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The most outlandish identifier of Mitsubishi’s seven-passenger SUV crossover is gone.

The obvious alteration when the Outlander took on a new look last year was deep-sixing of the old shark-nose front end. The new grille is bi-level with wide headlights and the exterior structure gains added sleekness, more conventional than the previous model.

A simple push of a button on the center console of the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander GT will transfer power from an economy mode to normal; another push moves it to snow setting, with takeoffs in 2nd gear for reduced spinning. Depress the button again and the Outlander is locked into what Mitsubishi refers to as “super all-wheel-control” for adverse conditions.

It was the latter option I was grateful for Tuesday night between Fort Lupton and Colo. 60 north of Platteville, when blizzard-like conditions set upon us and other motorists. The wind-driven snow, sticking to and icing up on the roadway, created treacherous footing and perilously cut vision. The least risky option was to follow the car ahead, not closely but enough to keep its taillights in view, and the Outlander did its part with fairly secure grip.
The Outlander GT for ’14 is equipped with a 224-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission, with paddle-shift capability. It rides on Toyo A24 P225/55R18 tires. The performance it generates is only average; its shifts are smooth. It carries an EPA fuel estimate of 20/28 miles per gallon; my overall average was 23.8. The Outlander is built in Japan.

Cheaper Outlander models, the ES and SE versions, offer a 166-hp, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with a continuously variable transmission, producing even higher mpg figures, though weaker in acceleration.

The Outlander Sport, 14 inches shorter than the Outlander in overall length, is a five-passenger crossover.

The Outlander and the smaller Outlander Sport are dominant in the Mitsubishi showrooms. The two make up 57 percent of sales of Mitsu products, outselling the two car models – Mirage and Lancer.

The Outlander would have been a very moderately priced $28,000 vehicle, except for the GT package. That added $6,100 to the total ($34,720) and included navigation with a 7-inch touch-screen display, Rockford Fosgate sound with nine speakers, lane-departure warning and forward-collision mitigation systems, adaptive cruise control, power glass sunroof, leather seats with power on driver’s side, power remote tailgate.

The lane-departure system is overactive, beeping more often than necessary. Of course, it can be disengaged.

The ride quality of the Outlander is comfortable, with supportive leather seats and a soft suspension.

The third-row seats, which lift from the cargo floor, are small and provide little legroom. Access is very limited. With the seats in place, the rear cargo area amounts to only 10.3 cubic feet. Drop them and the space expands to 34.2 feet.

A one-piece liftgate has replaced the drop-down tailgate which was handy for loading and unloading.

Notes from e-mail

I enjoy your column, Bud, but must beg to differ with you regarding a recommendation you made in your review of the BMW 320ix sedan about a month ago. You complained that the BMW was shipped with summer tires and recommended that anyone buying the car would want to trade these for all-season tires. As a BMW owner and safety enthusiast, I think this was the wrong recommendation. Anyone driving in the Denver area, or venturing out to the mountains needs to have dedicated winter tires that meet the industry’s severe snow service requirements and are branded with the mountain snowflake symbol. Even if the drive is only to Floyd Hill or Boulder, I have seen many vehicles stalled out and blocking traffic when a significant snowfall occurs. For anyone buying the BMW or any vehicle in the Denver region, I wish you would consider a recommendation that they also purchase a dedicated set of winter wheels and tires. Incidentally, BMW has typically offered a special on run-flat winter tires and cast wheels for about $1,100, with tire-pressuring monitoring system, a small price to pay for the added safety in the context of a BMW purchase. – S.C.

Thanks, Stan. I suggested “opting for all-season tires in these parts.” My point was reinforced two weeks ago when I received an Audi SQ5 quattro with winter tires, then received a BMW X5 with summer tires and this note of caution: “This vehicle is equipped with summer tires, please avoid driving in inclement weather.” With the type winter we’ve experienced, this means leaving the BMW sit for awhile.