2015 Mitsubishi Outlander SE S-AWC: Super All Wheel Control
Safety and confidence in the snow with a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander.
Three weeks in the Rocky Mountains. Three ski resorts. Clearly my family needed a safe, reliable, comfortable vehicle for this particular road trip. And the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander fit the bill nicely.
The weather challenges began as soon as we drove out of the Denver airport with our trusty 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander SE with Super All Wheel Control. In fact, it’s the highest rated crossover for safety. Getting on I-70, heading west up into the Rocky Mountains, put us smack in the middle of a blizzard.
The family was whooping it up – excited about the fresh powder we’d get to ski the next day – but as the one behind the steering wheel in a white-out, I was little more stressed.
Super All Wheel Control at the Push of a Button
With the Outlander’s Super All Wheel Control, a simple push of a button allowed me to transfer more control to the rear wheels to keep us gripping – and not slipping – on the road. The S-AWC button is conveniently placed in the center console, easily reachable by the driver and passengers. Pressing the S-AWC button cycles through the drive modes: AWC ECO, Normal, Snow, and Lock, with the mode displaying prominently on the dash. Once we hit “Snow Mode,” my white-knuckling quickly subsided as I noticed how beautifully the Outlander handled in slippery conditions.
Room for Seven – Or Four and All Your Ski Gear!
The Outlander is equipped with seating for seven. The third row consists of two separate seats that easily fold down flat. We only had four of us in the car, so we kept the third row down to make extra room for our luggage, food, and ski gear.
We were all always completely comfortable… except maybe for the time we got a late start, missed the shuttle bus to the mountain, and had to load four pairs of skis, poles, and boots in the car.
My son had a pair of skis over his shoulder, but we were still thrilled that everything fit in without a ski rack! The automatic power liftgate with FOB opening offers convenient access to cargo area when your hands are full with luggage and ski gear.
The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander SE was the perfect vehicle to take us to the Colorado ski towns of Keystone Resort, Breckenridge, and Copper Mountain. A great choice for all-weather driving with its all wheel control at the touch of a button, and the heated seats came in handy in ski weather. The USB charger in the center console allowed us to keep our e-devices charged and ready and we definitely felt safe with its seven airbags, including a driver’s knee impact airbag. It even uses RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) construction deflects and transfers crash energy away from passengers.
What We Loved:
- All Wheel Control at the touch of a button
- Automatic power liftgate with FOB opening
- Heated seats. ‘Nuff said
- USB charger in center console
- Highest rated crossover for safety
What You Need to Know:
- 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander SE S-AWC, 4-door Crossover SUV, 2.4L MIVEC SOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine
- 10-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty
- Fuel economy: 26 MPG combined city/highway
- Takes regular gasoline
- Standard third row seating
- MSRP: $26,195
- Price for the model we drove, with power sunroof, remote power lift gate, leather seats and wood trim: $29,645
Disclosure: The Outlander was provided to AGirlsGuidetoCars by Mitsubishi for the purpose of this review. The opinions expressed are strictly our own.
Categorized:Car Reviews