cars news 10: 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL AWD Update 2: Get the Advanced Safety Package?

Our long-term 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander is just about as loaded as four-cylinder Outlanders come. That means it comes with Mitsubishi’s suite of advanced safety features, which helped earn the 2016 Outlander AWD a Top Safety Pick+ award with an Advanced rating in front crash prevention (one grade down from the highest score of Superior) from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. But how well do those features work in everyday driving? Some better than others.

My biggest gripe has to do with the lane departure warning system. That feature, which I’ve experienced in a number of other cars before, is extremely sensitive in the Outlander. Even when it feels like you’re within the lane markers, the system will sound with three beeps—usually twice in a row. I’ve asked a number of other staffers for their opinion, and they agree the system is way too sensitive. I turn it off most days because I get tired of hearing the incessant beeping, especially when there’s no threat of danger. Because the system defaults to on, you have to hit the button to turn it off every time you start the car. Luckily, that button is conveniently located on the dash.

I guess my beef with the lane departure warning system should come as no surprise, as we complained about the same thing on our 2014 Outlander. In our verdict, we said, “I could have done without the lane departure warning. I was never once glad to have it and I always turned it off after the first beep.” I don’t expect an automaker to change every little thing in a mid-cycle refresh, but this is one thing I wish Mitsubishi could have tweaked. For the next generation, I hope Mitsu can study its competitors’ systems and learn how they make them effective while at the same time far less annoying.

Forward collision warning is one safety feature I appreciate, as I commute in traffic both to and from work. It’s about an hour drive each way, and it’s almost always stop and go. So having the forward collision mitigation system gives me peace of mind. It’s given me countless heads ups when the driver in front of me stops short or suddenly. The adaptive cruise control is less useful. Even when set at the closest following distance, it maintains a huge gap. If someone merges into that gap, which spans three or more car lengths, the system bites hard on the brakes. It’s good that it slows down when it detects an object in front, but I wish it did so more gracefully.

Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose the Outlander’s advanced safety features. They’re all bundled in the $1,550 Advanced Safety package (or in our case, the $5,250 Touring package, which throws in content from the Premium package, as well). As helpful as the collision mitigation system is, I don’t think I could justify getting the package given how seldom I use the other features.

More on our long-term 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander here: