With unparalleled crossover styling, the government's highest 5-star crash test safety rating, seating for up to 7 passengers and the choice of front-wheel drive or full-time All-Wheel Control (AWC), the Mitsubishi Outlander (starting MSRP $22,345) has been a winner for both North American consumers and the  Japanese auto manufacturer.

For the 2012 model year, the Mitsubishi Outlander receives several key upgrades and environmentally-friendly features.

An "ECO" indicator light has been added that illuminates on the driver's instrument panel to signal when the vehicle is being driven in a manner that provides optimum fuel efficiency,

Vehicles equipped with the Premium package (SE model) and the Touring package (GT model) provide the driver with a new level of safety thanks to a rearview camera system that's integrated into the rearview mirror.

Another eco-friendly plus: the 2012 Outlander is now certified as a Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) in all 50 states.

The Mitsubishi Outlander benefits from clever engineering including an all-aluminum roof that not only helps to improve the vehicle's fuel efficiency by reducing excess weight but also lowers the vehicle's center of gravity for improved handling and stability; fold-flat 2nd and 3rd row seating (SE and GT versions) and a uniquely-designed flap-folding tailgate that provides maximum ease of placement or retrieval of goods from the rear cargo area.

Standard safety and security features on Mitsubishi's luxurious, do-anything crossover include advanced dual-stage front air bags with seat position sensors; side-impact curtain air bags (1st and 2nd row occupants); front seat thorax side air bags; active front seat head rests; head impact absorption roof and pillar trim; Active Stability Control (ASC); anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD); Traction Control Logic (TCL); Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS); anti-theft alarm and engine immobilizer and rear door child safety locks.

Freshening up the exterior of the entry-level Outlander ES for 2012 is a new wheel cover design for its 16-inch wheels.

Standard features abound on the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander ES and include a 6-speaker, 140-watt CD/MP3 player with digital signal processing, equalization control and speed-compensated volume setting; air conditioning with micron air filtration; auto off headlight control; rear combination LED tail lamps with clear lenses; rear heater floor ducts; intermittent rear window wiper/washer and a multi-information meter display.

The mid-grade Outlander SE adds even more luxurious appointments including 3rd row seating; a sensational-sounding audio system with 6-disc in-dash CD/MP3 changer and MP3/auxiliary RCA input; upgrade instrument panel and door trim; 18-inch alloy wheels; leather-wrapped steering wheel with silver accents; FAST-key passive entry and engine starting; and numerous other high-end accessories.  

Both the Outlander ES and SE models are powered by a 168 horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a slick Sportronic® continuously-variable transmission (CVT) with the SE versions (either 2wd or 4wd) receiving steering wheel-mounted magnesium-alloy paddle shifters as well.

The premier Outlander model, the GT, boasts a large number of high-end amenities including xenon HID headlamps; heated side view mirrors; automatic climate control; plus many more accessories.

The Outlander's already excellent handling capabilities are further improved on the GT model with the inclusion of advanced Mitsubishi technologies like Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) with three dynamic settings (Tarmac/Snow/Lock), an Active Front Differential (AFD), and Hill Start Assist (HSA). The driver further benefits from the GT's outstanding 230 horsepower 3.0-liter V-6 engine and Sportronic® 6-speed automatic transmission.

Key Dimensions – Outlander GT:

Wheelbase: 105.1 in.
Length: 183.7 in.
Height: 66.1 in.
Width: 70.9 in.
Engine: SOHC MIVEC 3.0-liter V6
Horsepower: 230 @ 6,250 rpm
Torque: 215 lb.-ft. @ 3,750 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed Sportronic® automatic transmission with steering column-mounted paddle shifters
Dynamics: Optional Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) with Active Front Differential (AFD), Hill Start
Assist and Active Stability Control (ASC) with Traction Control Logic (TCL)
Wheels: 18 x 7 in. aluminum alloy
Tires: 225/55R18

Major Standard Features – Outlander GT (2WD/S-AWC)

• Auto off/on      headlight control
• Xenon HID      headlamps
• Heated side      view mirrors
• Chrome      tailgate Accent
• Chrome door      beltline accent
• Dual exhaust      finisher
• Automatic      climate control
• Aluminum      pedals
• 3rd row      compact seat (underfloor stowable)
• Rain-sensing      windshield wiper system
• 6 CD/MP3      in-dash changer
• SIRIUS®      satellite radio with 3-month pre-paid subscription
• Center      mounted roof short-pole antenna
• Side sill      extension w/ chrome accent
• "GT"      rear badge
• Aluminum      gas/brake pedals
• Steering      column mounted magnesium alloy paddle shifters
• Dual-stage      front air bag SRS with seat position sensors, front seat mounted      side-impact air bags and curtain side air bags with roll-over sensors
• 60/40 split      folding and reclining high-back rear seats
• High-contrast      gauge meters with full-color LCD Multi-Information Display
• Color-keyed      side view mirrors with LED indicator lamps
• Cruise      control
• Automatic      climate control
• FAST-Key      passive entry and starting system
• Power door      locks and side view mirrors
• Power windows      with driver's one-touch up/down
• Leather      seating surfaces with power driver's seat
• Soft-touch      upper I/P and door trim with double stitch accents

