2014 Mitsubishi Outlander, 2013 Outlander Sport Limited Edition to Bow at L.A. Auto Show

A pair of Mitsubishi crossovers are set to make their North American debuts later this month at the 2012 L.A. Auto Show: the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander and the 2013 Outlander Sport Limited Edition.

Full specs haven't been released, but Mitsubishi says the third generation of the midsize Outlander boasts a new design that emphasizes aerodynamic efficiency and a new, more fuel-efficient engine.

The revised Outlander loses more than an inch of length for 2014. Changes to its exterior styling include a restyled grille, a raised belt line, a more contoured body and wraparound headlamps. It follows the look of the Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV II first shown at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.

Mitsubishi Outlander Prototype GT at 2009 New York Auto Show

• Looks like: Somebody slapped a Lancer grille on the Outlander
• Defining characteristics: That huge Lancer-styled grille
• Ridiculous features: Mitsubishi calling this a prototype when it’s just mild changes to the regular version
• Chance of being mass-produced: It’s very likely this will be a refreshed Outlander next year

We’re a little peeved at Mitsubishi for making a big deal out of the Outlander GT Prototype. You see, this isn’t really a concept car. That’s why they used the word “prototype.” Yet they’re not saying it’ll go on sale for sure, either. They didn’t even add an interesting new power plant like we predicted they would.

Instead, the GT Prototype just gets a revised version of the V-6 featured in the current top trim level, boosting power by 10 hp, to 230 hp, while getting better fuel economy. We were hoping for the turbo four-cylinder featured in the company’s Lancer Ralliart instead.

The new grille looks surprisingly natural affixed to the Outlander SUV. When the company tried the same thing with the Eclipse sports car, it didn’t look quite so seamless. We’d expect to see this look on all the trims of the 2010 Outlander. More photos below.

Mitsubishi Outlander Prototype GT Bound For New York

Next week is the New York auto show, and it’s gearing up to be a busier event than we had imagined. The auto industry is certainly retracting, but this is the last chance of the car-show season to display new wares. That’s why Mitsubishi will show off a version of its Outlander SUV. There are no specifics, but the company says it’ll be more powerful and fuel efficient than the current Outlander’s available 3.0-liter V-6.

We’re going to go out on a limb and guess that besides getting the Lancer’s grille treatment, the SUV will also sport the Ralliart version of that sedan’s 237-horsepower, turbo four-cylinder engine. The 3.0 V-6 in the Outlander puts out 220 hp. Surprisingly, the mileage isn’t that different. The turbo in the Lancer gets 17/25 mpg city/hwy; the V-6 in the Outlander gets 17/23 mpg.

We’ll learn more next week in New York. A few more teaser images are below.

Recall Alert: 39,711 Mitsubishi Lancers and Outlanders

Mitsubishi has issued a recall of 39,711 Lancers and Outlanders from the 2008-09 model years due to a faulty brake-booster check valve, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The brake-booster check valve was built with poor material composition, leaving it vulnerable to sticking when the engine is shut off, NHTSA said. This, in turn, may lead to loss of responsiveness in the brakes and increased stopping distance during slower vehicle maneuvers.

Dealers will replace the valve free of charge. Owners can contact Mitsubishi at 800-222-0037 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander

Cars.com’s Kelsey Mays was so conflicted about the 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander that he had to stop writing his review midway through and, as he puts it, “reverse course.” The problem? According to Mays, it’s not what’s wrong with the Outlander, which is a strong utilitarian vehicle with plenty to recommend it. The problem is all the little things that other affordable crossovers do better. Read Mays’ full review for a thoughtful explanation.

2009 Mitsubishi Outlander Review

Discount-Club Challenge: Compact SUVs

Every few weeks, I get to shop at the local discount club and load up on 20-packs of paper towels, a few dozen chicken breasts and all those other essentials that cost less when you buy them in bulk. Chances are many of you also share in this routine, shopping regularly at Costco or Sam’s Club, but then have issues getting all your purchases — along with family members — into your car. Besides testing the fit of child-safety seats, this is one of those “you have to do it yourself” requirements in new-car shopping. Unfortunately, while dealers will usually let you install a seat into a prospective new car, they won’t let you run errands.

