ROAD WARRIOR
Our Rating: 7.4 / 10
The smallest model in Mitsubishi’s 4Work commercial vehicle range is the Outlander Commercial. It might also be the best. Steve Walker takes a look.
4x4 commercial vehicles might seem like a hopelessly small market niche to some but not to Mitsubishi. The Japanese marque takes the off-road van sector more seriously than just about anyone else and its 4Work brand has established itself a strong reputation amongst people who drive through mud for a living. The Mitsubishi Outlander Commercial is the smallest participant in the 4Work range. It’s a van version of the Outlander passenger car and it’s built to deliver comfort on the road while inspiring confidence in the rough.
Take the pick-up truck out of the equation and UK 4x4 commercial vehicle sales don’t amount to much. The top pick-ups like Mitsubishi’s own L200 have been shifting 10,000 units annually in the UK for a good few years now but 4x4 vans traditionally struggle to break through the 500 unit barrier. Despite this modest demand, a number of manufacturers still take the plunge and offer commercial vehicle versions of their 4x4s. This is largely because it’s so easy to do. They already have the base vehicle and from there it’s just a case of employing a man with a spanner to remove the rear seats, installing a flat load floor, panelling over the rear windows and Bob’s your uncle. So long as it’s decided that the existence of a van won’t harm the image of the stronger-selling passenger car version, it’s a case of; well, why not? Nissan, Kia, Jeep and Ssangyong have all joined Mitsubishi in this market in recent years while Land Rover is also a big presence with its ever popular Defender.
Most Outlanders are powered by a rather aged but still very accomplished diesel engine. The 138bhp 2.0-litre DI-D unit is actually sourced from Volkswagen and has been used across the German marque’s passenger car range for a number of years. It’s a refined unit by commercial vehicle standards without the gruffness that’s typical of the powerplants found in most pick-ups and larger 4x4 vans. The power delivery is smooth and although the hefty peak torque of 310Nm comes in at an extremely low 1,750rpm, there’s plenty of flexibility and puling power is strong through a wide spread of the rev range. This engine combined with the well-weighted steering and the pleasantly mechanical gearchange, makes the Outlander a rewarding vehicle to drive on the road. Better still is the 2.2-litre 158bhp option. It’s noticeably faster and more refined with 380Nm torque available at 2,000rpm.
When it comes to off-road driving, attention turns to the circular dial positioned behind the Outlander’s handbrake. This operates the AWC (All Wheel Control) system and allows the driver to switch the transmission on the fly between 2WD, 4WD Auto and 4WD Lock modes. Two wheel drive should be selected in good conditions on the tarmac to improve efficiency but when the going gets slippery the Auto mode can sense when traction is lost by the front wheels and divert as much as 30% of the available torque aft. The 4WD lock mode lock the transmission into a 50/50 split between the front and rear wheels for maximum grip when driving in difficult off-road conditions. The Outlander lacks the ground clearance, rugged suspension and underbody protection of a truly focused off-roader but it will trundle over some serious obstacles. The flip side of this is a very comfortable ride and good body control when driving on the road.
The Outlander is based on a compact 4x4 which means its dimensions are more, well, compact that rivals based on family-sized offerings. At 464cm long it is nearly 30cm longer than
Five new Mitsubishis for fire and rescue team
Five Mitsubishi vehicles have been introduce to a fire and rescue team to support them on their daily activities.The Buckingham Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) now has 170 vehicles in its fleet, thanks to the introduction of the five Mitsubishi L200s.Some 115 cars are currently being used by the team, as the...
Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid Rolling off Production Line in 2013
Aiming to offer a wider range of eco-friendly vehicles, Japan-based automaker Mitsubishi has been actively introducing various car innovations that now include the latest plug-in hybrid version for its Mitsubishi Outlander. The Mitsubishi Outlander hybrid is set to roll off the production line by April 2013. The model, which will come as the production version of the PX-MiEV II Concept, was first revealed using the same concept name at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. ...