HM-Mitsubishi’s seriousness about the Indian market is a debatable topic but what the company has recently done is a joke in the real sense. The Japanese automaker has added two more seats to the Mitsubishi Outlander, making the crossover a 7-seater, but once you see the last row of seats, you will truly understand why its a joke. Because the third row of seats (pictured below) is apt not for adults or children or even your pet but for your grocery or soft toys. The good part though is the price of the 7-seater variant is a cheaper than the regular 5-seater variant. This 7-seater Outlander is priced at Rs. 20.55 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The third row of seats are an after thought and are jump seats which can be folded when you feel the need for extra space in the boot. This is just a small effort from Mitsubishi to revise prices downwards as the company will be bringing in the next generation Outlander next year. The Mitsubishi Outlander is powered by a 2.4-litre MIVEC heart, which produces 170 BHP of peak power at 6000 RPM and 226 Nm of peak torque at 4100 RPM. Mated to a 6-speed CVT gearbox, the Outlander’s lack of diesel heart and lacklustre service network does not make it the most popular soft roader in the market.

Update – Mitsubishi has sent out a release, wherein they have revealed the prices of the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander, which is priced at Rs. 20.25 lakhs and not Rs. 19.95 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). The price revision is due to the increase in the excise duty.

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Features

  • Keyless operating systems
  • Rockford Fosgate premium 710 watt music system with 6 CD changer and USB port
  • Row seating with tumble function
  • Split tail gate
  • Paddle shifters and cruise contro
  • High contrast meter combination
  • Leather upholstery and 3-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls
  • HID headlamps with AFS
  • Dual frontal airbags
  • ABS and EBD

Mitsubishi goes ahead and says the following to justify the funny rear seats – “The new Outlander’s two additional rear seats, particularly for children, make it an ideal vehicle for a complete family.”

Mitsubishi Outlander 7-Seater