2016 Mitsubishi Outlander / Airtrek 2.0L CVT AWD (203 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Mitsubishi launched the 2016 model-year Outlander at the 2015 New York International Auto Show, trying to keep the well-known crossover image fresh.

The world financial crisis left Mitsubishi with empty pockets, and the Japanese automaker had no choice but to try to survive with refreshed older models. Moreover, it didn’t have such a wide range of products anymore. Still, it had a few nameplates that could sell well, such as the Outlander, which was also known as Airtrek on the Japanese market, or Montero Outlander in South America.

There were not too many things to improve on this second facelift of the Outlander. Still, the automaker redesigned the front fascia and adorned the grille with a chromed surrounding. One essential update was for the headlights’ design, which now sported an angular shape. In addition, the headlamps were swept around the corners and included the turn signals. From its profile, there were just tiny details that were changed, so the vehicle still looked like a jacked-up station wagon.

The interior design remained virtually unchanged, albeit with a new steering wheel. On the dashboard, the automaker installed the infotainment system (offered as an option) with its touchscreen placed on the center stack. One key element, though, was carried over successfully: the seven-passenger option. Even though those two jump seats from the trunk were small, they could accommodate two adults for short jaunts.

Underneath the hood, Mitsubishi installed a choice of engines depending on the market. Thus, in Europe, the Outlander was sold with a 2.2-liter turbo-diesel engine carried over from Citroen. In the U.S., on the other hand, it was offered with a 3.0-liter naturally aspirated V6.