The Mitsubishi Outlander is cleverly named. The word "Outlander" is a mashup of Subaru's Outback and Toyota's Highlander. Both are the top sellers in their sub-segments of the broader crossover marketplace. We found the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander mashes up the features of these two winners to create something no other automaker offers.
What sets the compact Outlander crossover apart from most of its peers is its optional V6 engine and its temporary-use third row of two seats, making it a five-plus-two passenger vehicle. V6 engines are all but gone from compact crossovers, and only the Nissan Rogue offers a vehicle near this size and price with a third row for occasional kids' use.
The 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander is now in its fifth model year. Along with many years of production usually comes reliability and a lack of small issues. However, the compact crossover market is now very competitive. Vehicles like the Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V are tempting alternatives that feel more modern due to recent updates.
Our test vehicle was a V6 all-wheel drive Outlander GT with the only option package available: the GT Touring trim. The sticker price, including the $920 destination fee, was $34,135. This price is close to the top trims of the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue, but below some trims of the Ford Escape and Subaru Forester XT, which offer powerful turbocharged engines.
