2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Is Perfectly Middle Of The Road

The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander is a nicely-sized, capable crossover with all of the things you’d expect from a vehicle in this category. Although it doesn’t excel in any specific way, it meets all needs without fuss. This might seem boring, but it’s also practical and for a family-oriented vehicle like this, that’s the priority.

Small and midsize crossovers today generally fall into one of two categories. They’re either really sporty and convey excitement or they are one step away from a minivan. The first category often misses somewhere, be it in everyday use, with smaller cargo areas, less seating room, no third row option, lower fuel economy, etc. The second category meets all of the needs of a growing, modern family without the boredom stigma that the minivan has. These latter crossovers tend to be the better selling of the two groups because they are the more practical and useful. The others grace magazine covers.

The 2015 Outlander fits squarely in that second category, meeting all of the expectations and needs of today’s modern families. During our week with this crossover, we drove it with the third row up, seating five (three children, two in the back) and two adults. With plenty of space left over for all of the stuff you have to bring when you road trip with three kids under the age of five. From Disney CDs featuring annoying songs by princesses named Elsa to second and third changes of clothes in case there’s an “accident” (plus food, snacks, drinks, more food…) It all fit easily in this Outlander.

Our press loan was a 2015 Outlander 2.4 SE with all-wheel drive. This is the most common configuration for this crossover as an upper-mid-level package. The four-cylinder engine is a 2.4-liter bringing 166 horsepower and 164 lb-ft of torque, which is plenty to keep the Outlander going. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) is an object of complaint among many journalists, but I learned to bump the shifter into Sport mode when extra power was needed, which ups the RPM rate, and then pull it out of Sport into Drive otherwise. Doing this, the 2015 Outlander with this little four-banger was a great little goer for everyday driving.

At this package level, even with the Premium add-on options, though, the Outlander will never be called “luxurious” or even “premium.” It’s well-equipped and comfortable, on par with competitors like the Subaru Forester, but lacks the premium feel some contenders like the Kia Sorento might offer. The new update for the Outlander, brought last year, though, did vastly improve the vehicle’s exterior looks and interior fit. So while the interior is not flashy or cushy, it is not cheap either.

Driving the 2015 Outlander is easy and comfortable. Road noise is acceptable and the ride is well balanced. Engine noise can get high when accelerating, but again, utilizing the easy switch to Sport mode and back solves much of this. Feedback from the road is good and feels better than in many other crossovers, adding to the engagement factor.

Overall, as the title for this review suggests, the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander is a solid middle-ground vehicle option. Nothing will “wow” you, but nothing will truly disappoint either. As a family vehicle, it definitely delivers.