2010 Mitsubishi Outlander GT

Mitsubishi’s FUSE System Sports Serious Connectivity And 40 Gigs Of Hotness

The SUV market is intensely competitive and busting at the seams with contenders, which makes facial recognition critically important. Mitsubishi’s Outlander has been on the ragged fringe of the market and its 2010 redesign is aimed at putting the svelte SUV squarely in the mainstream.



Mitsubishi has given the Outlander a Lancer Evolution makeover, unleashing the Evo's shark-nose, jet fighter intake duct styling cues on its fascia. We like the loud statement but understand such a radical departure may be a bit polarizing.



Regardless of how you feel the Evo aesthetic integrates, the Evo comparisons don’t end at the front clip. Mitsubishi raided the Evolution and Lancer Ralliart parts bins when designing the GT's driveline. First there’s Mitsubishi’s Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system that combines an Active Front Differential (AFD) and an electronically controlled center differential system to transmit power from front to rear and left to right to the front wheels, providing a more surefooted demeanor in stormy driving conditions. The Outlander GT's Sportronic automatic transmission comes straight out of the Lancer Evolution line. The six-gear box can be manually shifted via magnesium paddles mounted behind the steering wheel, allowing the driver to keep the V6 singing in its sweet spot in the powerband.



Under the hood, however, the Evo comparisons come to a screaming halt. The GT is the top dog in the Outlander lineup and while its 230-horse 3.0-liter MIVEC-equipped V6 is admirable for an SUV it ain't no Evo 4B11.



There is no understating that staying connected is more necessity than convenience, even in transit. This emerging selling point has led to a number of capable connectivity systems in automobiles and Mitsubishi employs an innovative setup in the Outlander. The FUSE Hands-free Link System is a Bluetooth 2.0 enabled system with advanced voice recognition for hands-free calling and wireless streaming of audio. USB connectivity has been incorporated into the FUSE system, allowing voice-command of music by artist, genre, playlist, or album through iPod devices or USB-enabled thumb drives. FUSE can link up to seven different phones and can access the phone's phonebook or a separate phonebook written to the hard drive.

On the audio side a 710-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system with SIRIUS Satellite Radio and an ultrasonic wave sensor equipped security system are also standard on the Outlander GT. A 40-gig HDD navigation system with rear view camera is also available as part of the Premium Navigation and Leather Package, which for 2010 now includes Real-Time Traffic (RDS) service with no monthly fees.



We connected with an iPhone and called up Linkin Park’s Meteora, and were impressed with the sonic integrity of the system. The channel separation at the beginning of "Don’t Stay" helped ramp up the crescendo until the guitars hit and we were off to the races. Ditto in the drum sampling at the start of the instrumental “Session” though the feel of the track was more subdued and mysterious than the hard-edged "Don’t Stay" as the drum effects ricocheted throughout the cabin.

The system could use better bass response (after all, this is Rockford factory sound and not Rockford aftermarket). However, this is a capable "next level system" that fits the Outlander's slightly upscale niche. It's well beyond basic, but it isn't comparable to leading-edge surround sound systems in the luxury and ultra-luxury segments.



The Outlander GT scores well when it comes to audio ergonomics. Most of the important functions can be addressed via steering wheel controls or voice command. If you like using your fingers the entertainment system is divided with audio controls to the left of the display and nav controls on the right. The interior had a minimalist feel with only a few controls in the center stack and the Mitsubishi’s attractive leather-wrapped dash certainly adds to its upscale aura.

We like the Outlander GT's high-tech connectivity, upscale yet minimalistic interior and its quick, agile and communicative suspension and drivetrain. The GT starts at $29,250. We think this is a little steep but its one and only option, the Premium Navigation and Leather Package, which delivers the FUSE system, costs only $2k. The package is transformational, dropping the Outlander GT squarely in the company of near-luxury and luxury entries that cost thousands more. Looked at from that perspective, the price tag doesn't look quite as steep. Recognition in this segment is a tough task and if the Outlander GT's Evo-inspired front fascia gets buyers to look at the substance beneath the sheetmetal may seal the deal.

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