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Drive to Five Review: Mitsubishi Outlander “GT” S-AWC

Posted in Vehicle Reviews on September 21, 2013 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 526,963

Odometer (ILX): 54,376

If my hands aren’t firmly planted at 10 & 2 on a steering wheel, they’re firmly planted on a keyboard. My love for cars and of writing has led me to meet lots of folks who share those passions. Earlier this year, I became a member of the Phoenix Automotive Press Association (PAPA). As a jury panel member for a vehicle-of-the-year program called Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year (ALV), I will get the opportunity to evaluate cars based on how well they perform for ‘active’ people.

In the future, I will occasionally bring you new car reviews (including, of course, for new Acuras).

First up: the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander GT crossover.

I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Mitsubishi.

When I was 16, I detailed cars for friends & neighbors. One of those cars was this Galaxy White Pearl 1992 Diamante. I especially loved the front end, the dash dash design, and the exhaust note — not to mention those great frameless windows that mimicked a ‘convertible’ feel when you opened the doors.

palmer_mitsubishi_diamante

In later years, I was obsessing over my friend’s red 3000GT VR-4, pictured below. Twin turbo, full-time all-wheel-drive, 6-speed transmission, and 320 horsepower. The 3000GT became one of my favorite sportscars.

But where is Mitsubishi today? My friend Ian knows the answer. He’s been driving a 2012 Lancer that he absolutely loves. As for me, the last decade has been filled with Hondas so I haven’t paid enough attention to what’s going on at Mitsubishi. As I’ve learned this past week, the company is still very much alive and well. I bring you the company’s latest creation: Outlander.

This vehicle is now in its 3rd generation with an all-new redesigned model for the 2014 model year. I had the opportunity this week to put some miles on a GT S-AWC model finished in Mercury Gray with black leather interior.

S-AWC stands for “Super All-Wheel Control,” and it’s Mitsubishi’s way of saying 4×4. The system is activated full-time. My test vehicle was equipped with the top-of-the-line $6,100 “GT” (Touring) Package which centers around the 7″ touch-screen as well as several other safety & comfort features:

Lane Departure Warning
Forward Collision Mitigation
Adaptive Cruise Control
Power Glass Sunroof
Leather Seating
710-Watt, 9-Speaker Rockford Fosgate Sound System
Power Driver’s Seat
Power Remote Tailgate

I wonder what the neighbors thought when they saw a non-Acura vehicle in my driveway. They were probably relieved to think that my obsession with Acura had subsided.

One of the first things I noticed about the vehicle was the prominent V6 badge on the front fender. Outlander ES and SE come equipped with a 166-horsepower 2.4 liter 4-cylinder and Continuously Variable Transmission, while my GT model had the 3.0 liter V6 engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain is rated at 224 horsepower. Overseas, the Outlander can be equipped with a manual transmission. Design wise, in my opinion this crossover is most handsome from the rear 3/4 angle.

The front end features Mitsubishi’s “super wide” High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, and foglights integrated into the lower bumper area. The new-for-2014 chrome mustache grille is eye-catching, and not in a good way.

Right away, I found a huge win for the Outlander: UTILITY. As a “car person,” I’m not accustomed to having such plentiful space, versatility, and go-anywhere capability. Outlander has space for everything. Twice this past weekend, I had the chance to put the Outlander’s people-hauling capability to the true test. Six of us hopped in to run an errand to AutoZone on Saturday, and then 5 of us went to dinner on Sunday.

Third row seating allows the vehicle to accommodate a total of 7 passengers, and when not in use, the third row folds flat for maximum cargo area capacity. Brian and Tom took the two seats in the far rear.

Paul and Jack took the second row. Ian and I were in the front. As I put the vehicle into reverse, I said out loud, “Is everyone in here? I feel like a soccer mom.”

My back seat passengers did express the fact that they did not have any A/C vents in the rear. Since it was 100-degree day and the Outlander had been parked outside, it was toasty inside and the front vents couldn’t keep up with the need to keep the entire cabin cooled.

Then, when they resorted to rolling the windows down instead of waiting for the A/C to cool things down, they were disappointed that the windows don’t roll all the way down (the glass stays above the door panel slightly so you can’t rest your arm on the panel and dangle it outside. Safety feature?).

