• Petrol and PHEV differ greatly in this regard
• Five or seven seats and corresponding boot sizes
• Large car in general, but not too difficult to park

You can only have seven seats in your Outlander if you’ve gone for the non-hybrid petrol version, but even with five seats there’s a huge amount of space in the cabin. In seven-seater configuration you’ll only realistically get children into the third row, however. There are cubbies and cupholders throughout the cabin, but the glovebox isn’t as large as we were expecting.

>> We rate the best seven-seater SUVs for 2020

Unlike many modern rivals, the Outlander doesn’t come with automatic parking, though you can get cars with acoustic sensors to warn you of objects you can’t see. Driver visibility is great, though, and it isn’t too difficult to park.

Boot space

The size of the Outlander’s boot depends on the version you’ve picked. With the hybrid there’s a very small penalty in this respect due to the batteries, but this is only equivalent to a washbag or similar.

You’ll still easily store most items, and the rear seats fold down in a 60:40 split should you need extra room. There’s also a 35-litre storage box under the boot floor for smaller objects or those you want to keep hidden away.

The petrol Outlander gets seven seats and a boot of 178 litres, which isn’t massive, but fold the third row of seats down and you’ll liberate up to 913 litres, which is massive. It’s 1,608 litres with all five back seats folded away – as much as a small van. In fact, you can buy a Commercial version, if that’s of interest, with rear seats removed and blanked-off rear windows.

Safety

• High scores in Euro NCAP crash testing
• Some of the latest driver-assistance tech
• Three Isofix child seat mounting points

Mitsubishi Outlander safety should not be too much of a concern. The previous generation was awarded four stars for adult occupant safety in Euro NCAP crash tests and this version is even better. The Outlander has scored well in European crash tests. It boasts a five-star Euro NCAP rating, including a 100% score for its safety assist systems.

The heavier Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV hybrid version was tested separately and also scored five stars.

All models come with electronic stability control, which helps you retain control of the vehicle in emergency situations, and front airbags. There are also three Isofix child seat mounting points – one on the front seat and two on the outer rears, including top tethers.

The 2019 Outlander is available with adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and forward collision mitigation systems, along with blindspot warning and rear cross-traffic alert.

WATCH: Mitsubishi Outlander SUV Euro NCAP crash test