The interior of our 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander tester has leather trimmed seats.MORE INFO
In the market for a new vehicle? To access more than 100 of Mark Kennedy's local Test Drive columns visit www.timesfreepress.com/testdrive.
FAST FACTS
* Model: 2018 Outlander 3.0 GT S-AWC * Exterior color: Rally Red Metallic * Interior color: Beige * Engine: 3.0-liter, V-6 * Horsepower: 224 * Transmission: six-speed automatic * Fuel economy: 27 mpg highway, 20 mpg city * Local Dealer: Edd Kirby's Adventure Mitsubishi * Price (as tested): $34,160
At the Kennedy house, my 11-year-old son and I sometimes play a game of "Price Is Right" with test cars.
View other Test Drive stories by Mark Kennedy
Looking for a used or new car?
Both of us are pretty good at guessing the price of cars and trucks within about 10 percent of their sticker price. Still, once in awhile a vehicle comes along that throws us both for a loop.
Everything about the Mitsubishi Outlander 3.0 GT S-AWC screams $40,000. That's more or less the generic price for a three-row SUV with a six-cylinder engine, leather seats and all-wheel-drive.
So, when my son and I folded open the sticker on this week's test car our jaws dropped and we both said simultaneously, "Whoa!."
The MSRP is $34,160. And that's before you even start to negotiate a price with the dealership. Combine that value price with Mitsubishi's 100,000-mile power-train warranty and suddenly the competition has some explaining to do.
Outlanders are available locally at Edd Kirby Adventure Mitsubishi on M.L.K. Boulevard. A recent check of the dealership's digital inventory showed more than 50 Outlanders in stock. (Including one copy of the the new Outlander PHEV hybrid plug-in reviewed in this space a few weeks ago.)
WHAT IS IT A three-row, compact SUV in a segment where a third row of seats has become rare. With seating for seven (if a couple of them are small children), the Outlander trumps five-passenger competitors such as the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V.
WHAT DOES IT COST A base model starts at $23,945, and our tester (provided by Mitsubishi) has an asking price of $34,160. Our test car includes a $1000 GT Touring Package which bundles forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams.
COOL FEATURES The 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels on our tester help accentuate the stance. Also, the Rally Red Metallic paint livens up what is otherwise a pretty generic silhouette.
FUEL ECONOMY The government estimates that the 2018 Outlander V-6 will return 27 miles per gallon highway and 20 miles per gallon city. If fuel economy is important to you, check out the plug-in version.
STANDARD FEATURES INCLUDE A 3.0-liter V-6 engine, all-wheel drive, 8-way power adjustable driver's seat, seven-passenger seating, leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 710-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system with nine speakers.
WE WISH FOR A bit more punch from the engine. Either a turbo option or a larger displacement V-6 would do the trick.
WARRANTY The Outlander comes with a 10-year or 100,000-mile power-train warranty. The broader, new-vehicle warranty is five years or 60,000 miles.
BOTTOM LINE The combination of value pricing and a solid warranty make this a good buy-and-hold option for families who want to purchase a vehicle for years of trouble-free driving.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.