2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

When you think of Mitsubishi, something sporty might come to mind. In fact, you might think of the Outlander. But the truth is, this vehicle is kind of a mixed bag of pros and cons. A lot of changes have been made for this model year, and a few of them add to the list of pros. But there are still some strong downsides to driving the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. Buyers need to know what they are before committing to this vehicle.

What's New for 2020?

A few major changes have been made to the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. The first of these changes is the standardization of an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen display on most of the vehicle's trim levels. Second, there is a new mid-level trim known as the SP (Special Edition). Finally, the Outlander received redesigned rear seats with an extra USB port for rear seat passengers.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander – The Pros

1. The New 8-Inch Touchscreen

The outgoing 7-inch touchscreen that came on all but the base trim was clunky at best and distracting with a dash of frustration at worst. The controls were confusing and poorly set up in terms of the interface. The 8-inch system that was added onto the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander is easier to use and, of course, has a bigger screen, so buttons and text are clearer to read. Also, it is standard on this line-up, which is nice.

2. A Comfortable Ride Quality

The Outlander outdoes other Mitsubishi models this year when it comes to providing a comfortable ride quality. In fact, the Outlander tends to feel smooth and effortless while traveling over more rugged terrain than your typical city street - but it can manage those too, of course. The only time you will feel anything is when you accidentally hit a mid-corner bump, which will send vibrations throughout the cabin.

3. Effective Climate Control

Not all auto makers have mastered the art of an effective automatic climate control system. The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander comes with a standard dual-zone automatic climate control system that has an easy-to-use control set-up. Once you set it, it will not need to be manually readjusted. Simple, right? The rear vents can be found on the back of the center console and are excellent at blowing air throughout the second and third rows. Rear seat passengers can cool down or warm up as quickly as the folks sitting up front.

4. Kids Can Easily Get Into the Third Row

If you have several kids, you know that trying to get them all seated in a vehicle can be a bit complicated. A lot of third-row SUVs do not make the third row easily accessible, even for children. The Outlander's second row of seats can be slid forward, creating a good amount of extra space for kids to get into the third row. It will be tight for larger adults, but even smaller adults should be able to navigate this opening.

5. Spacious For a Third-Row SUV

The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander feels pretty spacious for being a third-row SUV. The first two rows have more than enough head room, and there is definitely a lot of leg room in those rows as well. Children should stick to sitting in the third row, but they will likely find it to be cozy enough.

6. Great Outward Visibility

Seeing fore and aft is easy thanks to the slender roof pillars and wide windshields. Also, the beltline is set low so that you get a clear visual over the hood. The sides have small blind spots, and the huge three-quarter windows keep them to a minimum. Even the rear windshield feels adequately sized for this type of vehicle.

7. A Good Amount of Cargo Space

The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander has 30.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats left in place. That is a moderate amount for this segment, but a few areas of it are not really usable due to the narrowness of the load floor. Still, the rear seats fold down flat, freeing up a lot of extra space when it is needed. Getting cargo in and out is simple enough thanks to the low liftover.

8. A Ton of Space for Child Car Safety Seats

The LATCH system could be designed slightly better, but the rear seat is set at a height that makes it easy to slide the seat into place, allowing you to easily and safely get your child in and out of the vehicle. You won't strain your back and neck bending over to get your kids settled in, either. Plus, there is plenty of room for these seats, which is a huge bonus if you need to have more than one seat system installed.

9. Smartphone App Integration

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard on all but the base trim. Syncing them up with the Outlander is easy to do, and using the apps from your phone can save you a lot of time trying to figure out how to use the vehicle's built-in apps. Having access to smartphone app integration is something a lot of drivers want on their vehicles in 2020.

10. The Rockford Fosgate Sound System

Are you a music lover? If so, the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander offers a Rockford Fosgate sound system that reveals hardly any distortion when you crank up the volume. The subwoofer that comes with it offers a good amount of bass, which makes its way throughout the vehicle. You've got to crank the sound way up to get a lot of reverb. It is probably one of the better systems on the market this year.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander – The Cons

1. Sluggish Acceleration

Driving is not a highlight of the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander - far from it. Press your foot down hard on the gas pedal and you will still feel like it is slow to get moving. It only gets from 0 to 60 mph in 9.6 seconds, which is quite a poor showing for a third-row SUV. The standard 2.4-L 4-cylinder engine (which generates 166 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque) is drastically underpowered. You'll have to upgrade to the line-topping GT trim to get the 3.0-L V6 (which gets 224 hp and 215 lb-ft of torque) and its power boost. And it really is not worth the extra cash when better engines can be found as standard on competitors.

2. The Brakes Feel Too Soft

Squishy brakes. Nobody likes these. And they certainly will not enjoy driving on them in the Outlander. Coming to a full stop feels very 'iffy' since there is not a lot of build-up of force while applying the brakes. While the vehicle will come to a safe panic stop in about 126 feet, the brakes just do nothing to inspire driver confidence. With some serious tweaking, they could do a much better job.

3. Uncomfortable Seats

The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander is not the coziest third-row SUV on the market this year. Far from it. The seats do not offer any lumbar adjustment, which most of its competitors do. Even the line-topping trims have none. It is kind of baffling as to why Mitsubishi would keep this out of their Outlander models. Oh, and the second row? Its head rests are extremely uncomfortable due to their shape. Passengers will probably not want to rely on these head rests for any comfort.

4. Cheap Design Quality

The overall design quality and materials used on the Outlander are, at best, 'meh'. The cockpit looks about average for what you will find in this segment and really is not the best-looking. There are a lot of signs of cheapskate-ness throughout the cabin, including the flaps on the seat bottoms in the second row. The arms need to be totally aligned in order to get the seat bottom back into position after it has been folded. Painstakingly tedious work, right? The front seats can be even worse. The engine's vibrations come through them, which does not feel pleasant. To make matters worse, if you put your weight on the seat back, it will lean back in its frame.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander vs. 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander is massively outperformed by the segment-leading 2020 Honda CR-V. The CR-V has a turbocharged engine that provides enough power to make the ride feel spunky and still casual. The ride quality adds a smoothness to the driving that should make everyone in the vehicle feel cozy. Also, the CR-V has some of the most innovative and utilitarian storage areas in this class. The one real downfall is that the touchscreen interface can be challenging to use as the controls are often counter-intuitive.

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander vs. 2020 Ford Escape

The 2020 Ford Escape is another big contender this model year. While its base 1.5-L 4-cylinder engine lacks pizzazz and the interior looks fairly bland, the Escape does have a 2.0-L engine on the Titanium trim level that packs a nice punch. It will accelerate quickly, and the transmission does not show any hesitation. Also, the Escape feels more like an SUV in terms of how it handles and steers, giving it a more effortless vibe than the Outlander.

Conclusion

There are a lot of third-row SUVs out there right now as the demand for them has increased in the last few years. Auto manufacturers are working to perfect these models in order to get sales. While many have done a lot to improve their third-row SUVs, Mitsubishi has a lot of work left to do on the Outlander. Even with the changes made to it this model year, the interior still feels tacky and outdated. And, of course, the powertrain is totally underwhelming and needs a complete overhaul in order to really help the Outlander stand out in this increasingly crowded segment.