Mitsubishi Outlander LS Black Edition 2023 Review

How little real work has been done to create the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander LS Black Edition is evident in the price: at just $1750 more than the seven-seat, front-drive LS model it’s based on, the Black Edition Outlander – priced from $42,490 plus on-road costs – sounds like a bit of a steal. Or is it?

In such a popular and fiercely competitive segment it should be no surprise that the Outlander has plenty of rivals.

There’s the GWM-Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid ($45,990 drive-away), new Honda CR-V VTi-X ($44,500 drive-away), Hyundai Tucson Elite ($40,150 plus ORCs), Kia Sportage SX+ 2WD (from $41,850), Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport AWD (from $42,410), Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium (from $43,090) and the Toyota RAV4 GXL 2WD (from $43,310), just to name a few.

However, if you want to match the Outlander’s seven-seat capacity the list shrinks dramatically to just the Mitsubishi’s closely related sibling, the Nissan X-TRAIL ST AWD (from $40,290 plus ORCs), and the Mahindra XUV700 ($36,990 drive-away).

The Outlander Black Edition was also recently named as a permanent member of the range, although for the 2024 model year it will move up in price slightly (+$500) when the first vehicles start arriving later this year.

The LS Black Edition is just that, a 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander LS that’s been given the black highlight treatment, but not much else that’s of substance.

It’s all actually quite subtle. Primarily the Outlander LS Black Edition is identified by its black 20-inch wheels, grille, front and rear bumpers, door mirrors and B- and C-pillar trim.

Although the optional ($200) White Diamond hue of our test Outlander provided the contrast needed to adequately display the black treatment, identification would certainly be harder in darker shades – like black.

The acquisition of the Black Edition label is similarly achieved inside through the use of Alcantara/black suede seat trim, black headlining and front pillar trim, plus a laser-etched shift-lever panel.

Although that might all sound a bit superficial there is at least one laudable addition, the powered driver’s seat which is not normally seen in an LS Outlander.

The Black Edition Outlander builds on standard LS equipment which includes an electric parking brake, LED headlights, dual-zone air-conditioning, 40/20/40-split folding/reclining second-row seats and auto headlights and wipers.

The test Outlander LS Black Edition was optioned-up with a cargo liner ($626), floor mats for all three rows ($216) and black ‘Outlander’ lettering on the bonnet ($202).

The Outlander is covered by Mitsubishi’s five-year/100,000km warranty, though servicing at an official dealer extends this up to 10 years. Servicing is carried out every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.

A capped-price servicing plan extends to 10 years or 150,000km – whichever comes first – with basic servicing capped at $299, secondary services at $349 and major services at six years/90,000km ($649) and 10 years/120,000km ($849). In total you’re looking at $4340 over the decade.

The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander has a total of eight airbags and earned a five-star ANCAP rating last year. It comes with a front-centre airbag as well as a knee airbag for the driver.

ANCAP’s report shows the Outlander did very well in child occupant protection and was rated generally as adequate in other protocols including adult occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection and safety assist systems.

A negative point is that the head-protecting curtain airbags of seven-seat Outlanders – like numerous other SUVs – only cover the first and second rows of the cabin.

Electronic safety aids comprise the normal inclusions such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB) in forward and reverse (high- and low-speed when travelling forward) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction assist, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and lane change assist.

A safety recall was issued earlier this year for the Outlander, owing to a software issue that could cause the rear-view camera image to be temporarily disrupted when the vehicle is reversing.

The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander LS Black Edition’s technology package is the same as the regular LS, with the 8.0-inch touch-screen scoring embedded sat-nav, wireless Apple CarPlay/wired Android Auto, wireless phone charging, Bluetooth connectivity with voice control, six-speaker audio and USB-A and USB-C ports.

With the exception of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants, all 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander models are powered by the same long-stroke 135kW/245Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine now seen in the Nissan X-TRAIL.

Though not a new engine, it’s a big advance over the former 124kW/220Nm Mitsubishi 2.4-litre and generally maintains equal power/weight ratios to the previous version despite being significantly heavier.

The current Outlander LS tips the scales at 1650kg kerb weight, where the last-generation model was 1475kg.

How fuel efficient is the Mitsubishi Outlander LS Black Edition?

Largely because it’s heavier, the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander’s more efficient engine still consumes more 91 RON unleaded – a claimed 7.7L/100km in LS form – than the 7.2L/100km its predecessor managed.

The official figure is close to spot-on, though, because on test our LS Black Edition averaged 7.6L/100km.

Riding on the same Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi Alliance CMF-CD platform as the latest Nissan X-TRAIL, the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander feels poised and refined.

The steering in the LS Black Edition feels adequately weighted and, at 2.6 turns from lock-to-lock, is quite quick and offers a competitively tight 11.2-metre turning circle.

Ride quality is relatively absorbent although some thumping could be heard at times from the back end of our test car.

In all, somewhat similarly to the new Nissan X-TRAIL, the seats are well-sized and comfy and there’s a welcome uptick in refinement levels that is accentuated by the Outlander’s quietness on the move.

The 2.5-litre engine, along with the good and bad points of the eight-step CVT transmission, is generally smooth, quiet and responsive, and copes well with the new Outlander’s weight penalties.

In terms of family-friendliness or holiday excursions, the Outlander does concede a major point to the latest X-TRAIL – its braked towing capacity of 1600kg is quite a bit less than the Nissan’s two-tonne rating.

The seven-seat configuration is dealt with effectively in the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander LS Black Edition, although there are the usual limitations in the third row which, as is typical in the mid-size SUV segment, is a compromise.

Essentially, that means long-term travel is out for anyone but kids.

Access to the rearmost seats is tight and restrictive and the levers that allow it are really pretty primitive in terms of form and function. And unlike the mid-row seating where the legroom is generous, precious little space is available further astern.

Those riding in the first and second rows suffer no such inconveniences and there are no complaints about the amenities or the overall quality and comfort – particularly the part-Alcantara seat trim.

The driver’s powered seat is a bonus that in itself almost justifies the price increase over the standard Outlander LS.

There’s a good-size, padded-lid centre console box between the front seats, plus rear air vents, four auto-down power windows, generally clean and intuitive controls, and the boot space is competitive in its class thanks to the small intrusions made by the space-saver spare.

The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander LS Black Edition, for a small impost over the LS it’s based on, is certainly worth considering, even if it’s just for the upgraded interior trim and powered driver’s seat.

In every other sense, the Outlander’s functionality, on-road performance, cabin space and luggage-carrying capabilities make it a strong contender in the mid-size SUV class.

And its new-found glamour could well attract those who may have struck the anodyne third-generation Outlander off their wish lists.

There’s little wonder the latest Mitsubishi Outlander is such a strong presence in the mid-size SUV segment today.

2023 Mitsubishi Outlander LS Black Edition at a glance:
Price: $42,490 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 135kW/245Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 7.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 174g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2022)