Mitsubishi Outlander 10 years and older: does it make sense?

Mitsubishi Outlander is a Japanese crossover that needs no introduction. On the secondary market, certain generations confidently stay in the tops in terms of the number of offers for their class. We can say that the car entered the Russian market like a knife through butter. Not many models have repeated such success, among which are such “legends” as Logan, Duster, Solaris, Rio and Largus.


Is everything so good with the Outlander? Why did the car get such a good response from buyers from Russia, and are there any pitfalls? Let's figure it out together, based on real experience.

What are the reasons for the popularity?

An analysis of dozens of reviews on the Internet regarding the Outlander crossover up to and including 2012 gives the right to believe that the car is more good than bad. The owners note a number of advantages, including:

• ✅ satisfactory fuel consumption in all three operating modes
  
• ✅ acceptable quality of the leather from which the interior is made
  
• ✅ good dynamics, especially on cars with a six-cylinder internal combustion engine
  
• ✅ high ground clearance is a big plus for Russian conditions
  
• ✅ reliable electrician, practically no problems for the owner
  
• ✅ moderately stiff suspension for a comfortable ride on different surfaces
  
• ✅ interesting body design and thoughtful arrangement of the car interior
  

Special recognition is enjoyed by instances with a V6 petrol engine with 230 hp. With. even taking into account the not very pleasant fact that the timing drive is made in the form of a belt and needs to be replaced every 90 thousand kilometers. In addition, the six-cylinder engine is available in tandem with an automatic transmission, while the "fours" work with a variator, the resource of which does not exceed 150 thousand kilometers. With rare exceptions, such checkpoints can drive about 200 km.

What about weak points?

To be honest, Outlander turned out pretty good. Yes, it has flaws, like any other car. For example, in the third generation before restyling, this is poor sound insulation, which did not really cope with providing the driver and passengers with a comfortable ride in silence. After the last modifications, the Shumka works as it should, and this problem can be fixed by yourself.



The paintwork from the factory is very weak and thin, which is compensated by high quality metal, on which it is difficult to find traces of rust even after ten years of operation of the machine. Many complain about the windshield because of its fragility and susceptibility to chipping, but the severity of the problem is relatively simply and quickly smoothed out by an independent or service installation of a cheap analogue from China.

From all this the conclusion follows - Outlander is a kind of compromise. For every plus, there is a drawback, and in response to any minus, interesting “chips” can be mentioned. If you do not hesitate to modify the car yourself, the crossover will not cause any inconvenience at all.

How much can you buy used?

Let's look at the current realities of the Russian secondary market for Mitsubishi Outlander cars produced in 2012 or earlier, that is, instances that are at least ten years old.

The price of a crossover in the secondary market is primarily determined by the generation. You can buy a car of the first generation at a price tag of 300 thousand rubles, but this is the very “bottom” of the secondary, on which cars with a mileage of more than 250 thousand kilometers have gathered. By this point, many of the problems that we discussed above are quite clearly showing themselves. Is it worth the risk? Very doubtful.



A relatively fresh first-generation Outlander with a range of up to quite acceptable 150 thousand kilometers will cost at least twice as much, that is, about 600 thousand rubles and more. Approximately in the same price category are the most "old" cars of the second generation. The ceiling for this generation is 1,5 million rubles, but a reasonable price is a maximum of 1 million rubles.

As for the third generation, the first copies of which are just 10 years old this year, their cost has not changed in rubles since their appearance in 2012. The average price in the secondary market is 1,15-1,25 million rubles. A mark above 1,35 million rubles is considered too high, and if you find a car cheaper than 900 thousand rubles, be careful - a catch is possible.

What to consider when buying second-hand?

Like any other car, the Mitsubishi Outlander crossover has a number of units that require maintenance over time, including replacement. Let's take a look at them.

Engine

The chain on V4 engines lasts about 300 thousand kilometers, but since used cars with such high mileage are rare, there should not be any special problems. And this is good, because replacing the chain requires disassembling almost the entire motor and costs about 70 thousand rubles. Two more common problems are the squeak of the generator and the loss of tightness of the radiator.

Трансмиссия

The most important thing is not to get on a copy with a practically “killed” variator. Its replacement with a new or contract unit will require, at best, tens of thousands of rubles. The first and main sign of an imminent failure is manifested in the form of a metallic knock during acceleration. The color of the oil can also tell you about the condition of the box. If it is brown and there is sediment, it is time to change it.

Suspension

The rear suspension shock absorbers "go" on average about 60 thousand kilometers, the front ones overtake them by 20 thousand kilometers. What happens next depends largely on which roads to drive. The remaining elements of the chassis require replacement every 80-100 thousand kilometers, therefore, when buying a car with such mileage or a multiple of it, be sure to check the condition of the suspension.

Тормоза

The average service life of the brake pads on the Outlander is no different from the service life on many other crossovers, namely 30-40 thousand kilometers. The discs last twice as long and can "depart" up to 70 thousand kilometers. You definitely shouldn’t save on this issue, since the point here is not so much in comfort as in road safety.

Body

As you already know, the windshield on a Japanese crossover leaves much to be desired and cracks literally from one hit of a small pebble. As for the body metal, in the area of ​​chips, it begins to oxidize approximately 3-4 years after damage to the paintwork. At the same time, there is no talk of serious consequences, but it is still recommended to follow the car body.

Electrician

On the electrical side, even the relatively old Mitsubishi Outlander is all right. What can spoil the nerves is the incorrect operation of ETACS - the car's complete control system. As a rule, the problem is fixed by removing the fuse of the failed node, after which you should immediately go to the service. It is better not to solve this issue on your own.

Conclusion

So, despite some shortcomings and weaknesses, the Mitsubishi Outlander crossover is still a good car, even if we are talking about the first releases of the third generation or very “ancient” copies of early generations. Don't get hung up on the price of the car when buying on the secondary market, be vigilant and don't let the seller deceive you.