The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is another crossover to join one of SA's busiest segments, but can it compete in an arena where every Gladiator is armed to the teeth?
Styling
The new Outlander Sport replaces the Mitsubishi ASX, and looks better in every respect. Sure, there are styling cues from various premium manufacturers (those headlamps and taillamps are very Volvo indeed), but the Outlander Sport still looks unique and well-proportioned.
Our test model is the 1.5 Aspire variant, priced at R479 990, which slots in underneath the flagship Exceed model, priced at R499 990. Further down the line, you'll find the GL and GLS models, priced at R429 990 and R449 990, respectively.
Interior
More Swedish-looking accents are found inside the cabin; the pale material dashboard inserts create a striking contrast between the black and brown accents, while textured materials, beautifully designed door handles, and other accents in brushed chrome harmonise for a calm, cool, collected cabin. It looks classy and feels that way, too. You get that classic Japanese ambience where supreme workmanship remains the ultimate goal.
Infotainment-wise, the Outlander Sport in Aspire trim gets treated to the larger, high-res touchscreen that's easy on the senses and simple to use. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless, but you can also plug in your phone via a USB-C or USB-A port. If you'd like to adjust volume settings, you can do so via the steering wheel or on the screen. The air-conditioning system (with dual-zone climate control) can be adjusted via physical buttons and switchgear.
The cabin is well insulated, so you can listen to your favourite tunes via the excellent sound system without blowing an eardrum, even when you're driving at highway speed. And it's not even the 8-speaker Yamaha system in the Exceed model; 4 speakers are standard in 3 out of the 4 variants.
The driver's eyes rest on a fully digital instrument cluster with various view options.
Buying used? The Mitsubishi ASX is a great buy - read more about it here.
Space and Comfort
The Outlander Sport excels in this department. Gorgeous, high-quality leather seats with brown central inserts and plenty of legroom make it a real winner with families. In this department, it outshines cars like the Renault Duster and Toyota Corolla Cross, which do not have as much space in the second row. Cabin quality is also way ahead of the Duster, which has too much hard plastic considering its price.
The Outlander Sport's boot is also a great size for everyone's stuff, a generous grocery shopping expedition or just many bags of firewood.
The teenagers could happily plug in their phones via an additional USB-A and USB-C port in the second row.
The Drive
The Western Cape's winters can be thoroughly stormy, and testing the Outlander Sport in this weather proved the best way to evaluate its safety and stability under real-world conditions. Thanks to its generous 222 mm of ground clearance and an assortment of invisible driving assistants, you're in capable hands.
There are also four different drive modes: Normal, Wet Mode, Gravel Mode, and Mud Mode. We had the chance to test them all out on our route from Hermanus to Stanford and then on to Blue Gum Country Estate, one of the most scenic farms in the Overberg.
View all specs and features in the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport brochure here.
Recent rains had turned some of the dirt roads in the area into a bit of a mess with deep ruts, thick mud, and puddles that could hide anything. We braced ourselves, and the Outlander Sport made its way through. It was truly impressive how this urban-focused SUV handled proper farm roads when needed. Given Mitsubishi's track record of building robust and highly capable cars like the Pajero Sport, I knew it wouldn't even flinch.
Safety
The Outlander Sport Aspire is well-equipped with six airbags, including curtain protection, blind spot warning, rear parking sensors and camera, and tyre pressure monitoring. The standard safety kit includes stability control, hill start assist, rain-sensing wipers, and auto headlights, while LED lighting ensures good visibility all around. It's a solid safety package without going overboard with irritating non-essentials that beep in your ears.
Performance
I didn't expect too much from the 77kW 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine, but it was more than adequate for overtaking slower traffic. Not too much planning ahead is required; you plant your right foot, and it gets a move on without drama. The CVT gearbox has that typical drone, but it's not as noisy as some of Honda's CVT models where the sound vibrates into the depths of your frontal lobes.
Fuel Consumption
On average, petrol usage is around 6.9 litres to 7.3 litres per 100 km, roughly the same as the Renault Duster (the front-wheel-driven, 1.3-litre turbocharged model). Not bad at all, and once you're out on the open road, and your right foot's not too heavy, that 6.9 will likely reduce even further.
Price
(All models have a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine with 77 kW and 141 Nm and a CVT (self-shifting gearbox).
| Model | Price | Position |
|---|---|---|
| GL | R429,990 | Entry-level |
| GLS | R454,990 | Mid-range |
| Aspire | R479,990 | Premium (tested) |
| Exceed | R499,990 | Flagship |
Competitors in this price range include the VW T-Cross 1.0TSI Life at R471 400 which is in my driveway at the moment, but I would still choose the Outlander Sport over this car as well as the new Duster that starts at a whopping R489 999 for the 1.3T Zen.
On the Korean side, the Kia Seltos is an outstanding set of wheels, but if you're keen on the diesel, prepare to part with R521 995 for the 1.5CRDi LX at R521 995. The range starts at R379 995, however, for the 1.5-litre petrol options.
From the Chinese side, the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro 1.5T Executive offers impressive power (108 kW and 210 Nm) and spec at R449 900 while the GAC GS3 Emzoom 1.5T Executive (R439 900) also outguns the Mitsubishi with a meaty 130kW and 270Nm.
Related: Chery Tiggo Cross vs Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Can you put a price on quality, though? Who knows how long GAC will remain in SA; as for the Chery Group, they seem intent on a takeover with a slew of sub-brands such as Jaecoo, Omoda, and the soon-to-be-launched LEPAS badge. Insurance pricing for Chery vehicles also seems to be getting lower as parts are now readily available.
However, Mitsubishi SA has won the After Sales Customer Experience award for three years running at Mitsubishi's global awards. The award comes from KANTAR, a UK-based research company that surveys customers about their service experience over six months each year. Mitsubishi SA was the only distributor in the Middle East and Africa region to pull this off.
The Verdict
I have always liked Mitsubishi vehicles for their hardiness and intrepid attitude, but the new Outlander Sport brings elegance and build quality that I was delighted by; not to mentions spaciousness, comfort, and luxury, along with enough off-road skills for adventurous owners. Knowing that you can count on Mitsubishi for decent after-sales service is another feather in the Outlander Sport's cap.
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