Meet a classic "crossover" car, a model aiming to capture two markets: the estate car and the full-on offroader. Ideally, that means a double sales bonus for Mitsubishi's dealers when the new Outlander arrives here this March. But if the car's not quite right, it faces a future as the salesman's Cinderella, the whats-it-for mobile no punter wants.
On the plus side, it follows a rubbish act. Outlander 1 was a thirsty, slow, automatic-geared, petrol-only car, with 240 grams of carbon spewing out over a kilometre and a 20.5mpg urban drinking habit.
New Outlander's competition, however, is scary. Toyota's Rav 4 is a darling of suburbia and Hyundai's Santa Fe compensates for brand anaemia by overdosing on value. Then there's Peugeot's imminent 4007 and Citroen's C-Crosser - France has spotted the crossover niche, too.
The initial line up is purely made up of a single, diesel-driven option, employing VW's 2.0-litre 140bhp unit. Pricewise, the bottom-rung Equippe will set you back ¯¿½19,449; the mid-range Warrior, ¯¿½21,999, and the top-end Elegance ¯¿½24,749. All models have air con, keyless entry with remote central locking and MP3-playable music systems, though you'll need to up-spec to a Warrior for side and curtain airbags, cruise control, blackened glass and silver roof rails. Heated front seats, leather, sat nav and a sunroof are Elegance-only spoils.
The performance figures look commendable - 10.7 seconds is a respectable period of time to reach 60mph, while a CO2 figure of 183g/km puts the Outlander into pinpoint parity with a modest Peugeot 407 saloon.
Fuel consumption looks green-ish, too: these models claim 40.9mpg overall, while the base-level Equippe is better still¢¦ thanks to smaller wheels and (ironically) no particulate filter, it musters 42.8mpg.
In the flesh, it has great design and proportions, being shorter and narrower than the predecessor, whose beaky looks have been replaced by a stronger nose. Inside, the entire cabin has been reworked, using higher quality plastics and a thoroughly noughties decor.
On the move, it's a genteel travelling companion - little engine noise at start-up, smooth progress on country lanes and carefree motorway gliding. The Outlander has become a driver's car with positive feedback from the steering, a responsive throttle (particularly at low speeds) and quiet, smooth progress that's deeply un-4x4ish.
To tackle bumpier stuff, all you need do is rotate the chunky dial near the handbrake and 4WD is instantly brought in. In the rough, it's very unruffled.
Clearly from Outlander 1 to 2, the shift is seismic. Thanks to its manual transmission and modern diesel engine, you now get keener performance while its more refined all-wheel drive lets you cut fuel consumption by reverting to two-wheel drive where sensible. And if you opt for the Warrior or Elegance, you also now have a handy 'Hide and Seat' brace of extra benches in the tail.
Our friends in the environmental movement often say it's pointless to drive around in a surly offroader. Truth is, they're right. So the top tip for 2007 is to buy a car that can take you - within the realms of sensible motoring - up any old rocky road, while also gliding your family in comfort around the nation's motorways. And if you're putting a name to such a model, 2007's front runner has to be Outlander.
