2011 Mitsubishi Outlander

The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander is offered in four trim options which are ES, SE, XLS, and GT. The ES and SE trims are powered by the base 2.4 L Inline-4 engine mated to a CVT transmission. The higher-end XLS and GT trims have a stronger 3.0 L V6 under the hood mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. ES and XLS trims are exclusively FWD while the SE trim is offered in both FWD as well as AWD whereas the top-end GT trim is only available in an AWD configuration. The following table shows the detailed list of features and the prices of each trim of the 2011 Outlander-

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The XLS trim is the best option as it comes with the stronger V6 engine and a superior set of features over the lower trims. However, it is only available in an FWD configuration and that is a limitation. For people who require AWD, the SE trim is the ideal choice, but then it comes with the base 4-cylinder engine. So that makes it awkward for choosing a trim and whichever you choose, some compromises have to be made, or else you can go for the top-end GT trim which is expensive. 

The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander comes with two engine options. The lower ES and SE trims are powered by a 2.4 L Inline-4 engine mated to a CVT transmission producing 168 hp and 167 lb-ft of power and torque. This output is lower than what the base engines of the competitors in the segment produce. The higher-end XLS and GT trims are powered by a stronger 3.0 L V6 mated to a 6s-peed automatic that puts out 230 hp and 215 lb-ft. The ES and XLS trims are strictly FWD while the GT is exclusively AWD. 

That makes the SE trim the only one available in both FWD as well as AWD. The base model of the Outlander takes 10.1 seconds to reach a speed of 60mph while the quarter-mile is crossed in 17.7 seconds. The more powerful V6 can gain a speed of 60mph in a lower 7.9 seconds. The base engine is clearly underpowered but the V6 offers enough punch. Handling-wise all models of the Outlander are fun-to-drive and engaging and the ride quality is also impressive.

The 2011 Subaru Forester is the most powerful one here and it also comes in a standard AWD configuration. However, despite being the most powerful one, the outdated transmission in the Forester limits it from performing well. The Nissan Rogue comes with CVT but still is the fastest and best performer. The Outlander disappoints with its base engine and you have to pay more for a higher trim equipped with the V6 for getting enough power. 

The Outlander even with the weak base engine, only performs on an average level in terms of fuel efficiency in the segment. It puts out a fuel economy of 23 mpg in the city, 28 on the highway, and a combined efficiency of 25 mpg. And it comes with a large 16.6-gallon fuel capacity which enables it to reach up to 415 miles without a refill in combined road and driving conditions. These figures are good but in no way impressive. 

The fastest one, the Nissan Rogue excels in the fuel economy department also. It is the most efficient one here and is on par with the Outlander, but the significant performance difference gives the Rogue the edge. The Forester is the least efficient machine and most of the blame goes to its transmission for that. The Outlander with the larger capacity tank delivers the most range. 

The 2011 Mistubishi Outlander has a good quality cabin but is just not very impressive as there is a use of low-quality materials at some spots inside the cabin. The steering wheel is tilt-only and doesn’t telescope and this could also be an issue. The dashboard design is neat, but it doesn’t really stand or look distinctive. It is also not as luxurious as what some of the rivals offer. 

The interior is plenty spacious and from the SE trim and upward Mitsubishi offers a third-row which is just useless. The first and seconds rows are super spacous and the cargo capacity is also class-leading. The seats are comfortable but there doesn’t seem to be available with leather upholstery as the seats are covered in cloth in all trims. Overall the Outlander has a cabin that is strictly average. 

The Nissan Rogue has an outdated dashboard design but it comes with one of the highest quality cabins in the segment, The Honda CR-V also gets a good-quality interior while the Subaru seriously lacks interior quality and the Mitsubishi stays in the middle. The Outlander is definitely the most spacious followed by the CR-V while the Rogue lacks cargo capacity. The following are the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander’s standout interior features- 

• Automatic air-condition climate control 
• Micron air filter 
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel with silver accent
• Rear seat center armrest with cupholders
• Heated front seats
• Aluminum pedals
• 60/40 rear split-fold seatbacks
• Upper glove box compartment 
• Carpeted floor mat

How intuitive is the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander’s infotainment unit?

The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander comes equipped with a 140-watt, AM/FM/CD/MP3-compatible audio system with six speakers as standard along with a digital signal processor, equalization control, and speed-compensated volume. The audio system could also be upgraded in the SE trim and upwards to a 710-watt, Rockford Fosgate audio system with nine speakers including a 10-inch dual-voice coil subwoofer. The following are other main infotainment features inside the Outlander-

• Auxiliary audio RCA input jack
• FUSE Hands-free Link System with USB port 
• In-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 compatible changer 
• Steering-wheel-mounted cruise control and audio control switches 
• High contrast meter with full-color MID

The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander looks like a traditional SUV that stands in the middle of a huge number of crossover in the segment. That is an advantage for the outlander as its distinct looks might attract people who want something that differs from the usual crossover look. The front-end has the familiar Mitsubishi look that resembles a Lancer Evo which is nice to look at. The rear-end also looks good with well-defined lines and curves. 

All models of the Outlander come equipped with 18-inch wheels and no larger wheels are available, not even as an option. The available exterior options include a Protection Package which adds scuff plates, tailgate protector, rear bumper guard, mudguards that could keep the Outlander safe from exterior damage. Overall the Outlander is a good-looking machine with traditional looks, but it lacks features including the availability of alloy wheel options. 

The Nissan Rogue is the worst-looking one while all others are much better-looking and beautiful in some way. The Honda CR-V and the Mitsubishi Outlander are the heaviest while the Subaru is the lightest. The Outlander is the longest while the CR-V is the widest. The Subaru is the most off-road friendly as it comes with an increased ground clearance of 8.7-inches. The following are some of the most important exterior features of the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander- 

• High-Intensity Discharge headlamps (HID) with automatic on/off control
• Fog lights 
• Rear LED combination tail lamps 
• Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) 
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Single exhaust outlet with dual finishers

The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander has been safety tested by IIHS and NHTSA, but an overall rating has not been given as only a few tests were conducted by both agencies. NHTSA has rated it with 4-stars for rollover protection with an indicated rollover risk of 19.10% which is not alarming. IIHS has given the Outlander a safety rating of ‘Good’ for front and side safety while it got an ‘Acceptable’ rating for roof strength. From this, we can only conclude that the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander is a moderately safe vehicle. The following are it’s standout safety features- 

• Active Stability Control (ASC) 
• Brake Assist 
• Hill Start Assist 
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) 
• Anti-theft engine-immobilizer & alarm system 
• LATCH system (lower anchors and tethers) for CRS

The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander is a capable option in the segment when equipped with the stronger V6 engine. But the thing is, if you want a lower-priced machine with more power, there are many other options including the Nissan Rogue on offer. And if you can spend more money on the V6 models, then also there are much more feature-rich options in the segment. So that makes the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander a bad choice, and the lack of options and the cluttered trim configuration setup make it difficult. So choose the Outlander only if you are so much interested in it, and if you do, go for the V6-equipped models.