By: IOL Motoring Staff
Johannesburg - Mitsubishi's mid-sized Outlander SUV has been given a number of detail revisions for 2015, aimed mostly at practicality and comfort - although industry tradition demands that it also gets a new upper grille design, a black under-grille area, chromed surrounds for the front foglights, silver roof rails and skid plates, and new black wheel-arch trims.
More importantly, the 2.4-litre Exceed twin-cam petrol four gets a revised CVT transmission with a larger-spectrum lock-up range, which has the effect of providing a larger selection of 'virtual gear ratios' (i.e. holding points). It also has a form of manual override for when you need more control over the transmission in difficult terrain, controlled by paddle shift.
Fuel consumption has been reduced to a nominal 8.2 litres per 100km (under ideal circumstances, cautions the maker's media release!), driving through the Outlander's familiar Multi-select all-wheel drive system, which defaults to front-wheel drive until it starts losing its grip, then feeds drive to the rear wheels as required.
EXTRA STORAGE
There's a new storage compartment available under the floor of the cargo bay, where, based on customer feedback, leaving out the Rockford Fosgate sound system creates a space that exactly accommodates the tonneau cover when all seven seats are in use.
Standard kit includes Bluetooth with hands-free voice control, a power-operated tailgate, a rear-view camera linked to rear parking sensors, a radio/CD/MP3/USB audio system with a touch-screen interface and an on-board entertainment system for rear passengers, a keyless operating system, leather upholstery, heatable front seats, an power-adjustable driver's seat, dual-zone automatic aircon, automatic headlights and rain sensors and an electric glass sunroof.
The 2015 Outlander 2.4 GLS Exceed retails for R439 900, including a three-year or 100 000km warranty and a five-year/ 90 000 km service plan, linked to service intervals of 15 000 km.