The discovery of the Outlander being discontinued in our market was first made upon seeing that the model was no longer shown on MMM’s website. This was later confirmed by MMM but if you’re feeling excited about the arrival of the next-gen Outlander into Malaysia, you’ll have to stick around after a quick history lesson recap on the 7-seater SUV.
Having been introduced in our market in 2016, the third-gen Outlander was initially brought in as a fully-imported (CBU) model from Japan. Only one variant was offered during its initial introduction, a 2.4-litre-powered unit that made 167 PS and 222 Nm.
Starting from RM 167k, the Outlander was competitively priced against locally-assembled rivals like the Nissan X-Trail and Honda CR-V but was well-equipped and at the time, the design was very fresh and modern.
Eventually, a more affordable locally-assembled (CKD) model was introduced in October 2017 that started from RM 140k. Equipped with a smaller 2.0-litre unit (145 PS/196 Nm), the Outlander 2.0 lost out on some of the CBU Outlander’s features like sunroof, EPB, leather seats, and powered tailgate but it was still a well-equipped variant with Apple CarPlay connectivity and reverse camera remain.
Still, the 7-seater SUV never lost out on safety features with 7 airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, as well as Active Stability Control (ASC) being standard.
A few months later, in January 2018, MMM introduced the CKD version of the top-of-the-range 2.4-litre variant. Priced from RM 155k, the Outlander 2.4 gets similar equipment from the CBU model but with a few additions including a new eight spoke two-tone design for the 18-inch alloy wheels and a 360-degree camera.
Around this time, the SUV market had really taken off with nearly every brand offering their own take of the high-riding sport utility vehicle. The Mitsubishi Outlander felt outdated with an ageing design and lack of active safety equipment like ADAS.
But take the Outlander for a spin and you might forgive that it’s less of an archaic dinosaur but more of a kind grandparent that feeds each time you visit. The SUV excels in comfort that even more modern rivals couldn’t quite match.
The third row isn't quite an afterthought with enough space for an average-sized adult
It’s also very spacious inside, a major plus for those who make a habit of making long trips to the East Coast or down south during the festive seasons. Another plus would be the excellent and seamless 4WD mode that brings out the rugged side of the SUV, again something few rivals can offer.
That said, it’s time to bid adieu to the underrated Mitsubishi SUV that won over our hearts when we take the wheel. Old as it may be, we will certainly miss it.
The big question everyone is asking
Oh, and since you’ve reached this far in the article, you might have a big question stuck in your mind; does this mean that MMM will be bringing in the all-new Outlander? The answer to that is, we can’t say for certain.
Australian-spec Outlander shown
The all-new fourth-gen Outlander made its global debut via an Amazon Live online event stream back in February 2021 and is currently available in North America, Japan, and Australia.
Now the last two countries might get you excited at its expected arrival into Malaysia given those markets share the same position of the steering wheel. Yet, MMM is keeping mum for now.
Outlander PHEV shown
In Australia, the Outlander is powered by a 2.5-litre petrol engine (184 PS/245 Nm) that is shared with the Nissan Rogue (North American X-Trail). In Japan, only the PHEV powertrain is available that pairs a 2.4-litre petrol unit (133 PS/199 Nm) with two electric motors on the front (116 PS/255 Nm) and rear axles (135 PS/195 Nm).
Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.
