BATTLE CLAN

INWOOD FAMILY STRUGGLES FOR SEATING SUPERIORITY

- ALEX INWOOD

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER EXCEED

Price as tested $48,629 (+ORC)

This month 1136km @ 8.6L/100km

Overall 2207km @ 9.2L/100km

SO FAR WE’VE established the new-generation Mitsubishi Outlander is handsome, richly equipped and significantly better to drive than its predecessor (hefty thirst and occasionally terse ride not with-standing) but this month the Mitsu faced its sternest test to date: the Inwood clan.

They stood, shoulder to shoulder, like an ancient tribe prepped for battle, waiting for me to park the Outlander so they could clamber aboard. There were five in total and one wielded a pram, its driver slowly pushing it forward and back in a movement that somehow seemed malevolent.

The Outlander seemed unperturbed but I was worried on its behalf. We’ve loaded it to the gunwales before with bags but we’ve never had more than four people aboard. This was our first chance to deploy the third row of seats, which is one of the Outlander’s main advantages when compared with popular rivals like the Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage that can only seat five.