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 The Honda CR-V has ruled the roost in the premium soft-roader segment in India ever since its launch. As automobile enthusiasts , we actually started getting frustrated over the fact that none of the vehicles pitted against this dictator could match up to it. The current third-generation car remains a favourite among buyers. Additionally , with a more affordable smaller engine unit now available , it seems nothing can deter the CR-V from remaining the king of this segment. Or is it?
For a long time now , Mitsubishi had been eyeing the CR-V’s market. After teasing us by showcasing the Outlander at various shows , the car finally landed in local showrooms last month. On paper , it does seem that the Mitsu can give the Honda a run for its money as both have 2.4-litre engines , 4WD , comfortable seating for five , similar price tags and come loaded to the brim with features. Is there finally a vehicle that can not only measure up to the undisputed leader but perhaps surpass it?
SUVs are meant to have road presence. The Honda CR-V always did but in the wake of its newest competitor , it does feel insecure. The Outlander’s clean , crisp lines look handsome.  The compact design of the grille with dramatic headlamps , plus the huge , silver skid plate under the equally big air-dam is eye catching. Bulging wheel arches , LED tail lamps and smart five spoke alloys make sure that quite a few second glances on the road are reserved for the Outlander. Vibrant colour options for the car further enhance its ability to stand out in the crowd of regular SUVs. Most of us here at CAR India thought that if seen from the rear , the Outlander looks more of an estate rather than a SUV. On the other hand , the CR-V’s huge front , big 17inch alloys and coupe like D pillar grab equal attention as well.
Under the hood , both contenders have an almost similar powerplant. The 2.4-litre MIVEC unit on the Outlander manages 167 horses – six more than the CR-V. The torque too is better. However , mated to a six-step CVT unit with fifty more kilos to lug around , the Outlander cannot outpace the CR-V. The characteristic rubber band effect is evident and pedal to metal , the CR-V shows the newcomer dust though there is a difference of only half a second between the two for the 100km/h sprint. Ditto for top speed stakes where the
CR-V leads.
 But what matters is the daily grind of City traffic. The CR-V comes with a better transmission which is responsive and nudging ahead in traffic is easier. The Outlander has paddle shifts that help during spirited driving but due to its slightly noisier engine , the CR-V scores more brownie points when it comes to overall refinement. On the fuel efficiency front , there isn’t much to choose from between the two. Both cars gobble up miles at a fast pace on the highway but the Honda gets the upper hand in the engine and performance department.
The keyless operation on the Mitsubishi is a boon. You’ll never have to take the key out of your pocket , be it for locking/unlocking the doors or starting the vehicle. Step in and be greeted by dual tone interiors. Being used to the rather lavish and comfortable cabin of the CR-V , the smart and functional interiors of the Outlander try hard to impress but don’t match up. There is a 650W Rockford music system with nine speakers and a sub-woofer with top notch sound quality , perfect for a Saturday night out.
Though these vehicles are SUVs or rather soft-roaders , the majority of owners will use them for daily commutes with the occasional highway run. The CR-V shares its underpinnings  with the Civic platform and it shows. It drives more like a car with the steering giving oodles of feedback for spirited driving as well. Due to its lower profile tyres , the ride is slightly stiffer but throw the CR-V around a set of twisties and it belies it huge size. Sudden directional changes in traffic and on the highway don’t rattle it. As the speed increases , the car’s ability to tackle anything that our highways have to offer is stupendous. With a real time all-wheel drive which transfers the power to all wheels only when required , the CR-V can do fairly well off the road as well. The Outlander , on the other hand , with a dedicated four-wheel drive and a brace struct is equally good off the road. The suspension is comfortable for mild undulations but in traffic , nothing beats the ease with which the CR-V negotiates awfully slow jams.
Safety is top notch on both vehicles with standard airbags and ABS with EBD though the CR-V has brake assist as well. Driving aids on the Outlander include a reverse park assist that is sorely missing on the CR-V. On the features front , it’s a bag of mixed beans. A sun-roof , dual zone climate control , electric lower back support for the driver and better storage spaces make the Honda a practical vehicle. The Outlander hits back with goodies like a headlamp washer , a twin-door tailgate that accommodates upto 200kg of load on the lower  gate , a bottle holder for the driver and a rocking music system.
VERDICT
It is not easy to dethrone a king. Since its launch , the CR-V’s position at the top has remained unshaken. Honda offers three variants to prospective buyers – from the low end 2.0-litre manual with 2WD to the top end 2.4-litre variants in both manual and auto transmission.
Both these soft-roaders are so closely matched that it’s hard to choose between the two. But at the end of the day , most owners in this segment want a vehicle that looks like a SUV , with the comfort and feel of a car. The CR-V does just that and has an upmarket luxurious feel which the Outlander cannot match upto. As on overall driving and ownership experience , the CR-V betters the Outlander. That doesn’t mean the Outlander is a bad vehicle per se. Casual off-road enthusiasts and those looking at a feature loaded vehicle (the Superb Rockford system cannot be ignored , plus it gets a cruise control as well!) will love the Outlander. Even the humongous boot space (1119 litres!) with the rear seats folded betters that of the Honda. Value packed and slightly cheaper at Rs 24 lakh (on-road price , Pune) , it is not a bad buy either. The king of the segment ladies and gentlemen , it seems has been shaken , but not stirred yet.