For the rest of my feedback on the Outlander, I thought it best to summarize in list form.

Dislikes, in random order:

Auto- up/down power window is on the driver’s window only.
No rear air vents – for a 3-row SUV, this is behind the times.
iPod USB access awkward; removable upper tray in the center console could get lost
XM reception is poor. Audio cuts out occasionally, even without a bridge or obstruction overhead.
Fuel range on a full tank was still fewer than 400 miles
Volume knob is small. Something so frequently needed should have a larger presence on the dashboard.
Center console is hard plastic and the cup holders are too far forward. The should be moved back toward the driver, and the S-AWC button could be repositioned elsewhere since it isn’t likely to be used very often.
Styling of the front end isn’t my favorite; it would be better without the chrome whiskers.
The ECO gauge in the cluster isn’t really helpful. The green bar dances around erratically and makes it tough to tell what it’s actually trying to tell me.
Can’t scroll to change “MODE” on radio while the vehicle is in movement (i.e. XM to AM to FM).
My left leg got bored. I know this vehicle is offered as automatic-only (as are others in its class), but I just can’t enjoy a vehicle quite as much when I’m not kicking at a clutch pedal.

Likes:

Power on tap. Plenty of low-end torque. I’d love to see this thing crawl up some red rocks in Moab, Utah.
Transmission gearing. I’m glad this one doesn’t have a CVT. Manual gear changes with the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters were quick and responsive.
Turning radius. For a larger vehicle, the Outlander can U-Turn well.
Adaptive cruise. This would’ve been really handy on my cross-country trip to North Carolina a few weeks ago. You can set the preferred distance between the Outlander and the vehicle it’s following.
Stereo. I enjoyed the Rockford Fosgate system. The built-in subwoofer packs plenty of punch. In fact, I had to turn it down a bit.
Tech. Navigation system is decent, but not totally intuitive. Lane Departure Warning is handy, too, though I turned it off because the audible warnings became bothersome. The two 12-volt accessory outlets are nice.
Visibility. Nice all-around view of the road from the driver’s seat.
Ride height. I like the step-in height and the “presence” of having a higher-up vehicle.
Ride quality. Even when fully loaded, the Outlander was composed on rougher roads. Also, it didn’t feel like it had a ton of body roll, which is impressive for a higher profile vehicle.
Safety. In all, there are 7 airbags in the vehicle, including one for the driver’s knee.
Leather look & feel was very nice, and I liked the glossy ‘piano finish” of the instrument panel trim. Even the steering wheel feels refined. Nice fit & finish.

Nice back-up camera here on the 7″ screen, with trajectory lines for ease of parking!

Overall, the Outlander delivers where needs to. From a utility, power, and technology perspective, it hits the mark dead-on. With a few small improvements, this would be the perfect crossover for someone who needs a nice ride on the pavement and the capability for an occasional off-road adventure. For anyone looking for a nice value SUV in the low $30’s, this is worth taking a peek at. Many thanks to Mitsubishi for the vehicle loan!

The ILX got some junkyard duty today as I went seeking some Legend parts.

I’ve got a fun drive planned with the ILX tomorrow with friends to the Pima Air & Space Museum near Tucson, Arizona. Stay tuned for a write-up on that in the coming days. Meanwhile, enjoy these new videos of my younger brother Bentley’s 527-horsepower BMW M3 Turbo 6-speed. I won’t be challenging him to a race in any of my Acuras any time soon.

Dyno video:

Drag racing, this morning in St. George, Utah. Fastest run was a 12.80 second quarter mile at 120 miles per hour.

Makes me wonder what he could do with the ILX if I turned him loose with it (and had an unlimited budget for upgrades, of course).

🙂

4 Comments »

Acura ILX 2.4: Review by Tom Annino

Posted in ILX, Vehicle Reviews on September 18, 2013 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 526,959

Odometer (ILX): 54,148

This week, it’s been my pleasure to spend some time with a fellow Acura enthusiast and good friend of mine who’s visiting from Branford, Connecticut. Tom came to the Phoenix area for some training with his employer. I let him have some seat-time in the 2013 Acura ILX to find out his feedback on the car that I’ve been driving since June 2012.

