitsubishi has tried to cover all the bases with Outlander. The back 60/40 split seats recline in a few different positions, as well as lie down with headrests in tact, creating a larger cargo area to tote bikes and such. The flaps at the back of the seats, however, have a tendency to flip back when pulling items out of the back, making it possible to catch cargo when being moved.

Outlander’s front seats are comfortable, especially accommodating for a shorter driver. The dash is simple and functional, and legroom decent. When designing Outlander, Mitsubishi knew what they were going after, a small SUV that had the looks of the larger SUV’s, dependability, practicality, and appearance and style. The philosophy that "building a vehicle to satisfy the tastes and personalities of its owner" has a much better shot at success than one that fits a national demographic, was Mitsubishi’s approach.

With this said, Mitsubishi realized an entry-level sport-ute would not sell for its looks alone. Rather, it must be reliable, have utility and be user-friendly.

Outlander’s Roots

Based on the Lancer platform, Outlander is known in the Japanese market as Airtrek. Reinvented for the U.S. and other export markets, Outlander shares Lancer’s wheelbase and road manners, making it a very easy vehicle to drive, park and maneuver. Outlander’s height makes for easy entry/exit, particularly for the shorter driver or passenger.

Outlander will be available in showrooms this fall, in four models. In both LS and XLS versions one can opt for front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive. All-wheel-drive LS and XLS choices just the ticket for wet weather and off-road handling.