More photos:
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For a long time now , Mitsubishi had been eyeing the CR-V’s market. After teasing us by showcasing the Outlander at various shows , the car finally landed in local showrooms last month. On paper , it does seem that the Mitsu can give the Honda a run for its money as both have 2.4-litre engines , 4WD , comfortable seating for five , similar price tags and come loaded to the brim with features. Is there finally a vehicle that can not only measure up to the undisputed leader but perhaps surpass it?
SUVs are meant to have road presence. The Honda CR-V always did but in the wake of its newest competitor , it does feel insecure. The Outlander’s clean , crisp lines look handsome.
The compact design of the grille with dramatic headlamps , plus the huge , silver skid plate under the equally big air-dam is eye catching. Bulging wheel arches , LED tail lamps and smart five spoke alloys make sure that quite a few second glances on the road are reserved for the Outlander. Vibrant colour options for the car further enhance its ability to stand out in the crowd of regular SUVs. Most of us here at CAR India thought that if seen from the rear , the Outlander looks more of an estate rather than a SUV. On the other hand , the CR-V’s huge front , big 17inch alloys and coupe like D pillar grab equal attention as well.
Under the hood , both contenders have an almost similar powerplant. The 2.4-litre MIVEC unit on the Outlander manages 167 horses – six more than the CR-V. The torque too is better. However , mated to a six-step CVT unit with fifty more kilos to lug around , the Outlander cannot outpace the CR-V. The characteristic rubber band effect is evident and pedal to metal , the CR-V shows the newcomer dust though there is a difference of only half a second between the two for the 100km/h sprint. Ditto for top speed stakes where the
CR-V leads.
The keyless operation on the Mitsubishi is a boon. You’ll never have to take the key out of your pocket , be it for locking/unlocking the doors or starting the vehicle. Step in and be greeted by dual tone interiors. Being used to the rather lavish and comfortable cabin of the CR-V , the smart and functional interiors of the Outlander try hard to impress but don’t match up. There is a 650W Rockford music system with nine speakers and a sub-woofer with top notch sound quality , perfect for a Saturday night out.
Though these vehicles are SUVs or rather soft-roaders , the majority of owners will use them for daily commutes with the occasional highway run. The CR-V shares its underpinnings
with the Civic platform and it shows. It drives more like a car with the steering giving oodles of feedback for spirited driving as well. Due to its lower profile tyres , the ride is slightly stiffer but throw the CR-V around a set of twisties and it belies it huge size. Sudden directional changes in traffic and on the highway don’t rattle it. As the speed increases , the car’s ability to tackle anything that our highways have to offer is stupendous. With a real time all-wheel drive which transfers the power to all wheels only when required , the CR-V can do fairly well off the road as well. The Outlander , on the other hand , with a dedicated four-wheel drive and a brace struct is equally good off the road. The suspension is comfortable for mild undulations but in traffic , nothing beats the ease with which the CR-V negotiates awfully slow jams.
Safety is top notch on both vehicles with standard airbags and ABS with EBD though the CR-V has brake assist as well. Driving aids on the Outlander include a reverse park assist that is sorely missing on the CR-V. On the features front , it’s a bag of mixed beans. A sun-roof , dual zone climate control , electric lower back support for the driver and better storage spaces make the Honda a practical vehicle. The Outlander hits back with goodies like a headlamp washer , a twin-door tailgate that accommodates upto 200kg of load on the lower
gate , a bottle holder for the driver and a rocking music system.
VERDICT
It is not easy to dethrone a king. Since its launch , the CR-V’s position at the top has remained unshaken. Honda offers three variants to prospective buyers – from the low end 2.0-litre manual with 2WD to the top end 2.4-litre variants in both manual and auto transmission.
Both these soft-roaders are so closely matched that it’s hard to choose between the two. But at the end of the day , most owners in this segment want a vehicle that looks like a SUV , with the comfort and feel of a car. The CR-V does just that and has an upmarket luxurious feel which the Outlander cannot match upto. As on overall driving and ownership experience , the CR-V betters the Outlander. That doesn’t mean the Outlander is a bad vehicle per se. Casual off-road enthusiasts and those looking at a feature loaded vehicle (the Superb Rockford system cannot be ignored , plus it gets a cruise control as well!) will love the Outlander. Even the humongous boot space (1119 litres!) with the rear seats folded betters that of the Honda. Value packed and slightly cheaper at Rs 24 lakh (on-road price , Pune) , it is not a bad buy either. The king of the segment ladies and gentlemen , it seems has been shaken , but not stirred yet.
More photos:
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Outlander is a fantastic car indeed,If it would have had a diesel engine option it would have been still better.