Grand Blanc, MI — April 30, 2021
Every once in a while a new vehicle comes along that changes the perception of the buying public. Those of us old enough to remember the origins of the SUV watched as a pickup truck was reconfigured to function as an oversized station wagon and America fell in love with the design.
Almost every manufacturer now produces Sport Utility Vehicles and the selection of models available is as wide as their price ranges. The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is one of those vehicles that defines an automotive genre in a unique way.
Call this SUV a Spectacular Upgraded Value, the newly redesigned Outlander offers more features than luxury models priced tens of thousands of dollars more. If you can’t wait to find out the MSRP, scroll down to the bottom of the article. Just be sure to scroll back up and see what that price gives you in terms of Safety, Appearance, Economy, and so much more. Surely a “game-changer” in the price versus value SUV marketplace.
First Impressions
When you walk up to the 2022 Outlander the face of the vehicle stands out as a bold statement on the appearance Mitsubishi intended to convey with the design changes. The blackout grill highlights the bright silver Triple Diamond logo. The Outlander name¹ spread in contrast black across the front of the hood is attention-grabbing.
The vertically stacked LED headlights are innovative and attractive giving the 2022 Outlander a refreshed appearance. Open the driver’s door to a rich-looking interior with diamond-stitched seating surfaces and door panels.
The steering wheel is large enough to view the entire 7-inch instrument display through the spokes of the wheel but small enough to feel completely comfortable in your hands.
The gear shifter is low profile to not interfere with hand movements around the dash control panel. The 12.3-inch display screen¹ is stunning with full digital clarity and easy-to-read display graphics. Despite its size, the screen is expertly positioned to not interfere with visibility out of the front windshield.
Those are the things that jump out at you at an initial glance. Drive the 2022 Outlander and it continues to impress.
Safety is Paramount
The built-in safety features are, again, an exceptional value in the Outlander’s price range. Mitsubishi describes it “As the best-equipped Mitsubishi ever sold in the U.S.”
“MI-PILOT Assist integrates Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), and Traffic Sign Recognition to maintain appropriate speed and following distance and keep the vehicle in the center of the lane.” The vehicle will literally drive itself (not designed to be used in such a manner), lightly resting your hands on the steering wheel you can feel the MI-PILOT manage your lane location.
Additional available safety innovations include.¹ “Forward collision Mitigation (FCM), Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW), Active Blind Spot Assist (ABSA), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Lane Departure Warning and Prevention (LDW & LDP), Driver Attention Alert, Rear Automatic Emergency Braking, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Automatic High Beam (AHB), Hill Descent Control (HDC), Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) and a Multiview Camera system.”
I learned a bit about my personal driving habits behind the wheel of the 2022 Outlander. The LDW & LDP would let me know if I wandered too close to the edge of the roadway with a visual display on the dash, an audible warning chime, and a slight buzz in the steering wheel similar to driving over rumble strips. All of that replaced reminders from my wife for not staying in the center of my lane, just a satisfied smile on her face.
Appearance
“This Outlander 2022 design ethos is reflected in the vehicle’s bold proportions, muscular fenders, and the chiseled lines of the next-generation “Dynamic Shield” grille. Standard 18-inch wheels and available 20-inch wheels add a robust presence that emphasizes strength and security. Inside, Outlander offers the segment’s only standard third-row seating and places a premium on comfort and convenience with class-above materials in every trim.”
The factory design engineers got that right. Bold, Muscular, Strength, Security, Premium Comfort, and Convenience are all perfect adjectives used in describing the innovative look built into this unique combination of price versus value.
Even attention to detail in the little things speaks to getting more for your money. Open the sun visor mirror and notice the light is mounted in the headliner as opposed to around the mirror itself. Better illumination allows for easier makeup application. The center storage area in front of the gear shift knob has a rubber mat that keeps change and other loose items from sliding about when driving. Removable for easy cleaning.
Pricing
Ok, here it is. The base MSRP for the ES trim package is $25,795. Are you kidding me? It’s even more impressive if you are told that after you drive the new 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander. Trim levels offer additional options.
More good news! 2022 Outlanders are available now at local Mitusibshi dealers Grand Blanc Mitsubishi and Waterford Mitsubishi. Stop by either location at 5470 ALI DRIVE in Grand Blanc or 5900 HIGHLAND ROAD in Waterford.
Their sales professionals will be glad to offer a test drive, explain the trim level details, and answer questions about all that technical stuff like… “The all-new Outlander has a newly developed 2.5-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine mated to an eight-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT) with Sport mode. Fuel economy for this all-new vehicle is 24/31/27 (city/highway/combined) for 2WD models and 24/30/26 for all-wheel-drive models.”
Don’t forget to inquire about the “best in the business” manufacture’s New Vehicle Warranty. “Every 2022 Outlander comes with one of the industry’s leading warranties: a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty; 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty; 7-year/100,000-mile anti-corrosion/perforation limited warranty; and 5-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance program.”
¹ Item availability depends on trim level.
