Outlander comes out fighting

Mitsubishi Outlander. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

Mitsubishi's Outlander proved popular. It's a handsome, well thought-out and effective soft-road SUV. There was a cut-rate feel to the materials cladding that pleasant cabin, and too much road noise but hey, at this price, you can't have it all.

Except maybe you can, for now Peugeot's 4007 is out, with a smarter, Euro-flavoured nose and an improvement in cabin materials and ambience, plus a diesel engine. And you can buy one at less than the top-priced Mitsi.

What's new A new nose, reminiscent of Evo - Mitsubishi calls it the jet-fighter grille. In fact, everything forward of the windscreen is new.

The V6 gets more power and lower fuel economy thanks to tweaks to idle and power distribution between the wheels. It also includes super-all-wheel-drive in place of the standard set-up; you can never opt for simple front-drive, but can choose normal, snow or lock and watch where drive is going via a slightly distracting dash display.

The top-spec VRX in 127kW/230Nm 2.4, or 172kW/296Nm 3.0-litre form gets the same, classy-looking top-stitched cabin cladding as the Peugeot.

The price is up $500, with the entry-level 2.4-litre, five-seat LS at $41,990 and the 3.0-litre V6 seven-seat VRX auto topping the range at $54,990. There's no LS V6 _ it just wasn't selling. The company line Mitsubishi new-car sales are down 57per cent in the year to date. But here's a new Outlander, fighting for number two spot in a significant market sector, and Mitsi will market it hard. What we say The Outlander remains a superlative family vehicle in five- or seven-seat form, the latter's third row easy to pull out or fold away. Shame there's no diesel, but the 2.4-litre motor's a pleasant performer. Entry-level cabin plastics still feel cheap, though. On the road The 3.0-litre car disappointed, with none of the lovely balance of the 2.4. The latter might not have the cleverest four-paw trickery but it doesn't need it, while the free-revving motor lets you make the most of what's on offer.

This isn't a sports car, but it will deliver a more involving drive through a demanding set of bends than expected from the light SUV breed.

The handling's predictable, too, unlike the V6. More power isn't always a good thing; the extra weight in the top-spec car's nose and the remote feel to its steering and handling were a disappointment. Cruise on open roads and you'll like it, but for everyday motoring the 2.4 is the better bet. Shame there's still too much tyre-noise Why you'll buy one The 2.4-litre base models deliver everything you like about this car at a more affordable price than the Peugeot. Why you won't The Peugeot base model, with its classy cabin and diesel motor, is a better bet than the same-priced Mitsi and much better than the Outlander V6.