Mitsubishi is set to release a replacement for its ageing Outlander on March 1st next year. For those that want a little more style and on-road performance, and are happy to sacrifice some capacity and off-road ability, the new Outlander could well be the answer. Of course, it won't be alone in the mid-range SUV market; Land Rover's new Freelander and Honda's new CR-V are sure to make life very difficult for the Outlander, not to mention the Peugeot 9007 and Citroen C-Crosser, both built on the same platform as the Outlander.

Styling is clearly influenced by the Pajero Evo 2+2 concept of 2002, as well as the new Shogun, and the result is fairly impressive. The rear three-quarters looks a bit strange with the oddly-angled window, but other than that, the Outlander passes as a good-looking car. Obviously it loses out to the chunky Freelander in this respect, but looks positively sexy next to the CR-V.

The Mitsubishi Outlander will initially have two engine choices - 2-litre and 2.2-litre turbodiesels; a 168bhp 2.4-litre petrol unit will be available at the end of 2007. Power is utilised by either two or four wheels, depending on conditions. The driver can select between "2WD" for economical day-to-day driving, "4WD Auto" to automatically transfer power to the wheels with most grip, or "4WD Lock" which splits torque 50:50 between the front and rear wheels.

Mitsubishi expects to sell 5,600 Outlanders in the first year of production, but considering the starting price of £19,449, we think this is a little optimistic. The Outlander might be a great car, but the excellent new Freelander 2 is just £1,500 more and Honda's more comparable CR-V starts at £700 less. We'll be better placed to make that judgement when we get our hands on an Outlander to test early next year. Keep an eye on the Mitsubishi Road Tests page.

Will Nightingale - 20 Dec 2006