Key Specifications - Outlander SE (2WD/AWC)

Engine: DOHC MIVEC 2.4-liter inline 4
Horsepower: 168 bhp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 167 lb.-ft. @ 4,100 rpm
Transmission: Sportronic® CVT with steering column-mounted paddle shifters
Dynamics: 2WD or available All-Wheel Control (AWC), Active Stability Control (ASC) with Traction Control Logic (TCL)
Wheels: 18 x 7 in. aluminum alloy
Tires: 225/55R18

Major Standard Features - Outlander SE

• 3rd row      compact seat (New for 2011 model)
• Upgraded      instrument panel and door trim
• Auto off      headlight control
• 6 CD/MP3      in-dash changer
• MP3/auxiliary      stereo RCA input
• Front mesh      grille with chrome surround
• Color-keyed      front fascia with a silver skid plate extension
• Fog lights      with chrome surround
• Side view      mirrors with LED indicator lamps
• 18-inch alloy      wheels
• Air      conditioning
• Leather-wrapped      steering wheel with silver accent
• Leather-wrapped      shift knob
• Sport fabric      seats with leather bolster
• FAST-Key      passive entry and starting system with panic alarm feature
• Sportronic®      steering wheel paddle shifter
• High-contrast      gauge meters with full-color display

Key Specifications - Outlander ES (2WD)

Engine: DOHC MIVEC 2.4-liter inline 4
Horsepower: 168 bhp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 167 lb.-ft. @ 4,100 rpm
Transmission: Sportronic® CVT
Dynamics: Active Stability Control (ASC) with Traction Control Logic (TCL)
Wheels: 16 x 6.5 in. steel (avail. 16 x 6.5 in. aluminum alloy)
Tires: 215/70R16

  Major Standard Features – Outlander ES

• Auto off      headlight control
• Aluminum roof      panel
• Air      conditioning
• 140-Watt      CD/MP3 player with 6 speakers, digital signal processor, equalization      control and speed compensated volume
• Front mesh      grille with black surround
• Color-keyed      front fascia
• Color-keyed      rear bumper
• Flat-type      aero wiper blades
• Intermittent      rear window wiper/washer
• Electric rear      window to foster with timer
• Tinted glass
• Rear      combination LED tail lamps with clear lenses
• Flap-folding      tailgate function
• Center      mounted short-pull roof antenna
• Space saver      temporary spare tire
• Micron air      filtration
• Rear heater      floor ducts
• Power windows      with auto up/down drivers switch
• Power central      door and tailgate locks
• Multi-information      meter display
• Chrome      interior door levers
• Fabric      wrapped door armrest & trim panel insert
• Fully-flat      seating function (1st, 2nd row)
• Driver's seat      height adjustment
• Dual      visor-vanity mirrors with illumination
• Door scuff      plate (front & rear)
• 60:40 rear      split-fold/tumble seats (2nd row)
• Rear seat      adjustable head restraints (x3)
• Advanced dual-stage      front air bags with seat position sensors
• Side-impact      curtain air bags (1st and 2nd row occupants)
• Front seat      thorax side air bags
• Anti-lock      braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
• Active      Stability Control (ASC)
• Traction Control      Logic (TCL)
• Active front      seat head rests
• Tire Pressure      Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Anti-theft      engine immobilizer
• Anti-theft      and security alarm system
• RISE body      construction

Outlander Options:

Premium Package (SE 2WD and AWC models) adds: Power glass sunroof w/ sunshade; 710-watt Rockford-Fosgate® Premium Audio System; SIRIUS® satellite radio with 3-month pre-paid subscription; Leatherette upper I/P and front door trims with double stitch accents, Auto-dimming rearview mirror with camera monitor.

Touring Package (GT 2WD and S-AWC models) adds: Leather seating surfaces (first- and second-row); Heated front seats; Power adjustable driver's seat; 710-watt Rockford-Fosgate® Premium Audio System; SIRIUS® satellite radio with 3-month pre-paid subscription; Auto-dimming rearview mirror with camera monitor, Power glass sunroof w/sunshade.

Navigation w/Rearview Camera (GT 2WD and S-AWC models) adds: 40GB HDD Navigation with Music Server and Real-Time Traffic (RDS); Rearview camera monitor; Auxiliary video input jack.

LED Illumination Package (all models): adds: Floor Illumination (Blue LED), Tailgate Lamp (Blue LED), Interior Lamps

Interior Package (all models) adds: Aluminum/Leather Shift Knob & Aluminum Brake Grip

Cargo Package (all models) adds: Rear shelf trim (cargo cover); Cargo mat; Cargo net.

Protection Package (all models) adds: Mudguards, Scuff Plates, Rear Bumper Step Protector, Tailgate Protector