Petrol engine added to Mitsubishi Outlander range

A petrol engine has joined the Mitsubishi Outlander SUV line-up, sitting alongside the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and diesel versions. Available immediately and costing from £27,680, the petrol seven-seater is considerably cheaper than the Outlander PHEV and undercuts the diesel by around £1,000.

Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre MIVEC engine with 148bhp, the same power output as the mid-range petrol Skoda Kodiaq 1.4-litre TSI. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes 13.3 seconds, while the top speed is quoted as 118mph. Unlike the Skoda, the Outlander comes with a CVT automatic gearbox as standard, with 'stepped shifting' under acceleration to mimic a conventional automatic. The driver can also switch between these 'virtual' gears using shift paddle behind the steering wheel for greater control.

Fuel economy is 32.5mpg under the latest testing procedure, while CO2 emissions are 196g/km. The petrol Outlander can also haul a 1,600kg braked trailer or caravan.

Electronically controlled four-wheel drive is also standard, with three settings to cycle between. '4WD Eco' optimises the Outlander for economy (sending the majority of power to two wheels), while '4WD Auto' is said to be for "normal conditions" and '4WD Lock' is for use over rough terrain and in slippery conditions.

Every Outlander petrol gets seven seats as standard, with a third row that can be independently folded and stored in the boot floor. The second-row seats have a tilting backrest to improve passenger comfort and can be slid on runners to adjust legroom and cargo space. With all five back seats stowed, there's 1,608 litres of boot space.

Along with the rest of the Outlander range, the petrol model gets the latest round of updates, including a new honeycomb mesh front grille, headlights, bumpers and two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels. Interior upgrades include better refinement, more comfortable front seats, one-touch electric windows, a heated windscreen and the introduction of Mitsubishi's Smartphone Link Display (SDA) system. This includes DAB radio, Bluetooth and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Under the bodywork, engineers have also made the Outlander's body more rigid and tuned the suspension for a smoother ride. The entry-level petrol price is for the Outlander Juro, but upgrading to the £29,680 Outlander 4 adds leather seats, a 360-degree camera, heated steering wheel, powered tailgate, blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alerts, LED headlights and LED foglights.

The Outlander petrol is also sold with a five-year/62,500-mile warranty and three years of roadside assistance that covers driving in Europe.