Tom is a long-time Acura owner, having owned this 1992 Legend 5-speed coupe in the past.

He currently drives a 2006 TL 6-speed.

Below is his write-up.

My first extended drive in an ILX actually came as a completely unplanned event. I had some doubts about how much I would actually like driving the ILX at first, but those were quickly silenced after the first 100 feet or so of driving.

I should have never let myself discriminate against the newest entry level vehicle Acura offered so quickly without good reason to do so, what I got as a result was a “slap in the face” of sorts from the car itself for being so close minded and judgmental towards the newest “baby Acura.”

The ILX delivers on the one single most important quality that is shared by all Acuras: “as soon as you step foot in one and depart on your way (regardless if you have never driven the car before or you have driven the same car for over a decade) you instantly become right at home and totally one with the vehicle. Unlike other cars, you do not just get into an Acura and operate it like you would any other mechanical device (like your lawn mower for instance); Acuras have always had a strange way of feeling like you wear them as an extension of your own body or your favorite suit. They just feel “right” instantly when you drive them, and it makes for a far more connected driving experience.

Due to the almost instant acclimation into the ILX, I was able to quickly get a good gauge on how well the actual powertrain functioned as a whole as well as its driving dynamics. I have always been a fan of the K- series Honda/ Acura engines. They offer a powerband that pulls well from low rpm until redline and at the same time execute it without the slightest hint of high rpm rasp or harshness that would lead one to believe that you might throw a rod or have the valves jump out of the head if you got too close to redline. Fact: the K-series loves to rev, and the sound it makes doing so is also one of the best engine notes that you can get on the market from any 4-cyl manufacturer.

The icing on the cake is the addition of a slick shifting 6 speed manual gearbox that is buttery smooth and direct just like what one would come to expect from any Honda/Acura product. The gearing is perfectly matched to always keep the motor in the powerband under hard acceleration, and around town in stop and go traffic the clutch is light with great feedback, making it easy to master quickly for even the most novice stick-shift drivers.

Now down to the bread and butter of what the most important feature of a vehicle is for me: the handling. A car can have 2,000 horsepower and accelerate from 0-60 in something that would take about as long as it takes one to hit a preset button on the stereo, but if it can’t take a corner at speed without ending up wrapped around some stationary object on the side of the road then all that power and speed is just pointless. Again, my pre-opinionated mindset was quickly silenced after the first “higher” speed sweeping bend. The steering is not light, but perfectly weighted and offers excellent feedback from the front end. The suspension setup is slightly firm, but never was harsh or jarring over rough surfaces as the current trend of modern cars tends to be heading. In addition, body roll is kept to a minimum, which can be an absolute buzzkill. Finding out a car has a proper suspension that allows for a sporty feel without unneeded harshness, BUT as a result has such bad body roll that it feels like you’re in a canoe after someone in a power boat wakes you to see if you will fall over is one of the worst dampeners on a driving experience one will ever experience. Luckily the ILX gets good marks for keeping body roll to a controlled minimum, in addition the quick steering ratio becomes the cherry on top making low speed cornering and parking maneuvers an enjoyable experience on themselves.

However, no car is without its faults, and while the ILX didn’t have too many blemishes to report, it did still have a few that left me disappointed. The single biggest flaw in the ILX’s overall package is the complete LACK of ability to get a navigation, tech package, or fully equipped trim spec on the 2.4L 6-speed manual version. I mean seriously, who had the bright idea to make a fun and affordable entry level luxury vehicle and not allow the manual transmission buyers to get an optional navigation system. That is borderline automotive discrimination if I say so myself. The reason this was such a big flaw for me was due to the fact that without a tech pack or navigation option on the manual trans ILXs, it went from being a possible next vehicle purchase to just another eliminated vehicle on a long list of possible choices. My current vehicle (a 2006 Acura TL 6-speed with navigation) would only be replaced by a new car if it has the ability to be optioned out with the most powerful engine option, a manual gearbox, and the highest trim level (WITH NAVIGATION) available in all versions of the same vehicle. Sadly, navigation is only available on the auto ILX, which I would never consider purchasing. The only other major issue I found with the ILX was the loudness of the in-cabin exhaust note. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a nice healthy exhaust note from a car, and the ILX offers a great throaty sounding one from its 2.4 liter engine. HOWEVER, in an entry level luxury car I would expect the actual level of noise to be much less than what the ILX actually produces. This makes conversation between front and back seat passengers a bit of a challenge on highway trips due to the slight exhaust drone.

