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Monday, July 20, 2015

Is Mitsubishi Outlander SE Dog-Friendly & Adventurous? #DriveMitsubishi

I had a terrierific time test-riding the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander SE.  For a whole week, it was #OzintheOutlander with more car rides than I get in a month.  When we received the Outlander, I immediately noticed the Cosmic Blue color and the sporty, bold design style.  The overall exterior appearance made me glad we decided to take the Outlander on one of our camping adventures.

Oz the Terrier asks: Is Mitsubishi Outlander SE Dog-Friendly & Adventurous? #DriveMitsubishi

We like how the Outlander is equipped with an Eco Mode which you can select for additional fuel efficiency.  Eco Mode provides energy saving control to the engine, the air conditioning and the 4 wheel drive system.  When in Eco Mode, acceleration is controlled to be more gentle and the air conditioning output is suppressed though it remains cool in the cabin.

Oz's 6-Point Inspection of Mitsubishi Outlander SE

1.  Interior Space.  The Outlander is quite spacious for a compact crossover.  I found the back seat to be very comfortable and I imagine so would most small, medium and even large dogs. Though it claims seating for 7, we found that the third row would probably be best used for a small/medium sized dog as the legroom is very limited. 

Oz the Terrier likes how much space is in the cargo area of Mitsubishi Outlander #DriveMitsubishi

2. Seating and Comfort.  Both Ma and Daddy-dog found the 6-way adjustable driver's seat and the 4-way adjustable front passenger seat comfortable, both having good lumbar support.  The second row reclining back seat, where I spent most of my time buckled in with my car harness, is comfortable as well.  We all agree the road noise in the back seat is louder compared to the front.

Oz the Terrier comfortably rides in the back seat of Mitsubishi Outlander  #DriveMitsubishi

Additionally, the air conditioning system is quick to cool off the entire cabin and maintain a very comfortable cabin temperature. 

3. Visibility and Style.  With a well-set driver's seat and large side view mirrors, the Outlander provides excellent visibility on almost every aspect of the vehicle and road.  The dashboard and controls are simple with smooth, stylized lines and are easily readable.  We liked the big touch-screen radio (can also be controlled from a gadget on the steering wheel) which also serves the navigation system.

Oz the Terrier in front seat of Mitsubishi Outlander SE #DriveMitsubishi

4. Drive Quality.  The Outlander SE is agile, well handled and an overall smooth ride.  The 4-cylinder engine provided good acceleration for entering the highway.  Within the campground, which is a dirt/gravel road, the ride was still quite smooth and comfortable.

5.  Fuel Economy.  The majority of our travels were on the highway and here in South Florida, that's 65 or 70 MPH speed limits.  The Outlander proved it is excellent on fuel economy as we got an average 30 miles to the gallon.

6. Safety.  These are the most important features for pets and their parents.  All 7 seats in the Outlander have head rests and 3-point seat belts (so your dog car safety harness can be buckled in to any seat) and there are 7 airbags  - 5 in the front and 2 in the second row back seat.  The second row also includes the LATCH child-restraint system (good if you have older versions of the dog safety harness). 

Oz the Terrier viewed through rear back-up camera screen in Mitsubishi Outlander SE #DriveMitsubishi

The Outlander is also furnished with a rear back-up camera so you cannot run someone, something or somedog over.  This feature was particularly handy when backing in to our already occupied campsite.

Dog-Friendly and Adventurous Mitsubishi Outlander
We concluded the Mitsubishi Outlander's cargo area, while large enough for suitcases and other road-trip necessities, is not sizeable enough to carry the amount of gear we need for a long camping (glamping) trip.  That said, its fuel economy and spacious, comfortable interior cabin make it well suited for extended road trips.  Overall, the Outlander is a very dog-friendly vehicle with ample room to safely accommodate a small to large dog and their family on their road-tripping adventures. 

Oz the Terrier concludes Mitsubishi Outlander is well suited to small-to-large dogs and their families having terrierific road tripping adventures

Thank you to Mitsubishi for allowing me the opportunity to test-ride the 2015 Outlander SE.  We were pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed driving and riding in it.  For more about the Outlander, please visit the Mitsubishi website



33 comments:

  1. Oz I was purrty excited about what was outside my window, I was doing my little cat squeak and my the standard cat chirp which is kinda like hardly opening my mouth and my lips quiver just a tad.
    Ohhhh what a purrty Outlander amd a darlin' photo of you in the back seat with your handsome head turned sideways!!
    Hugs madi your bfff

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    1. Oh Madi, you are always so sweet with the compliments!

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  2. That is one good looking ride
    Lily & Edward

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    1. We did like the Outlander's look...and of course, that Cosmic Blue was fabulous!

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  3. Great review, that car has a lot of room and love the rear back up camera. Thanks for sharing! :)

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    1. We were thrilled it had the rear back up camera! It is very helpful in keeping everyone safe.

