2022 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER | JA4J4UA89NZ047514

Body Styles

The Mitsubishi Outlander is a midsize SUV featuring a bold and modern design. Measuring approximately 4,710 mm in length, 1,862 mm in width, and 1,745 mm in height, it offers a spacious interior with seating configurations for five or seven passengers. The vehicle's dynamic shield front fascia, sculpted sides, and distinctive LED lighting elements contribute to its commanding road presence. The aerodynamic profile not only enhances aesthetics but also improves fuel efficiency and reduces wind noise.

Model Name Meaning (Manufacturer)

The name "Outlander" reflects the vehicle's intended purpose as a versatile and adventurous SUV capable of venturing beyond urban environments. Mitsubishi chose this name to emphasize the model's suitability for exploring the "outlands" or remote areas, aligning with its rugged capabilities and all-wheel-drive system.

Model Name Meaning (Languages)

"Outlander" is an English term denoting a foreigner or someone from another land. In the context of the vehicle, it suggests a sense of adventure and exploration, resonating with drivers seeking new experiences beyond familiar territories.

Body & Interior Colors and Rims

The Mitsubishi Outlander entered a bold new chapter with a complete redesign, transitioning from a practical crossover to a sharply styled, tech-forward SUV with significant input from Nissan's CMF-CD platform. Its color and trim options were curated to match this upscale ambition, blending Japanese minimalism with American-style versatility, and appealing to families, commuters, and adventurers alike.

The exterior color palette emphasized strong contrasts and sophisticated finishes. Standard and popular colors included White Diamond, Black Diamond, Red Diamond, Mercury Gray Metallic, and Labrador Black Pearl, while more refined tones such as Alloy Silver Metallic, Cosmic Blue, and Deep Bronze Metallic added dimension to the Outlander’s angular sheet metal and prominent fenders. Most trims were also available in two-tone configurations, pairing a Black Diamond roof with a White, Red, or Bronze body, particularly on SEL and SEL Touring trims, enhancing visual depth and presence.

Design-wise, the Outlander features a wide stance, split LED lighting, and a large Dynamic Shield grille that creates a strong front-end identity. Chrome and piano-black trim details are carefully applied, especially on SEL and Special Editions, and contrast sharply with body-colored bumpers and mirror caps in the upper trims.

Inside, the Outlander’s cabin received a substantial luxury upgrade, with interior themes reflecting both modern Japanese design and global premium expectations. Entry-level ES trims featured Black fabric upholstery with silver contrast stitching, while SE models offered synthetic leather with quilted stitching, and SEL trims came with semi-aniline leather in Black, Light Gray, or Tan, depending on the exterior color pairing.

High-end packages such as the SEL Touring and SEL Premium introduced features like two-tone upholstery, massaging front seats, embroidered headrests, and aluminum or open-pore wood-style trim. The dash design incorporated a horizontal shelf layout, with soft-touch materials, metallic accents, and a 9-inch touchscreen integrated smoothly into the floating console design. Ambient lighting and Bose premium audio were available on upper trims, reinforcing the upmarket aspirations of the current Outlander.

Wheel options further defined the Outlander’s trim levels and street presence. Base ES models rode on 18-inch multi-spoke silver-painted alloy wheels, while SE and Black Edition trims upgraded to 20-inch wheels with machine-finished or gloss black accents, often with Y-spoke or turbine-inspired designs. The SEL Touring featured exclusive two-tone machined wheels with dark inserts, while Special Editions offered matte black or satin graphite finishes.

All wheels were wrapped in all-season radial tires, optimized for ride comfort, fuel economy, and light off-road usage. Behind the wheels, the Outlander featured ventilated disc brakes on all four corners, with brushed or painted calipers depending on trim. The slightly flared arches, short front overhang, and raised beltline gave the Outlander a muscular yet refined profile, supported by the stance of its wheels and minimal fender gaps in AWD variants.

The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, introduced for 2023+, received exclusive badging, charge port trim, and optional aero-optimized wheels with gloss black accents — further distinguishing it as the flagship variant in terms of both powertrain and style.

Altogether, the Outlander’s design package — from its bold body colors to its expressive wheels and materials — transformed it into a visually upscale, multi-purpose SUV, no longer an underdog but a real contender in its class.

Top Expensive Options

• Touring Package (includes panoramic sunroof, Bose premium audio): $2,700
• Semi-Aniline Leather Seating Surfaces: $2,000
• Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) System: $1,800
• 20-Inch Two-Tone Alloy Wheels: $1,500
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Traffic Jam Assist: $1,200
• 12.3-Inch Digital Driver Display: $1,000
• Head-Up Display (HUD): $900
• Multi-View Camera System: $800
• Heated and Ventilated Front Seats: $700
• Wireless Smartphone Charging Pad: $500

vs Competitors

In the competitive midsize SUV segment, the Mitsubishi Outlander distinguishes itself with its standard third-row seating, a feature not commonly found in rivals like the Honda CR-V or Mazda CX-5. While the Toyota RAV4 offers a hybrid variant, the Outlander's plug-in hybrid model provides a longer electric-only range, appealing to eco-conscious consumers. The Outlander's recent redesign brings a more upscale interior and advanced technology features, narrowing the gap with premium competitors. Its combination of versatility, efficiency, and value positions it as a compelling choice for families and adventurers alike.

Fun Fact

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is the first Mitsubishi vehicle in decades to share its underpinnings with a Nissan — but its most unexpected twist? It became the first mass-market SUV to offer a third row of seats in the compact crossover segment, a feature rarely seen outside of midsize SUVs. Even though the third row is best suited for children or short trips, it gave the Outlander a unique advantage in a space dominated by two-row competitors like the RAV4 and CR-V.

But there’s an even quirkier detail: the Outlander’s interior ambient lighting system was tuned with help from Japanese artisans, using a concept called “omotenashi”, or “hospitality.” Designers studied how light interacts with surfaces in high-end Japanese ryokans (inns) and tea houses, and applied this to the soft ambient glow in the cabin — a subtle nod to cultural craftsmanship in a mainstream crossover.

So while the Outlander might look like just another stylish SUV, it's packed with unexpected luxury cues, clever packaging, and cultural design layers that most buyers would never suspect.