Overall, I really liked what the ILX had to offer and fully enjoyed the driving experience. I’m happy the newest baby Acura proved me wrong and ended up putting a nice smile on my face after a very tiring (and physically draining) morning of hiking a mountain… or 2. After driving back to my hotel to get cleaned up after the nice morning workout, I quickly found out that the drive in the ILX had actually recharged my batteries and I felt surprisingly energized, almost like I had about 3 cups of morning coffee. It’s definitely something I could get used to on a day to day basis; well done Acura, well done.

__________________________

Thanks, Tom, for sharing your thoughts on the ILX with Drive to Five!

Anyone out there looking for an awesome road trip opportunity? Try doing what the Martin family from Delaware did. They took a 405-day, 67,000-mile journey in their RV to visit all 50 US states. They journey concluded in July, but I just learned of it. I loved checking out their write-ups & pictures, and I think you will too. Check out this video on Yahoo.

And here’s a link to their website.

8 Comments »

Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year

Posted in Arizona, Vehicle Reviews on October 21, 2012 by tysonhugie

Odometer (ILX): 17,119

Unsupervised test drives are the best! Even better, how about a unsupervised test drives in a couple dozen brand new 2012 & 2013 models? That’s how I spent my Saturday.

The “active” people of the world have a different set of standards for their cars than does the every day consumer. Can the car accommodate a bunch of gear? How’s the off-road capability? Is it durable? Does it keep up with my fast paced lifestyle? Now in its 9th year, the Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year (ALV) program brings athletes and automobiles together to determine which model(s) of new cars best align with an active lifestyle. When I attended the National Press Launch event for the 2013 Acura ILX & Acura RDX in March, I met Nina Russin who pioneered the ALV event. She’s the journalist behind Carspondent.com.

Nina asked me to be one of seven team captains for the 2012 event. I assembled a team of 10 people to evaluate the new vehicles that were submitted by auto manufacturers to compete in the “Green” category. The event was held on Saturday in Chandler, Arizona and I was excited to play a role!

Thanks to my involvement with the ALV program, I also met Joe Sage, editor of Arizona Driver Magazine.

Here’s my look at how the day went. Right off the bat, I reunited with my friend Brenda, of Brenda Priddy & Company, who was doing photography for the event.

Brenda’s plate has some spy-related meaning in German, but I can’t remember what she said it was!

I team-captained the “Green” category of cars, which included the following finalists:

Mazda CX-5
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Toyota Prius Plug-In
Volkswagen Sportwagen TDI

The venue was Local Motors. LM is an auto manufacturer that has micro-factories in various locations of the United States. This particular location in Chandler, Arizona builds the “Rally Fighter” (background of the below picture). The team there has constructed about 40 cars so far and are taking orders for more. They also allow the customer to spend 6 days working with the assembly crews to help build his or her car! Local Motors will be representing at this year’s SEMA event in Las Vegas next month.

Chuck checks in at the registration table.

Nina kicks off the event.

This is Beverly who came from LA to represent Mazda. She told us about the CX-5 with SkyActiv Technology, allowing it to get 35 MPG on a traditional combustion engine, making it the best in its class.

Team Green gets a lowdown on each of the 4 models we were going to evaluate.

Next we learned about the VW Sportwagen TDI (diesel) which returned as last year’s ALV Green category reigning champion.

Finally, Randy Hunt from Toyota instructed us in the features of the Toyota Prius Plug-In. This car (at just over $40k) gets 50 mpg in hybrid mode and also has an all-electric mode which has a range of 15 miles.

Some of the vehicles in the Luxury On-Road event. In all, there were 35 vehicles in the competition in 7 different categories.

It’s not every day you meet a Honda celebrity! Chris Martin has been with Honda for over 20 years so he’s seen a lot of advancement there. Chris came to Arizona to represent the company’s 2013 Honda CR-V which competed in the Best Value On-Road category.

