2011 Mitsubishi Outlander: Prices, models & 2WD revealed

The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Prices & Models

Mitsubishi has a proper SUV history with the Shogun. And even the softer SUV that is the Mitsubishi Outlander has proper off-road abilities – it’s not just capable of getting out of muddy car parks at boot sale and nothing more, it really can do a decent off-road job.

And it’s that proper SUV background that makes car buyers take Mitsubishi’s SUVs seriously; far more seriously as proper off-roaders than something like a Tiguan or a Kuga. But times are changing and buyers ar flooding in to cheaper cars with the butch, off-road appearance, even if they don’t have real off-road credentials.

That has made Mitsubishi address the issue with its own pretend off-roader, the compact Mitsubishi ASX. As we discovered when we recently reviewed the Mitsubishi ASX, it’s a perfectly competent, if rather unremarkable, small soft-roader. It’s USP is its frugality, thanks to some clever engine trickery from Mitsubishi.

But it seems having a small soft-roader isn’t enough to keep sales bubbling along for Mitsubishi, they’ve decided to offer a 2WD version of the compact SUV that is the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander.

The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander – we reviewed the run-in model, the Mitsubishi Outlander Juru recently – gets a tweaked 2.2 DI-D diesel lump (to comply with Euro 5 emissions) which manages to knock 12% off the emissions level of the old 2.2, and it’s also more powerful – it produces 175bhp as against the old engine’s 154bhp.

Giving buyers the option of having an Outlander without 4WD abilities has seen the entry-level price for the Outlander drop to just £22, 799 with the top of the heap 4WD version coming in at £29,199.

If you never venture anywhere muddy and drive conservatively than the 2WD option will suit. But in our experience of the Outlander – which is pretty positive – it does tend to torque-steer rather a lot if you have a heavy right foot and you’re running in 2WD. Whenever we jump in to one of these – the Outlander, Peugeot 4007 or Citroen C-Crosser – our default setting is 4WD.

You’ve been warned.

By Cars UK