Not just redesigned, but also re-engineered for 2016, the Mitsubishi Outlander offers a profound choice for the small crossover segment.  A fresh, more athletic appearance ties seamlessly to the sportier and more adventurous performance, and is still offered at a great price.

“The starting price for the 2016 Outlander is actually $200 less than the starting price for the 2015 model,” said Jeff Clarke, Mitsubishi Specialist at Bob Penkhus Mitsubishi.

Revised styling on the 2016 Outlander includes standard 18-inch alloy wheels, new front end styling, LED running lights and taillights, (with exclusive standard LED headlights for the GT), redesigned rear fascia and pronounced Mitsubishi garnish. This year also sees an improved navigation interface, more manageable folding process for the second-row seat, and a new midgrade SEL trim level.

The daring new grille and front fascia is merged with strong character lines, halogen lights, LED position lights, and lower door sections fluently running into the altered rear fascia and LED taillights.  Top-of-the-line Outlander GT includes power-folding side mirrors and windshield wiper de-icer in addition to the LED headlights.

A number of platform enhancements improve ride and performance by reducing noise and vibration while increasing structural stability for composed handling.

“Redesigned suspension, electric power steering, thicker glass and more sound insulation throughout the vehicle have made significant improvements on the 2016 Outlander,” Clarke said.

A sleek, refined interior with soft-touch materials is matched by graceful trim on the door panels and a restyled steering column, new Mitsubishi Multi Communications System (MMCS) navigation and display audio system. Infotainment is proficient and understandable, highlighted by standard voice controls and a 6.1-inch touchscreen interface that’s standard on all but the base ES trim.

The second-row seats offer reasonably generous passenger space and can slide and recline for more comfort. Third row seats are a plus, adding extra flexibility that most crossovers in this price range can’t support.

The seven-passenger crossover SUV comes with four different trim levels: ES, SE, SEL and GT.  Only the GT is equipped with the V6 engine, all others are four-cylinder; and all-wheel drive is standard on the GT, optional for the SE and SEL, and unavailable on the ES.

The base level ES comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED running lights and taillights, heated mirrors, rear privacy glass, full power accessories, cruise control, automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver seat, a 60/40-split folding second-row seat that slides and reclines, a 50/50-split third-row seat, Mitsubishi’s “Fuse” voice-command system (for phone and audio controls), Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player and a USB port.

Choosing the SE adds foglights, body-color side mirrors with integrated turn signals, keyless ignition and entry, a color trip computer, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, a rearview camera and an upgraded audio system with a 6.1-inch touchscreen display and HD radio.

Stepping up to the SEL adds roof rails, leather upholstery and a power driver seat, and a series of options that are excluded from the ES and SE. Buyers can upgrade further with the SEL Premium package, and the SEL Advanced Safety package.

The swanky GT comes with all of the above except the touchscreen navigation system and the advanced safety technologies, which can be included in the GT Touring package.

Two engines are available for 2016, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine in the ES, SE and SEL generates 166 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque when paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). ES models are front-wheel-drive only, while the SE and SEL can be either front- or all-wheel drive.

The GT gains a 3.0-liter V6 that offers 224 horsepower and 215 lb-ft of torque, with standard six-speed automatic (with paddle shifters) and all-wheel drive.

Standard safety features on the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander include antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, hill-start assist, a driver knee airbag, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags for the first and second rows.

In government crash testing, the Outlander with all-wheel drive earned a top five-star rating for overall crash protection, with four stars for total frontal-impact protection and five stars for side-impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave all Outlanders the best possible rating of “Good” in the small-overlap frontal offset, moderate-overlap frontal offset, side-impact and roof strength tests. Its seat/head restraint design was rated “Good” for whiplash protection in rear impacts. With optional equipment, the Outlander was recognized with an “Advanced” rating for front crash prevention.

Optional electronic safety features include lane-departure warning and a forward collision mitigation system. The latter can sense an impending frontal collision, alert the driver and, if the driver fails to react, apply the brakes to reduce the severity of an impact.

“The 2016 Outlander supplies excellent safety and reliability for drivers,” said Clarke.  “With a 5-year, 60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, and 100,000 mile powertrain warranty along with all of the standard safety options, it’s a leader in its class.”