Outgoing entry model’s status as cheap family transport erodes with more dollars, fewer chairs.

SWITCHOVER to a new platform, engine and adoption of sharper technologies and additional comforts has not been without cost in respect to the new Mitsubishi Outlander in its fully fossil-fuelled formats.

With stock of the current car still being cleared, the gap between the pricing that line holds and the stickers attached to the incoming equivalents, for which the national distributor is now taking orders, has been laid all the more bare.

The biggest gap is between the entry LS editions in front-drive format – with the incoming representation costing a hefty $9000 more than the old model, which provisions as one of the least expensive seven seaters on the market.

The new LS loses that status – and not just because it costs more. The next-gen car also presents in a five-seater format; that grade appears to be the only edition with that reduced count. A question mark still hangs over whether the plug-in hybrid can do better.

There is also a price gap with other variants in their incoming versus outgoing guises. On strength of assessing respective recommended retails as they presently stand, the step-up appears no less than $5000.

The difference between LS grades is exacerbated by the last of the outgoing examples being subject to a runout special pricing plan. However, even if it returned to its full RRP – which last applied more than two years ago – there would still be a $5000 separation.

The new car provisions in front- and four wheel-drive formats, all petrol – the previous diesel having been dropped - each spanning three grades: Aside from LS, there’s an XLS and a VRX. The front-drive editions in those respective grades are $41,990, $44,990 and $49,990. The AWDs are $44,990, $49,990 and $54,990. Those prices do not include on roads.

Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand has yet to give indication if the same gaps will occur with the new plug-in hybrid model, which is not expected until next year, though customers will be able to place a deposit payment soon.

The petrol models here now and the PHEV are the first new Outlanders in nearly nine years and the first Mitsubishis to have gone onto a new platform shared with alliance partners Nissan and Renault. The next-generation X-Trail and Qashqai are also on this underpinning. The latter is due to come on sale at the end of February.

All fully fossil fuelled Outlanders powered by a new 2.5-litre non-turbo four cylinder developing 135kW and 245Nm. That’s up 15kW/25Nm over the outgoing 2.4-litre four-cylinder. Power is now sent the front or all four wheels through a CVT automatic transmission, with eight simulated 'gear ratios' (up from six).

Combined fuel consumption claims range from 7.5 litres per 100km for the LS front-drive to 8.1L/100km in flagship AWD.

A slew of active safety technologies are standard, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, traffic-sign recognition, and eight airbags, including one between the front seats to prevent occupants' heads colliding in a side-impact collision.

MMNZ yesterday shared that it is inviting customers to pay a $500 online deposit to secure their new Outlander up until October 1, 2021. At that point “the pre-launch platform will be replaced with full launch information.” The deposit is fully refundable should any customer have a change of mind. Deposits for the PHEV can be made online from October 1.

MMNZ head of sales and marketing Reece Congdon says interest in the fully petrol model has been decent. He expects the same for the PHEV.

“With Outlander PHEV cemented as NZ’s all-time highest selling PHEV, we’re excited to bring the next generation to the increasing number of Kiwis turning to plug-in hybrid solutions to reduce their vehicle emissions,” said Congdon.

“Being number one in this sector puts us in a very strong position to attract a new generation of PHEV customers, incentivised by the Clean Car Discount, which makes us optimistic of another strong uptake of our online deposit offer.”

The new LS has a fulsome safety suite, wireless Apple Carplay connectivity and embedded sat nav. Go to an XLS and cloth trim is swapped for synthetic suede and leather upholstery. The XLS has heated front seats, runs 20 inch alloys and has larger front and rear disc brakes. It also picks up wireless smartphone charging, triple zone climate control and rain-sensing front wipers.

The VRX has black leather upholstery though light grey is available for another $1000. The front chairs have eight-way power adjustment and memory function. It has a panoramic sunroof, kick motion power tailgate, a 12.3 inch digital driver display, Bose sound system plus additional safety features including a multi-around monitor with moving object detection and a 10.8 inch head-up display.