After being a car writer for the past 20 years, it’s been fun to watch vehicles that were once thought of as low-end rise to reach award-winning status. The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL 2.5 S-AWC I drove recently is a case in point.
Best of all, the once lowly Mitsubishi is still one of the most affordable SUVs on the market, with an MSRP of only $33,745.
The 2022 Outlander has earned several awards, including Wards 10 Best interiors and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety pick+. Most recently, outlander was named Vehicle of the year by “Victory & Reseda,” an online publication. It’s the first time a Mitsubishi won in the award’s 15-year history.
Mitsubishi Outlander Awards
Photo: Mitsubishi
“Since its launch in March of this year, the all-new 2022 Outlander has exceeded expectations, broken sales records and introduced Mitsubishi Motors to a new customer,” said Mark Chaffin, Mitsubishi Motors North America Chief Operating Officer. “Each award and each title the vehicle wins reinforces that now is the time to shop your local Mitsubishi Motors dealer, and take a look at our award-winning lineup. Special thanks to the editorial team at Victory & Reseda for this fantastic award, and to everyone who voted for the Outlander.”
In the publication’s online reader poll, the Outlander received 83% of all votes. Editorial staff used eight categories for their evaluations. Driveline, driving dynamics, design, comfort, technology, safety, efficiency, and value were all considered. Independent experts from the automotive industry also evaluated the vehicles.
Editor-in-chief Randy Stern said, “The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is a rare three-row vehicle in the compact SUV space, swathed with a high-quality interior, a bold exterior, and a solid driveline. The arrival of the Outlander could have a large impact on the most competitive segment in the American automotive market. It has the goods to run with the pack, with great execution and plenty of swagger.”
Photo: Mitsubishi
My Outlander was attired in a coat of Mercury Gray Metallic with silver front and rear bumper trim and silver roof rails. Its spacious and comfortable black interior featured leather trim. The SUV boasts the only three rows available in the compact category.
Outlander operated on a 2.5 liter DOHC 4-cylinder direct injection engine paired with 8-speed continuously variable transmission. Outlander featured sport mode, paddle shifters, and super all-wheel control, all adding up to a seamless performance.
Safety features were abundant, including hill start assist, forward collision mitigation, and driver attention alert. Mitsubishi Pilot Assist with navigation added an even wider variety of driver assistance tools to the mix.
Photo: Mitsubishi
Fuel economy was estimated at 24 mpg in town and 30 mpg on the highway, for an average of 26 mpg.
The manufacturer had added an optional SEL touring package ($2,700) that featured semi-aniline leather seating surfaces, power panoramic sunroof, and synthetic leather door inserts with black and tan leather quilting. All these features added a luxury touch to the cabin.
A Bose premium sound system with 10 speakers, rear door window shades, and a Head-Up display were also featured.
