If you were in a focus group and the moderator asked what type of product you think “Dynamic Shield” is associated with, what would you say?
I’ll bet you’d have an amusing answer.
Probably not “a sport utility vehicle.”
But it turns out that Dynamic Shield is Mitsubishi’s new front design concept, a spin-off from the bumper side protection used on the Montero for many years. It’s the new face of the redesigned 2016 Outlander compact crossover arriving at dealerships this month.
The Outlander offers an appealing package of seating for up to seven passengers and the option of a four-cylinder or six-cylinder engine. This isn’t commonly seen among compact crossovers.
For 2016, Mitsubishi engineers immersed themselves in transforming Outlander’s driving characteristics, using the tricks of the trade to give the vehicle a smoother, quieter ride and better handling. They also employed a new continuously-variable transmission (CVT) to give acceleration and performance a boost.
Designers dove in on updating the interior, giving Outlander a new steering wheel, improved ease of operation for the rear folding seat, new accent trim and seat surfaces, soft-touch materials in strategic areas, and a new MMCS (Mitsubishi Multi Communication System) navigation and display audio system.
Safety features such as forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control (available on select models) get a value increase, having been reduced in price from the previous Outlander.
There are four trim levels: ES, SE, SEL and GT. The first three come with a 166-horsepower four-cylinder engine, the CVT and front-wheel drive. SE and SEL models are also available with all-wheel drive.
The GT carries the six-cylinder engine, paired with all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel paddle shifters. It’s good for 224 horsepower, 215 lb-ft of torque, and a 3,500-pound towing capacity versus the 1,500 pounds of the other three models.
Regular unleaded fuel is recommended for the smaller engine; the GT prefers premium. The lowest combined (city and highway) EPA rating is 23 mpg for the GT, and the highest is 27 for the four-cylinder with 2WD.
Pricing for the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander starts at $23,845 including an $850 destination charge. That amount is $200 less than the base price of the outgoing version.
The standard equipment list is generous. On the midlevel SE and SEL models it includes (beyond features found on almost every new car now, such as power windows and door locks, keyless entry, push button engine start, cruise control, rearview camera, automatic climate control and so on) halogen headlights, heated sideview mirrors, variable intermittent windshield wipers, heated front seats, power-adjustable driver’s seat, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, and a 140-watt six-speaker audio system with AM/FM/CD/MP3 and HD radio.
There’s still more, but that last sentence was way too long, so this bit will be mentioned separately: a FUSE Hands-free Link System with Bluetooth, USB port and steering wheel controls.
This preview of the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander is based on an introductory event held by the manufacturer. Although the vehicle was driven during the event, automotive reviews that include driving impressions and other opinions appear only after a vehicle has been given the standard weeklong test-drive.
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