On the morning of my test drive and evaluation of the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander, my daily "Bring A Trailer" email contained a new auction listing for a gem of an automobile. It was a nearly original and unmolested 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX, a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive (AWD) sports coupe with sexy styling and all-weather performance capability.
Now that was an appealing Mitsubishi.
After checking the auction photos, I visited the Mitsubishi website to perform some research prior to my drive. It's always good to know what the hell you’re driving before you go and drive it. There, on promotional panel two, wedged between a “Holiday Sales Event” promising an extra $500 off on certain models, and the 2016 Outlander, named “The #1 Most Affordable Three-Row Crossover” (way to go, Cars.com), was the 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Final Edition. “Hold History in Your Hands,” the promotion encourages.
It might as well be an invitation to a funeral.
Later, stepping out the front door and heading for the Diamond White 2016 Outlander SEL with Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC), I couldn’t help but feel melancholy. Once upon a time, Mitsubishi was the brash new kid on the block, effortlessly drawing attention and admiration for cars like the Eclipse, 3000GT, and Lancer Evolution. Now, it’s the geeky wallflower on the sidelines, waving its hands, saying, “Oooh! Oooh! Pick me! Pick me!”
With more than 100 changes for the 2016 model year, more people are sure to pick the Mitsubishi Outlander than did last year, provided a dealership is nearby. The closest one to my house is 31 miles away, and I live in suburban Los Angeles.
The revised lineup includes the ES, the SE, the new SEL, and the GT. Outlander prices start at $23,845, including the snazzy 18-inch aluminum wheels seen on my test car, which are standard on all models. Choose the GT, the only model with a V6 engine instead of the standard 4-cylinder, check every option box, and you’re talking more than 40 grand.
As a buddy of mine might say, because he usually has kids within earshot, “Holy Shnikes!”
My SEL S-AWC test vehicle didn’t cost that much. Starting at $27,845, my Outlander had the SEL Touring Package ($5,250), which installed a navigation system, a premium sound system, a power sunroof, a power rear liftgate, and several safety features including a forward-collision warning system with automatic emergency braking. Skipping the accessories menu, which can really jack this SUV’s price up, my test vehicle cost $33,095.
Mitsubishi calls its new design language “Dynamic Shield.” It looks waaaaaay better on the EX Concept the company rolled out at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show than it does on the Outlander. Still, I like the 2016 Outlander’s new styling better than last year’s model, which looked like it had a beard.
Inside, last year’s awful burled-wood-tone plastic trim is replaced with a modern, dark striated pattern, and with the beige leather seats, the cabin adopts an upscale, two-tone appearance. Mitsubishi has even wrapped fabric around the windshield pillars, just one of many changes that help make this crossover more appealing for 2016.