Sleeper cars are the hidden badasses of the automotive world. If you’re acquainted with what this term means, then you’ll know what we’re talking about. If not, a sleeper car is a vehicle that looks unassuming but is actually packing a lot of horsepower.
To provide more detail, sleeper cars are vehicles that look simple and stock on the outside but were modified and tuned for power only. So, no overt exterior mods, no hyper-aggressive designs, and definitely no big wings and spoilers. That said, outright sports cars are excluded from this classification. Stock or otherwise.
Pre-facelift Mitsubishi Outlander (2007)
But did you know that some cars are considered sleepers right from the factory?
One example of this is the second-generation Mitsubishi Outlander, which was sold locally from 2007 to 2010. Why in the blazes is the Outlander, a practical and family-friendly crossover, considered a sleeper?
Mitsubishi Outlander: Evo X on stilts
For starters, the 2.4 GLS and GLX variants are both powered by the 4B12 inline-4 DOHC engine. This particular four-banger stems from the same engine series that powers the 2007-2016 Lancer Evolution X. Sure, the one aboard the Evo X is the 4B11, but the 4B12 only has slight deviations from the latter.
The Outlander’s 4B12 can make up to 170 horsepower and 226 Nm of torque. For the GLX, power is sent to the front wheels. Its sportier brother, the GLS, has an all-wheel-drive (AWD).
There’s also the fact that the second-gen Outlander rides on the same platform as the Lancer. It is taller though, so body roll is a thing. But still, many who have driven Outlander will still say that the sprightly, agile qualities of the Lancer can be felt on the Mitsubishi-made crossover.
Mitsubishi Outlander, first-facelift
Apart from the 2.4 variants, Mitsubishi Philippines also released the 3.0-liter 6B31 V6 versions locally. These variants also had all-wheel-drive, and they made even more power. At the most, both the 3.0 GLS and GLS Sport can produce up to 220 horsepower and 277 Nm of torque. That’s nothing to scoff at especially on the highway.
Regrettably, the 2.4 versions were only available with a continuously variable transmission. In turn, the 3.0 versions did come with a more robust six-speed automatic gearbox.
Despite this, the second-gen Outlander was fast on straight lines (at least for a crossover). There’s also the fact that the 2.4-liter, even with AWD, only weighed in at 1,599 kg. It isn’t a lightweight by any means, but it sure is lighter than many crossovers and even midsize sedans during that period.
>>> Related: 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander: Expectations and what we know so far
The Outlander's very powerful 3.0-liter 6B31 V6
All in all, the 2007 to 2010 Outlander was practically an Evo X on stilts. Mitsubishi at that time was also aware of this fact. This was of course made even more evident when the Japanese company introduced the Outlander Ralliart concept. The said one-off concept car used a supercharged version of the 6B31 V6, plus improvements to its suspension and brake components.
Later on, in 2009, Mitsubishi made a second Outlander concept car called the Outlander GT Prototype. It even bore the same front grille as the Lancer Evo X.
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Mitsubishi Outlander, the second facelift and the last version of the 2nd-gen model
Mitsubishi Outlander: I want one, so what now?
Currently, the Outlander that was sold from 2007 to 2010 has a used price of somewhere around Php 180,000 to Php 300,000. This depends on the condition and its specs. Of course, newer versions will command a higher price. You can check out our Mitsubishi Outlander car for sale section.
Do you think that the Outlander is indeed a sleeper, or do you consider it as just another early 2000s crossover?
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