2024 Mitsubishi Outlander

Accommodation for up to seven could be the answer to a school-run conundrum. The Outlander just about fits into a compact SUV footprint, so parking isn’t as tricky as it might be with a midsize SUV. With this latest generation, which launched for the 2022 model year, the Mitsubishi Outlander doesn’t have to be the Kroger equivalent of a more desirable brand. However, a lot still depends on whether that third row is required and if it’s of a suitable size.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) is reviewed separately.

Mitsubishi now includes free scheduled maintenance for the first two years or 30,000 miles. And a Platinum Edition joins the range.

Compact SUVs with three rows of seating are rare. There’s the updated-for-2024 Kia Sorento starting in the low $30K range and the Volkswagen Tiguan (which cannot offer three rows of seating and all-wheel drive together; it has to be one or the other) starting in the high $20K range. If it works out that two rows are fine, then that opens up a lot more choices, one of the best being the Honda CR-V from around $29.5K.

Before buying a new Outlander SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values of previous Outlander generations have not been strong.

The Outlander employs a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine making 181 horsepower. This is not an Outlander strong point, but the Subaru Forester has a similarly tepid engine and that hasn’t deterred buyers.

Compact SUVs are big sellers because they provide comfort and a raised driving position that so many people love. We’ve found that the 2024 Outlander fits this particular bill. This generation shares a platform with the Nissan Rogue, with the happy outcome that the ride is comfortable, while body lean is kept under control when going around corners.

We think the steering is light, but not too vague. And the brakes are just as user-friendly. The cabin is acceptably quiet most of the time, but that engine will need some hard revving on occasion.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of 3-row SUVs, including the Mitsubishi Outlander.

Fuel Economy

Front-drive versions of the Outlander achieve 27 combined mpg (24 city, 31 highway). All-wheel drive doesn’t have much of an effect: 26 combined mpg (24 city, 30 highway). Regular gasoline is fine.

The Outlander 3-row SUV comes with an uncluttered interior design using good-quality materials. Pricier versions can be almost luxurious, offering semi-aniline leather with diamond-patterned stitching for the seats and door panels.

Counting up the number of cushions and seat belts, the 2024 Outlander has accommodation for seven. In reality, it works out to four adults — two up front and two in the outboard second-row seats. Plus one small, grumpy person sitting between the adults in the second row, and a couple of even smaller people in the third row.

That’s two more passengers than most other compact SUVs can accommodate, though, making the Outlander one of the most affordable 7-seater vehicles on the market. With all those rear seats collapsed, the Outlander offers a cavernous 79.7 cubic feet of cargo volume. There’s 11.7 cubic feet behind the third row.

The Kia Sorento has 12.6/75.5 cubic feet. It also has 29.6 inches of legroom in the third row — compare that with the Outlander’s ever-so-tight 18.7 inches (although the discrepancy isn’t that great in practice). Grown-ups in the Outlander’s second row enjoy a decent 39.1 inches of legroom, by the way.

Size-wise, the Outlander qualifies as a compact SUV. It’s about the same length as the Honda CR-V. The Kia Sorento is a tad longer, which is why it can offer better third-row passenger space.

Each to their own, of course, but we think the current Outlander SUV has more presence and attitude than its predecessor. In the past, that third seating row might have been the main reason to choose an Outlander. Nowadays, the design might also have some sway. The new-for-2024 Platinum version contrasts a Black Diamond paint color for the body with an Alloy Silver roof.

All-wheel drive
Mitsubishi calls it Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) but most of us tend to know it as all-wheel drive, providing the usual extra confidence during bad weather. It has selectable modes of Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, Normal, Eco, and Mud. The difference between Tarmac and Normal is that the former is like a Sport setting.

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
We all expect phone integration to be standard in new vehicles these days. It is in the 2024 Outlander. Wireless Apple CarPlay also comes with the larger infotainment touchscreen fitted in the SE trim and above.

Leather-wrapped steering wheel
It’s not that pleasant holding a plastic steering wheel for mile after mile after mile. The grip and comfort of a leather-wrapped steering wheel is much more preferable. This comes in at the SE level.

Powered tailgate
A power-operated tailgate (with adjustable opening heights) is simply a great convenience feature, which becomes standard in the SE.

12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
This configurable driver information display becomes available in the SE’s Tech package. It can show the usual things like road and engine speeds, plus navigation directions.

Head-up display
Taking driver-oriented tech further, the head-up display projects information into the windshield, reducing those fractions of seconds spent not looking at the road. This is part of the SEL’s Touring package.

No choices here. The sole form of propulsion for the 2024 Outlander is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, no turbos or anything similar. It makes 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, which is on the modest side for the class. The next step in the powertrain is an automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is the basic setup, with all-wheel drive available as an option.

5-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

Mitsubishi’s new-vehicle warranty on a 2024 Outlander lasts five years or 60,000 miles, whichever happens first. The powertrain is covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. These are generous warranties, matched only by Hyundai and Kia. Roadside assistance is for five years with unlimited miles. And Mitsubishi now includes free scheduled maintenance for the first two years or 30,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

The Outlander has been made a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It earned four out of five stars overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).