2003 Mitsubishi Outlander; Aggressive-looking SUV seeks a hip crowd.(Brief Article)(Evaluation)(Statistical Data Included)

Outlander's name is borrowed, we presume, as an amalgam of Subaru's Outback and the Toyota or Land Rover Highlander/Freelander. But name aside, Mitsubishi sees its entry-level SUV as hip and chic-what car company doesn't?-and aims to market it accordingly.

``Outlander,'' said Pierre Gagnon, Mitsubishi's U.S. president, ``is for the young at heart who crave a stylish vehicle equipped to handle the challenges of an energetic urban and outdoor lifestyle.''

At its introduction Mitsu showed a continual video loop of cool commercials, fashionable young folk driving Mitsubishis to downtown nightclubs with stereos blasting, the occupants dancing and singing to hip music. It was a mesmerizing display. Whether Outlander will act accordingly remains the topic.

We piloted Outlander far from any urban trappings. With its firm unibody chassis taken from the Lancer, and a four-wheel independent suspension, its Honda-like ride clearly felt car-like. Outlander's ride height feels a bit higher than in a car, but it is low enough to get in and out of easily. A four-speed Sportronic automatic transmission also allows ``autostick'' manual gear changes.

Up front sit MacPherson struts and in the rear is a multilink, coil-spring setup. Antiroll bars lie front and rear, helping to steady 16-inch wheels and H-rated (130 mph) P225/60 tires. ABS is an option. Outlander comes in either two- or all-wheel drive; the awd model uses a viscous-coupling center differential to split the power.

We hopped into a silver Outlander and entered a clean, well-laid-out black-and-gray cockpit. There was nothing special that jumped at us in its interior design or utility, but comfortable, bolstered seats and a simple, well-apportioned dash with easy-to-use controls proved inviting and functional. Add to that a relatively thick steering wheel and large HVAC system dials, and the package was complete. The touch points-fabric and switchgear-felt like good quality for an entry-level vehicle. And it's certainly roomy ...