SNOW was falling heavily, the temperature had plummeted to brass monkey territory and there was the threat of icy conditions for many days to come.

The weather made the sight of the chunky Mitsubishi Outlander easing gently on to my driveway a very welcome one.

I offered the delivery man a cup of coffee, but he had only thoughts about getting home as soon as possible. There would be no doubt that his journey would be that much more difficult without the aid of the surefooted Outlander.

Mitsubishi points out with refreshing honesty that although the Outlander’s four-wheel drive system allows it to occasionally travel off-road on unpaved roads, camping grounds and the like, it is not suitable for heavy going in the rough stuff or towing in difficult terrain.

However, it is more than capable of ploughing through snow and ice, as I was soon to find out.

And it has a rather clever trick up its sleeve. By turning the rotary drivetrain selector mounted on the centre console, the driver can select between three driving modes.

In 2WD front-wheel drive, all torque is delivered to the front wheels for everyday driving. In 4WD Auto mode, torque is transferred to the wheels with the most grip, and by choosing 4WD Lock torque is split 50/50 between front and rear axle, as and when required, when driving in more difficult conditions.

The worst winter weather for decades meant that the dial was turned and turned again on each and every journey. Thick snow, menacing stretches of ice and the occasional blizzard tested the Outlander to the limit. And it passed with flying colours, never outting a wheel wrong.

Funny, isn’t it, how a big 4x4 can look out of place on a summer’s day in the city. But in the grip of winter nothing makes more sense, and the Outlander’s ability to switch to two-wheel drive at the turn of a dial means better economy figures are only an arm’s length away.

With its bulging wheel arches, angular headlights and no-nonsense stare, the Outlander cannot be accused of a lack of road presence.

From start-up, the 138bhp two-litre diesel engine clatters into action before settling to a more subdued tone.

On the road, the Outlander has decent acceleration and plenty of feel through the wheel.

Though most owners will be unlikely to take it off-road with any frequency, it does possess considerable ability when in 4WD mode and only the relatively low ground clearance would seem to limit it when driven over challenging tracks and fields.

The Outlander sits on Mitsubishi’s new global platform, developed with Daimler Chrysler, and is available in several specifications – Equippe, SE, GSE, Warrior, Elegance and Diamond, with prices ranging from £20,549 to £28,549.

Three engines are available – a two-litre diesel and a 2.2-litre diesel mated to six-speed manual transmission and a 2.4-litre petrol unit with automatic.

The practical interior features one-step fold and tumble second row seats, while the SE,Warrior and Elegance models get Fold2Hide, which transforms the Outlander from a five-seater to a seven-seater. Be warned though, these extra seats are strictly for the children. The use of ultra-thin cushioning enables them to be stowed under the floor. The extra rank isn’t comfortable or substantial – even Mitsubishi would admit to that – but it’s a neat trick to have up your sleeve when you need to get a bunch of kids to a party.

Another great feature is the split rear tailgate, an item reminiscent of a full-strength 4x4. The large top portion lifts while the chunky bottom section folds down into an extended lip. It means that heavy loads don’t need to be lifted up high and can even serve as a handy seat.

Rounding off the rear are attractive wraparound LED lamps which add a touch of class and are much more noticeable than conventional bulbs.

But the best feature of all is under the bonnet. The 2.0-litre engine is just about spot on for the Outlander; any more power would be unnecessary, any less would struggle to cope with a car of considerable size and weight.

Though most owners will be unlikely to take it off Tarmacadam with any frequency, it does possess considerable off-road ability when in 4WD mode. Only the relatively low ground clearance seemed to limit it when it was driven over some challenging rocky tracks and slippery fields.

And I for one will vouch for its capability on snow-covered roads.


Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0 MDI-D SE

Price: £20,549.

Engine: Two-litre diesel.

Transmission: Six-speed manual driving front or all four wheels.

Performance: 0-62mph in 10.8 seconds; maximum speed 118mph.

Economy: 42.8mpg combined.

CO2 Rating: 174g/km.