Mitsubishi Outlander SEL

The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL is a seven-passenger crossover SUV boasting lots of unexpected features. With a combined 27mpg and a spacious interior, the Outlander is not only an economical grocery getter, it's also roomy enough to hold all the luggage, food, and wine when 4 women go on a weekend business trip. Now that's saying something!

Several of my blogging friends and I were invited on a weekend trip to tour the cattle ranches of Florida a few weeks ago, and we decided to carpool to the event. It's good for the environment and our wallets. Win win :)

I partnered with DriveShop to test drive the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL for a week in order to write this review, and what better test of an SUV than to pack 4 women into it with all their must-haves on a weekend? Rest assured, we put this baby to the test, and all opinions are my own.

The Outlander's interior is stylish, roomy, and has some unexpected features I love, such as lighted vanity mirrors on both visors (a very important feature), leather seating, one-touch start/stop engine switch, dual-zone climate control, power adjustable seats for both the driver and the passenger, as well as standard voice controls and a large touchscreen display.

Standard Interior Features

• Color multi-information display
• High-contrast meter gauge cluster
• Gloss black instrument panel
• Dual-visor vanity mirrors with illumination
• Front map lights
• Center dome light
• Rear cargo area light
• 7-passenger seating
• Leather seating surfaces
• Heated front seats
• 8-way Power adjustable driver's seat with seat back pocket
• 4-way adjustable front passenger seat
• Front passenger seat back pocket
• 60/40 split fold-down rear seats with independent slide and reclining adjustments (2nd row)
• 50/50 3rd row flat fold-down feature
• Front Dual-zone climate control
• Automatic climate control
• Micron air filtration
• Rear heater floor ducts
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
• Leather-wrapped door, armrest, and trim panel insert
• Gloss black-line accent panels
• Soft-touch upper instrument panel and door trim
• Chrome-plated inner door handle
• Carpeted floor mats
• Remote hood and fuel door release lever
• Sunglass Holder (n/a with sunroof)

Standard Convenience Features

• 6.1-inch touchscreen display w/ rearview camera
• 140-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with 6 speakers
• Digital HD Radio®
• Steering wheel mounted audio controls
• FAST-Key passive entry system with panic alarm feature
• One-touch Start/Stop (OSS) engine switch
• ECO Mode switch
• Cruise control
• Power door locks and side-view mirrors
• Power windows with driver's side auto up/down feature
• 12-volt accessory outlets (x2)
• Floor center console box with armrest and cup holders
• Instrument panel lower-center storage
• Door trim pockets with bottle holder
• Rear seat center armrest with cupholders
• 3rd row cupholder and storage space
• Underfloor cargo area storage
• Cargo tie-down utility hooks
• Retractable assist grips
• Coat hanger at rear assist grip

If you have kids you gotta love the rear seat center armrest with cupholders. Not only is it convenient to have those cupholders, but it's also a great place for the kids to play with the little things they always like to bring along in the car, and it can also act as a dividing line. Gone are the days of using toilet paper to draw a line down the middle of the car in an effort to stop the bickering! What? Your parents didn't bring toilet paper on all family car trips for that very reason? I might be showing my age a bit with that one <smile>

Safety is important to me whenever I'm behind the wheel, but most especially when I have others in the car with me, whether it's my family or my friends, I want everyone to be as safe as possible. The list of standard safety features is the first thing I look for when purchasing a car. The Outlander is equipped with 7 standard airbags, Active Stability Control, the RISE body construction, and so much more. The vehicle I was driving also came equipped with the optional SEL Touring Package that includes Lane Departure Warning and Adaptive Cruise Control ensuring I feel safer behind the wheel. I like that!

Standard Safety and Security Features

• Hill Start Assist
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and brake assist 4
• Active Stability Control (ASC) 4
• Traction Control Logic
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• 7 standard airbags including drivers knee airbag 5
• Three-point seatbelts and head restraints for all seating positions
• Height adjustable front shoulder belts with pretensioner
• LATCH child-restraint system
• Child safety rear door locks
• Anti-theft security alarm system
• Anti-theft engine immobilizer
• RISE body construction
• Front pedestrian impact crumple zones

Optional SEL Touring Package (highly recommended)

• MMCS Navigation System
• Forward Collision Mitigation
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Lane Departure Warning
• Auto Headlight Control
• Rain Sensing Wipers
• Power Remote Liftgate (one of my FAVORITE features!)
• Power Folding Side Mirrors
• Windshield Wiper De-Icer
• Power Glass Sun-Roof
• 710W Rockford Fosgate® Premium Audio System with 9 Speakers
• SIRIUSXM® Radio with 3 month subscription

The power remote liftgate is so handy! Check it out:

Weekend #roadtrip ready with tons of room! #drivemitsubishi @mitsucars @DriveShopUSA pic.twitter.com/pITWwSk8x7

— Life Tastes Good (@Lifetastesgoood) August 19, 2016

As you can see, there are many standard options on the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL making it a comfortable and safe ride loaded with convenience features to make your drive more pleasurable whether you are running errands or going on a road trip. You definitely get a lot for the base price of $24,995.