2006 Mitsubishi Outlander Limited AWD (Video Clip)

A jack-of-all-trades SUV that's about to get even better

2006 Mitsubishi Outlander Limited AWD (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com)

I bet you've got a family. Um, two kids, to be exact. And a dog, a big hairy dog. You head out to the grocery store once a week, soccer or hockey practice too early in the morning. You visit the in-laws too often, and you haul the occasional big object to finish renovating that playroom slash entertainment room in the basement.

There's just one problem, though; you can't afford high monthly payments, and $80 fill-ups at the gas station makes you sick. So, what do you shop for when the family car is being driven away on a flatbed?

You need 5 doors. You need 4 cylinders but want some horsepower to work with. Your choice is limited to wagons and small SUVs. A sport-utility gives you a higher ride, which is nice when you're loading the kiddies in their child seats and don't need to bend your back. They also all offer four-wheel drive. Your criteria have now eliminated wagons.

Now, the obvious choices: Honda CR-V. Toyota RAV4. Nissan X-Trail. Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute. Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage. Saturn VUE. Subaru Forester. The Chevy HHR, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Mazda5 and Toyota Matrix might be contenders, since nobody can categorize them, but offer what you need. Well, here's another one, the Mitsubishi Outlander.

2006 Mitsubishi Outlander Limited AWD (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com)

You might have forgotten this one, but that's ok; Mitsubishi dealers are relatively new in Canada, and the Outlander isn't exactly an extroverted vehicle. Still, it's surprising that such an attractive sport-utility boasts such modest sales numbers.

Here we have the top-of-the-line Limited model, fully equipped with heated leather seats, front and side airbags, a glass sunroof, a 6-CD changer with MP3 capability, and 17-inch alloy wheels and tires. The Outlander is offered in four versions: the front-wheel drive LS, the all-wheel drive LS, the SE AWD and the Limited AWD.

I really like this SUV's looks. The nose of the Outlander looks quite original and its body looks svelte. The Limited's monochrome paint job is nice. 2WD or AWD, ride height is identical. And curiously, LS models get larger tires than the uplevel SE and top-level Limited, P225/60R16 versus P215/55R17.

2006 Mitsubishi Outlander Limited AWD (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com)

Power comes from one engine in all trim levels. A 2.4-litre inline-4 with 16 valves and variable valve timing, what Mitsu calls MIVEC, produces 160 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. LS models get a standard 5-speed manual and can be ordered with a 4-speed automatic that includes a manual mode. The two top trims get the automatic only. Well, I've driven the same engine in the Lancer, but with a manual gearbox, and for some reason unknown, it feels so different. Sadly, the 2.4 in the Outlander is a little noisy and it doesn't feel as strong with the automatic. However, it's powerful enough to move this SUV without making you yawn. With about 75% of city driving, I obtained a fuel economy average of 13.0 L/100 km, which isn't great. This engine should provide lower fuel consumption under a normal mix of city and highway driving.