“Cosmic Gray” I think Randy called this Camry color.

Catered Mexican food for lunch for all participants – yum!

Pictured here with Green team member Chuck, as well as a representative from Nissan, Craig Pike. Nissan competed with the Xterra Pro-4X and the Infiniti JX35.

Taking the Grand Cherokee Overland Edition for a drive on the off-road course.

A few of the Green team folks – thanks guys for your help!

Kyle, Jim, Woody, Tyson, Matt

Here’s my feedback on each of the cars in the category that I was asked to evaluate:

Mazda CX-5:

Pro: Great MPG for a mini-SUV. Impressive value for $30k. Easy to navigate center stack.
Con: Power is lacking. The push-button start is located directly behind the wiper lever! Difficult to even get to.

Volkswagen Sportwagen TDI (Class Winner):

Pro: Sunroof is (as they used to say in Acura SLX advertising) “safari sized” — huge. Engine runs really quiet. There’s a plug housed in the center console facing the back seat. Ride was a nice mix of comfort and sport.
Con: Leatherette interior felt cheap. In order to fold the back seatback down you actually have to use a tool (which the demonstrator didn’t have) to remove the rear headrests!

Toyota Camry Hybrid:

Pro: This thing has guts. As Green team member Kyle discovered and I verified, it’ll lay down rubber on command!
Con: Floaty boaty suspension and numb steering, “blah” styling.

Toyota Prius Plug-In:

Pro: 15 mile all-electric range. 50 mpg in hybrid mode. Whisper quiet at 80 mph.
Con: Yawn! Feels so “detached.” Information center in the dash is overload. Our test car had a tire pressure warning, and the battery pack wasn’t charged. Visibility’s not all that great.

The rest of the winners (and all of Brenda’s pictures) will be posted on the ALV Facebook page, so check there for more highlights.

This was a great way to see where the industry is going and to truly get an idea of just how fierce the competition is these days. It made me appreciate driving home in my Acura ILX – for me, the ILX is the right mix of comfort, performance, economy, and style. The ILX was parked next to Local Motors during the event and got a lot of comments and question from event participants. I should’ve entered it as a competitor…

10 Comments »

Infiniti G Coupe Drive & NALM Trip Planning

Posted in NALM, Vehicle Reviews on July 18, 2012 by tysonhugie

Odometer (ILX): 5,279

Happy hump day to all Drivers to Fivers out there.

Here are a few impromptu evening cell phone pictures of the ILX from last night in the Biltmore area of Phoenix, Arizona:

The ILX is just too photogenic for its own good.

And who doesn’t love a little in-car karaoke? On my commute home from work this afternoon, the right song came on XM radio and got me pumped up. It was this song! Took me back to 1994…

I didn’t care that it was 107 degrees outside and I was stuck in traffic. All four windows went down, moonroof slid open and I should apologize to anyone who was within earshot on loop 101 southbound in Scottsdale around 5:15 p.m. as I blasted the song at max (level 40) volume.

Having driven a Legend V6 luxury coupe for nearly 10 years before I got my 2013 ILX, I am always interested in seeing what a logical replacement for my 1994 Legend LS coupe would be in 2012 if there was such a thing.

Acura discontinued the CL model in 2003 and hasn’t had a ‘full size’ 2 door since. I’ve been an Infiniti G coupe fan since my brother Payton had a 2003 6-speed Ivory Pearl G35 with Navigation several years ago. We entered our coupes in the Hurricane, Utah Easter Car Show in April, 2007. My Legend had about 280,000 miles it at the time. Payton and I captured a few pictures of the 6-speed V6 coupes together:

Payton ended up getting first place in the car show that year in the Import class.

Today, the G35 has become the G37 and is powered by a 330 horsepower, 270 lb-ft of torque powerplant. My friend Matt’s mom picked up 2012 G back in January and I borrowed the car on Monday so I could have “my” tint guy install some 3M window tint for her.

