Mitsubishi Outlander

The Mitsubishi Outlander shares every underpinning with the Peugeot 2007. Happily it looks better than the French effort, but if you want a diesel, look elsewhere.

• Comfort

  The need to limit body roll means the suspension in the Outlander is fairly firm, but it's not so much as to actually make it uncomfortable. General refinement on the move is also far better than the larger, older Pajero.

  

• Performance

  Currently being sold with a 125Kw 2.4-litre four cylinder or a 162Kw 3.0-litre V6, both petrol. There is a 2.2-litre turbo diesel available in this cars French twin, the Peugeot 4007, but not in the Outlander.

  

• Cool

  Although the coolness of an urban SUV is highly debateable, we reckon the Mitsubishi is at the very least the coolest of the three cars that share this platform. Something about being French and rugged really doesn't ring true does it?

  

• Quality

  The Outlander is exactly as well put together as you'd expect from a Japanese product with this sort of family-oriented lifestyle in mind. It's tough, simple and fit for purpose if the purpose in question is nothing more arduous than kids, dogs or mountain bikes.

  

• Handling

  The Outlander is part of that modern breed of urban SUVs with precious few pretensions towards the mud. As such it handles much more like a road car than a proper off-roader, with plenty of grip and little body roll.

  

• Practicality

  No chink in the Outlander's armour here, with a split tailgate and the option of a third row of seats, albeit a very token one with scarcely enough room for kids. The second row folds automatically at the touch of a button too. Which is nice.

  

• Running costs

  The Outlander returns a reasonable 9.5L/100km with the 2.4-litre and 10.9 for the 3.0-litre V6, which is less than most of its rivals.