So we’ve done that for you in four compact SUVs: the 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander, 2009 Ford Escape, 2009 Nissan Rogue and 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. We didn’t fold the second-row seats down, as any compact SUV would be able to handle the load doing that. We also wanted to show how capable these vehicles are as family cars. When you have to tow children with you to the store, you can’t fold down seats filled with booster, convertible or infant-safety seats buckled in. Even a family of four with teenagers still needs somewhere to sit.

Check out the video below and see how the four contenders managed.

Recall Alert: Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi has issued a recall for 21,493 Mitsubishi Outlanders from the 2007 and 2008 model years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall is due to a malfunction in the LED brake lights’ lamp switch, which may cause the lights to not work while braking.

There’s a reason cops pull people over for broken taillights — they make sudden stops particularly dangerous and increase the chance a car will be rear-ended. Dealers will remedy the problem by simply replacing the faulty lamp.

For more information, owners can contact their local Mitsubishi dealer, or the national hotline at 888-MITSU2009. They can also contact the NHTSA hotline at 888-327-4236

Four Small SUVs Get IIHS Top Safety Pick

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released its latest round of crash tests, and this time the safety group took on the small SUV segment, one of the most popular in the market. 

Four out of the eight small SUVs tested earned the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick status, meaning they received top scores in front, side and rear crash tests. All eight SUVs came with stability control standard. Who were the winners? Keep reading for more, along with the IIHS’ chart of how all eight did. 

2009 Subaru Forester Tops Consumer Reports List

Consumer Reports recently reviewed a number of small SUVS, and the overall winner was none other than the all-new Subaru Forester, which we recently reviewed here. The Forester impressed CR so much it unseated the Toyota RAV4 as the magazine’s top-rated compact SUV by earning a slightly higher road-test score.

CR also tested the Nissan Rogue and Mitsubishi Outlander this time out. The company had previously tested the RAV4 and Honda CR-V, which ranked sixth among compact SUVs. While the Rogue scored well, it wasn’t “recommended” by CR. To get the recommendation, a car must either score above-average in reliability or have predicted high reliability. The Rogue is an all-new model and thus has no reliability figure.

In the case of the Mitsubishi Outlander, CR says it has shown outstanding reliability in its first year since its redesign. Because of a long history of solid reliability, the new Forester is predicted to also have above-average reliability and thus earns the “recommended” nod.

We always thought the Outlander was a sporty and affordable compact SUV, but worried about issues like reliability. Hearing such positive findings by CR definitely boosts its standing in the field. 

Subaru Forester leaps ahead (ConsumerReports)

Lancer Gets More Power; Outlander Gets Less

Mitsubishi made a small announcement today: Both the regular Lancer sedan and the Outlander SUV will get Mitsubishi's latest 2.4-liter engine. Mitsubishi calls the engine its next-generation four-cylinder; power is up to 168 hp, nominally more than last year's 2.4-liter.

In the Lancer, the engine will go in the GTS trim, while other versions retain a smaller, 152-hp engine. A manual or CVT automatic is available. The Outlander gets the 2.4-liter engine with a CVT in ES and SE trims, while LS and GTS trims have a V-6.

The extra power should help the Lancer, which is engaging to drive but could use a little more oomph. The Outlander, meanwhile, gets 3 mpg better in the city (20/25 mpg city/highway with either FWD or AWD) with the four-cylinder versus the V-6, but highway mileage stays about the same.

The figures stack up about even with the four-cylinder Saturn Vue (19/26 with FWD) but fall slightly short of the Honda CR-V (20/27 and 20/26 with FWD and AWD, respectively) and four-cylinder Toyota RAV4 (21/27 or 20/25).

A Mitsubishi product manager told us the four-cylinder Outlander is a 2008 model and will go on sale early next year, while the upgraded Lancer GTS is a 2009 model and will go on sale in the spring.

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