Old Faithful: The 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander GT S-AWC

The 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander GT.

Sixteen months ago, I wrote about how the Mistubishi Outlander GT, despite winning on value arguments, was rapidly showing its age.  I stand by that review.  But I also have a renewed appreciation for the Outlander GT, what it can do, and how (comparatively) little it costs.

2017 Mitsubishi Outlander GT.

As usual, deeper appreciation comes with experience.  In this case, it was an overnight trip from Folsom (suburban Sacramento) to Reno, Nevada...to see Stevie Nicks and the Pretenders open the second leg of their tour (Mrs. TireKicker's Christmas present).

With two concert tickets purchased back in December, plus a non-refundable night in a hotel room in the Biggest Little City in the World, actually getting over the Sierra in February was a priority.  Those of you who live elsewhere may have seen in the news that California's long-running drought has come to an abrupt halt---with record rain and snow.

Folsom to Reno (source: Google Maps).

It's worth remembering that the route to Reno takes you over Donner Pass, named for the Donner Party, only half of whom made it to California in 1847 (allegedly by eating the other half to stay alive).  They were trapped in a snowstorm---and it was only late October.   Here's what noon on February 23 looked like at the town closest to Donner Pass...Truckee, California:

Snow in Truckee, CA.

There were chain controls in effect for about 25 miles of our journey, but fortunately, the California Highway Patrol allowed four-wheel-drive vehicles with mud and snow tires...and that means our Outlander GT S-AWC (all-wheel control) was good to go.  With heated seats and steering wheel, automatic wipers and lights and a seemingly bottomless windshield washer reservior (filled with freeze-resistant washer fluid), we were able to just relax and enjoy the beauty.

2017 Mitsubishi Outlander GT interior.

The base price of the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander GT S-AWC is $31,695.  That brings a lengthy list of standard equipment, including a great-sounding nine-speaker 710-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system, Apple Car Play, the aforementioned heated seats, micron-filtered climate control, 18-inch alloy wheels and a power glass sunroof.

The one option package our tester had was the same one in last year's car...the GT Touring Package (multi-view camera system, forward collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic highbeams and the heated steering wheel)...but the price on that package has been slashed from $3,350 to $1,500.   And that meant the bottom line for this year's car (with $895 destination and handling charges) was less than last year's....$34,090....which only strengthens the Mitsu's value argument.

Yes, a six-cylinder engine and six-speed transmission is old-think and only returns so-so mileage (EPA estimate 20 city/27 highway), and yes, most of the Outlander GT says "2011" instead of "2017".  But you'll be hard pressed to find a three-row, all-wheel drive SUV with this level of equipment for $34,000...heck, even $40,000...anywhere else.