2008 Mitsubishi Outlander Quality Review

The 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander boasts an impressive amount of cargo space and innovative features, but occupant space and, more noticeably, materials quality lag behind the competition.

The 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander ostensibly has room for seven in XLS trim, as Edmunds writes that the Mitsubishi "Outlander XLS comes with a third-row seat," though its "effectiveness is debatable." ConsumerGuide says that the "3rd row is suitable only for kids, and they will ride in an uncomfortable knees-up position on a cushion that uses webbed hammock-style material rather than conventional padding." Fortunately, the third row can collapse "flat into the cargo floor when not in use," leading Kelley Blue Book to term it a "why not?" feature.

In the front and middle seats, according to reviews read by TheCarConnection.com, passenger space is much more accommodating. ConsumerGuide says that the front seats in the Mitsubishi Outlander offer "plentiful headroom and legroom" and "the seats are generally comfortable, though some occupants may want more thigh support." They add that the second row features "good headroom," and "legroom on all Outlanders is more than sufficient for most adults."

Interior storage and practical storage features abound on the 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander. Edmunds reviewers report that "in terms of cargo room, a little less than 73 cubic feet is at your disposal with the second- and third-row seats folded," and they "particularly like the Outlander's dual-opening rear hatch, as the upper portion provides convenient access to groceries, while the lower portion" can drop down "to form a tailgate capable of supporting 440 pounds." Interior storage on the Mitsubishi 2008 Outlander draws praise as well, particularly from ConsumerGuide, where testers observe that the "good interior storage includes a nicely sized glovebox and center console."

For all the virtues the Mitsubishi 2008 Outlander displays in terms of storage, it can't overcome its significant materials and build-quality drawbacks. Car and Driver notes that it "doesn't quite match the RAV4 for material quality," while Edmunds mentions the "plastics and controls feel a bit low-grade." ConsumerGuide remarks that the "cabin has few padded surfaces and many plastic panels that feel thin and hollow to the touch" and also "look on the cheap side," while one of their Mitsubishi Outlanders "suffered from a number of interior creaks and groans," a sign of poor build quality.

Reminders of the Mitsubishi Outlander's questionable build quality--exemplified by loud exterior noise--can be heard every time you drive down the highway. ConsumerGuide rates the Mitsubishi Outlander below the class average when it comes to interior noise levels and deems "engine and bump noise are the biggest sources of ruckus." AutoWeek adds that the 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander is plagued by "roaring engine, tranny, road and wind noise."