MITSUBISHI’S FACELIFTED AND UPDATED Outlander range has been launched in Australia, offering a bold new look, more advanced drivetrains and a refreshed interior.
The biggest change is, of course, the entirely new front-end that’s been grafted to the Outlander’s nose.
Inspired by the aggressive snout of the high-performance Lancer Evolution X, the new trapezoidal ‘jet fighter’ grille and narrow headlights add a sense of dynamism to the 2010 Outlander’s face.
The bonnet and front quarter panels are entirely new stampings; the wing mirror housings, side skirts and rear bumper are all-new as well.
Seat, door and dashboard trims are also revised for 2010. Extra touches of chrome, double stitching, a new instrument cluster and leather trim on premium models freshen up the cabin of Mitsubishi’s high-riding crossover.
The 2.4 litre MIVEC four cylinder of the outgoing model returns largely unchanged for 2010, producing 125kW of power at 6000rpm and 226Nm of torque at 4100rpm.
The 3.0 litre MIVEC V6 is similar to the engine it replaces, but a low-restriction intake manifold, a higher compression ratio and some camshaft timing tweaks bump power up by 7kW to 169kW, with torque rising from 276Nm to 291Nm.
Mitsubishi’s Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel drive technology is now mated to the 3.0 V6, and features an active front limited-slip differential and the ability to apportion torque between individual wheels to enhance traction.
The 2.4 is available in the LS, XLS and XLS Luxury variants and is paired with a five speed manual or a CVT automatic in the base LS - the CVT being standard in the XLS and XLS Luxury.
The 3.0 comes in VR and VRX guise and is mated to a six-speed automatic as standard. All auto and CVT-equipped Outlanders also get a new-for-2010 Hill Start Assist function, which prevents roll-back when moving off on inclines.
The entry level LS gets air-conditioning, electric windows, remote-control locking, Hill Start Assist and a USB input for the stereo. LS models with the CVT transimission can also be optioned with third row seats, taking total passenger capacity to seven.
XLS variants get all the features of the LS plus 18-inch alloy wheels, Smart Key remote entry, premium cloth trim, climate control, cool/warm box, aluminium pedals, and Bluetooth connectivity.
