At first I wasn't sure if I liked the 2010 Outlander's new styling. It seemed a little gimmicky making it look like a Lancer Evolution even though there's no turbo-4 under the hood, you know? But now that I've spent some time with our long-termer I think Mitsubishi did the right thing. While the new front-end isn't quite as cohesive with the rest of the body as before, it adds some brand identity as well as distinctiveness, the latter of which is useful in a crossover market saturated with bland looks and me-too design elements. The funny thing though is that every time I look at our Outlander now I think it needs to be lowered to be even more Evo-ish.
Pre-2010 Outlander
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor @ 4,123 miles
toye says:
12:03 PM, 08/30/10
Most cars/suvs either I like the front styling or they don't do anything for me meaning I don't pay much attention to it, so it's OK. The first time I saw the Outlander I was drawn right to the excessive large black grill. It overpowers the rest of a nicely shaped designed SUV. Of course the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
For me another example is on the new Honda Accord. Nicely styled car but overpowering excessive chrome door handles. Like in the design business you can make or break the a beautifully designed kitchen with cheap or poorly designed accessories.
subytrojan says:
12:10 PM, 08/30/10
before > after imo
ivanz says:
01:01 PM, 08/30/10
I prefer the previous look. The pre-facelift picture+colour doesn't do it justice, as it looks way better in real life. Likewise, the post-facelift looks worse...especially if you look at it from the side where the nose sticks out
old_volvo says:
01:47 PM, 08/30/10
after looks like a original Cylon robot, nicknamed "toasters".
Would be way cooler if they made the vehicle to look the new cylons.
Even better if they came with a number six model in the passenger seat (i'd settle for a #8 as well).
ed124c says:
03:09 PM, 08/30/10
Really, all you need to do to fix the front end is to paint the solid black "bumpery" area with the body-color paint. Yes, it will make it look more like a Chevy Equinox-- but that is a good thing. I would like to see one of the computer geeks on this site show us a picture of the Mitsu with such a makeover.
subytrojan says:
07:23 PM, 08/30/10
Just look at its smaller cousin, ed124c.
http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/2010/08/test-car-notes-2011-mitsubishi-outlander-sport.html
mikevegas06 says:
04:00 AM, 08/31/10
I like the new front end. I think it's distinctive but not in a bad way. The lesser trim Outlanders come with a body color band instead of the full black out treatment up front. I'm not a fan of that look; breaks up the front way too much IMO.
fundango says:
05:07 AM, 08/31/10
I like that front-end design on the Evo X, but it looks out of place on the Outlander because it doesn't flow with the rest of the body.
fushigi says:
03:49 PM, 09/ 2/10
While the old front end was alright, it was decidedly bland. The new front end makes a design statement. It's fairly unique in its class unlike the RAV, CR-V, and Santa Fe noses.
Non-GTs get body-colored panels across the grill (see pic 3 at http://www.mitsubishicars.com/MMNA/jsp/outlander/10/index.do#/?page=exterior_gallery) and I'm sure if you haggled with a dealer they'd swap the blacked out panel for a body colored panel.
I realize the new front end is polarizing and some really dislike it. I was actually neutral on it when I saw it in pictures but I think it works well in person. It also makes it easy to spot a 2010 v. 2007-2009 model (which I see a fair number of around here).