The 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander is a solid option outside of the usual crossover SUV choices but is often forgotten for a reason.
Pros Good base features Large touchscreen standard Available all-wheel drive across the range Updated styling for 2019
Cons Cheap interior feel Overworked inline-4 Thirsty, underpowered V-6 Tight third row Expensive active safety tech
Refreshed styling including new headlights.Steering and suspension tweaks for better ride comfort and handling.New rear-seat climate control vents.The 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander is one of the least expensive SUVs you can buy with a third-row seat.
Pros Generous list of standard features Standard three-row seating
Cons Slow, noisy acceleration with the base four-cylinder Thirsty V6 is available only on the top-of-the-line GT Third-row seat is pretty small Limited Mitsubishi dealer network
For 2019, the Outlander receives a host of changes that include revised front-end styling and standard 18-inch wheels. Every model also has more supportive and comfortable front seats, upgraded interior trim, newly illuminated window controls, rear-seat climate-control vents, and an electric parking brake. Likewise, all gasoline-powered models have revised suspension and steering that Mitsubishi says has enhanced the handling and ride quality.
Pros Affordable three-row transportation, advanced plug-in hybrid powertrain, quiet and relaxed ride.
Cons Dull to drive, abysmal infotainment system, contentious front-end styling.
There are plenty of seven-seat SUVs to choose from if you've got a large budget, but what if you're looking for something that's got all the space but is more reasonably priced? Well, then the Skoda Kodiaq should be on your shortlist, because its attractive entry-level price certainly makes it appealing to big families looking for value for money. It's actually Skoda's first ever seven-seater car, and its first large SUV. It shares some of its underpinnings with other VW Group SUVs including the Audi Q2, Seat Ateca and Volkswagen Tiguan, but the larger Kodiaq is more of a rival for the Nissan X-Trail, while the higher-end and pricier versions compete with the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe and even Land Rover's Discovery Sport. The entry-level versions of the Kodiaq come with five seats as standard, but it’s the seven-seat versions that have by far the most appeal. Engine options range from a 121bhp 1.4 petrol all the way up to a punchy 188bhp 2.0-litre diesel, and there’s also a choice between front and four-wheel drive and manual and automatic (DSG) gearboxes.
The Kodiaq is the first seven-seater for the Czech manufacturer, and the start of a rollout of SUV models due to hit showrooms over the next four years. Kodiaq is named after the Kodiak bear which inhabit the Kodiak islands in Alaska. For some handy dinner table trivia, the car is spelt with a ‘q’ not a ‘k’ as a tribute to Alaska’s native Alutiiq people who identify an animal by ending its name with a ‘q’. That and there’s already a Chevrolet Kodiak and, you know, lawyers.
Pros Practical, spacious and clever - like a Skoda should be Comfortable seats, and comfortable ride Upmarket interior, especially the touchscreen
Cons Front design perhaps a little awkward Lacklustre midrange response from both engines Third row quite tight
The Skoda Kodiaq is the Czech company’s first seven-seater SUV and a real reason to worry for rival models such as the Nissan X-Trail, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento. The Kodiaq strikes a good balance when it comes to offering comfort and agility. Well, ‘aglie’ might be too strong a word, but for a car of this size, the big Skoda suffers from little body roll even if you power through corners quickly. More important is the cosseting ride, which you get in all but 19-inch wheeled models. It shields passengers from big bumps and broken road surfaces, with only smaller high-frequency jolts catching the chassis out. We drove a model with 19-inch wheels and although the ride wasn’t uncomfortable, you did feel most bumps in the cabin.
Pros Superb build quality Hugely practical interior Seven-seat option
Cons Stiff ride with big wheels Some wind noise at motorway speed Top-spec diesel noisy