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  4. WE would not have wanted to give it back!
    stella rose

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    1. We were upset when they came to pick up the Outlander Stella Rose. It was so nice to drive. *sigh*

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  5. The ability to cool the entire car quickly is so important when you're traveling with dogs. There can't be anything more uncomfortable than wearing a fur coat in the summer.

    But I had to giggle at the idea that it was too small for carrying camping gear. We used to pack gear for a week or two and two dogs into a Subaru Impreza (the small one).

    Looking around at our neighbors when we go camping, I guess we're pretty minimal. :)

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    1. Pamela: The a/c really did cool the car off quickly. We were very happily surprised by that. And yes, we agree it is very important when traveling with dogs.

      In regard to camping gear, we have a tendency to "glamp" not camp. We always bring the large canopy which takes up a lot of room, but it is a necessity to create some shade to get away from the Florida sun and heat. I think people like you, who go with minimal gear, would find the Outlander just right for your needs.

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  6. 4 paws for this super car.... or well let's say whole 87 paws.. I love it and we always wanted a car with 7 seats (impawtant for 2 peeps and one dog lol). I bet my mom want's it to use the extra space for shoes and other trash...
    easy rider

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  7. Wow, this is so cool! I am definitely loving it!!!
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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  8. Oz, we think Mitsubishi needs to hire you to appear in their ads for the Outlander - you do a great job!!! Have a great week.

    Woos - Ciara and Lightning

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  9. What a great review, Oz! We think dogs should be consulted more often when the peeps are purchasing a car!!
    Smileys!
    Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo

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  10. What a super cool review! That looks like a great car for a classy, yet sporting dog like yourself. I am so glad that you enjoyed it and got to go camping to check out its ruggedness.

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  11. What an amazing and fun opportunity! The Outlander sounds like a great vehicle all the way around especially for dogs, road trips, etc. Great that it also has some earth friendly features. I'm about to take my first long road trip with my peeps in a few weeks. Maybe I will suggest they go out and pick one up for our trip. Not sure why, but my assistant is shaking her head.

    P.S.: I agree Mitsubishi should hire you as their spokesdog!

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  12. doggies reviewing cars - what next :)

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  13. Did you get to drive it? You do have your driver license don't you? Subaru gives doggies their licenses so they can drive. We hope you got to drive!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  14. Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding ~ Oz so the color is Cosmic Blue, well I think they should make one the color of your eyes. Why you in the back seat look adorable with the smile and twinkle in you eyes. Lee needs one that drives itself with her dizzy head. And the back camera why a clear view of what you want to hit. Seriously Oz you did one terrific review of this Mitsubishi they should give it to you.
    Thanks for being a friend
    Sweet William The Scot

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  15. Thanks for the great review OZ. Mom's honda has a back up camera - she loves it cause she is short and has a hard time seeing to back up.
    hugs
    Mr bailey, Hazel & Mabel

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  16. I don't think I've ever driven a Mitsubishi before. Looks like a nice car with a lot of cool features!

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  17. You did a great review Oz! You almost made us want to ride in a car and you almost made our mommy want to go camping but we both came to our senses pretty quickly as we know how each trip would end - badly! Mommy doesn't camp or glamp or anything where there's bugs! The gas mileage though is very impressive!

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  18. Great job with the review, Oz!
    Cammie!

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  19. I was very impressed with it when we tested one out for a week last February. I got racing red, but Mom likes the blue better.

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  20. Great review! Love that it cools the car quickly. So nice to have here!

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  21. Dogs travel lots! It' great hear about a vehicle that is comfy and safe for them!

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  22. Don't you just love the backup camera? My newest car has it, and on the very first day I hopped behind the wheel, I managed to avoid a neighborhood cat that stopped behind the car for a quick bath. Without that camera, gah! I don't even want to think about it. I'll always have a camera now.

    Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie

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  23. We love a dog friendly vehicle!
    Jan and the crew at Wag n Woof Pets

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  24. How cool you got to test this out!! I love how ya'll set up for glaming it looks super nice :)

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  25. PAWsome OZ!!! Glad you and your peeps enjoyed the Mitsubishi Outlander too. It is a very spacious car - the trunk and for sure you enjoyed the back seat :-) Love the Cosmic Blue color. It is such a big vehicle and the back camera is great safety feature. Golden Woofs!

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  26. Sounds like you had a blast test driving.

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  27. How pawesome Oz! Love that picture of you! Glad you enjoyed the Mitsubishi! I'm jealous of the back up camera. My car is pretty old, but it's still a while until we'll get a new one!
    -Jessica from Beagles & Bargains

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Thank you for stopping by and leaving a pawprint. I enjoy reading each and every one!
Cairn cuddles,
Oz the Terrier