2014 Mitsubishi Outlander SE S-AWC Long Term Arrival

Fresh from its entry in our annual SUV of the Year competition, Mitsubishi sent us a 2014 Silver Metallic Outlander to join our long-term fleet. Mitsubishi promises the Outlander has been redone inside and out, including some significant safety and design work.

On the outside, a more traditional front replaces the large snub-nosed rectangular grille with a less severe horizontal intake and a cool futuristic logo reminiscent of the Atari logo. Overall, the designers have gone with a more rounded aesthetic, eliminating the Outlander's formerly angular look. An editor at our SUV of the Year competition called its design Land Rover-esque, which can easily be seen in the vehicle's profile.

Our AWD, seven-passenger Outlander comes to us with a base price tag of $26,620. We added the $6100 SE Touring package, which includes options to enhance comfort, entertainment, and safety, including a touch-screen navigation system with real-time traffic, power sunroof, heated leather seats, and a 710-watt Rockford Fosgate premium sound system that's Bluetooth audio compatible and offers a Sirius Radio subscription.

Combined with the already standard anti-lock braking system, active stability control, side, front, and knee airbags, the SE Touring package bolsters the Outlander's safety bona fides by adding Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Forward Collision Mitigation systems. Safety is a prime selling point for the new Outlander, and during the coming year, we'll let you know how safe these features make us feel.

Our Outlander's 2.4-liter I-4 puts out 166 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque for a leisurely 9.1-second 0-60 time and a 17.0-second quarter mile at 82.6 mph. At a curb weight of 3538 pounds, the Outlander was able to stop from 60 mph in a relatively curt 116 feet. Obviously, it's not a powerful engine, but we hope it's sufficient to make our year with the Japanese SUV a pleasant and convenient, if not thrilling, experience.