Even though I’m a 3-pedal manual transmission kind of guy, the automatic G is fun and utilizes a 7-speed which I much prefer to the CVTs (continuously variable transmission) that Nissan and Infiniti are now implementing en masse. I have lots of great things to say about the G. Tons of torque +rear wheel drive makes for a driving experience much unlike any car I’ve owned. Detailed specs on the car are here. Among my “likes”:

Bose stereo will rock your ears
Power on tap – awesome. When commanded, this car will rocket you easily past any slow pokes on the highway
The exhaust note even in stock configuration is great sounding
Handling is great and the car feels ‘substantial’ – hard to describe but it’s not light/cheap feeling
I love how Infiniti has retained an analog clock in the dashboard – a ‘signature’ feature for the brand
Brushed aluminum finish center console trim looks good
Back-up camera much like my ILX has assistance guidelines. Though, unlike the ILX, these lines also change position depending on how the steering wheel’s turned. Pretty clever.

And a few shortfalls:

The doors are long and the frameless glass windows get in the way for ingress & egress
The car felt a little bit tight in leg area. Seat belt was also a little hard to reach since it was mounted on the pillar behind the driver’s seat.
The screen/monitor could use a little higher resolution, and the buttons below the screen are awkwardly angled toward the ceiling.
Some of the interior materials (some plastic on the center stack, plastic center of the steering wheel) felt too cheap for this $39,250 “Journey” trim level coupe.
This near-white interior is way too susceptible to scuffs. Even at just 3,275 miles on the odometer the door panels are already showing some wear.
It’d be nice to see a third (center) seatbelt in the rear seat. There’s room for a third passenger in a pinch.

Overall a fun ride and perhaps the car that is now filling the role that the big-body Legend V6 coupe dominated back in 1991-1995. I have faith that Acura can and will bring back a 2-door that can give this G a run for its money! It needs to happen!

Mystery Solved

As a side note, remember that “mystery tool” I discovered underneath my driver’s seat the other day, thinking it might be something left there from the Acura production factory in Indiana? Turns out it belongs to the window tint place. They asked me if I’d found it, so I returned it to them. Guess that answers the question!

ILX Sales Picking Up

June 2012 sales figures showed that ILX owners are now in the thousands so I’m glad that other people are enjoying the car as much as I am. I took this picture a few weeks ago at an open house at the Acura North Scottsdale dealership where the community was invited to come see & experience the new car while enjoying food & live music. It’s striking how different the ILX looks in completely stock configuration as compared to being fully accessorized in Premium trim like mine is.

The ILX Owners & Enthusiasts page on Facebook also continues to grow.

Upcoming Trips:

Frontier Days – Colorado

It’s a park & fly weekend for me as traveling from Phoenix to Denver for some train-chasing like I did last November. Each year, Union Pacific steam locomotive #844 travels the 100 or so miles between Denver, Colorado and Cheyenne, Wyoming to attend Cheyenne’s “Frontier Days” celebration. A concert, rodeo, and chuckwagon dinner are also in store. Giddy up! Even though I won’t have the ILX or the Legend it’ll still be a great trip. Locomotive #844, after all, is called the Living Legend. It’s been in service for 68 years. I wonder how many miles it’s traveled?

NALM – Wisconsin

The National Acura Legend Meet (NALM) 8th Annual event awaits on July 26-28. Since 2005, this is an event I’ve driven my 1994 Legend LS coupe to each summer. We’ve been to the following destinations:

Dallas, Texas (2005)
Tulsa, Oklahoma (2006)
Las Vegas, Nevada (2007)
Chattanooga, Tennessee (2008)
Branson, Missouri (2009)
Salt Lake City, Utah (2010)
Morristown, New Jersey (2011)

And this year I’m off to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I’ve never set foot in Wisconsin before so I’m excited for the opportunity to see some new turf. The host / ground team in Milwaukee has developed an action-packed schedule of events including scenic drives, tech sessions, performance driving events, photo ops, and of course the best of cuisine the MKE has to offer. My tentative route looks like this, with the northern leg being my outbound and the southern being the return.

For the first time since NALM’s inception, I won’t be driving my Legend there this year. Instead, I’ll take the 2013 ILX on its first real cross-country trip and see how it performs over the 3,706 miles round-trip. I plan on making every attempt to post nightly to Drive to Five with pictures and updates as things move along, similar to what I did last July on the drive to Morristown. I’ll depart from the Phoenix area next Tuesday, July 24th, after work.

Don’t change that dial! I’ll take you along for the ride.