It is not easy to pigeonhole the Mitsubishi Outlander. With less luggage space than many estate cars and less off-road ability than more hardcore 4x4s, it could easily be accused of being short on ability. In fact, it’s very capable.

Introduced to the UK at the very end of 2003, the Outlander hoped to appeal to those buyers wanting a comfortable, well specced 4x4 that drove and handled like a saloon car but at the price of a mainstream MPV. This bullish approach paid off and the Outlander sees off most of its rivals in that respect, the nearest being the Nissan Murano and the Lexus RX 300.

And while a two-year-old version of the Lexus or Nissan will set you back around £20,000, a Mitsubishi Outlander of similar age will lighten your wallet by less than half that amount, making it an almost unbelievable bargain.

Critics will rightly point out that both the Murano and RX are more upmarket and cost a heap more money when new, but when you get down to specifications all are quite similar. The three vehicles came with automatic transmission as standard and none originally offered the option of diesel power, although the latest Outlander range, introduced this year, is all diesel.

The lack of a diesel engine in the original Outlanders now to be found on the secondhand market dents fuel economy and in mixed motoring the car will rarely better 28mpg, but with a chunk of cash left in your pocket that might not be such an important issue.

With 158bhp on tap from the 2.4 litre engine the Outlander will sprint from standstill to 60mph in just over 11sec, and despite the absence of a fifth ratio the gearbox is long-legged enough to provide a theoretical top speed of nearly 120mph. Because it has the same underpinnings as the high performance Mitsubishi Evo VIII the Outlander also feels reassuringly stiff and its relatively modest height helps its handling. There is less body roll than in a Land Rover Freelander or Nissan X-Trail. The standard 16in alloys may not fill the arches in the same way that some competitors do but on the upside there is less road noise and the tyres are cheaper.

Off road the Outlander’s intelligent four-wheel-drive system needs no driver intervention to maintain traction, cleverly moving the power around to where the grip is best. Only when the action gets extreme do the Outlander’s standard road tyres and relatively modest ground clearance begin to limit its ability.

Equipment levels are generous on all models, with the entry level Equippe offering climate control, electric windows, alloys and four airbags as standard. A higher spec Sport model will cost you around £500 more and adds an electric sunroof and cruise control to the list. Top spec Sport SE versions even come with leather upholstery.

Living with your used Outlander should be a pretty harmonious experience. Mitsubishi’s many years of experience in making the Shogun means it knows how to build 4x4s and it is unlikely the mechanicals of an Outlander will let you down. The fit and finish of the cabin are good and the simple, well laid out dashboard looks like it will last for ever. Even the stereo, a feature often criticised in the past on Japanese cars because of small buttons and fiddly operation, will cause you no stress, thanks to large controls and a clear display.

The Outlander’s driving position is also good and the central front armrest is a welcome inclusion. Rear-seat passengers enjoy plenty of room and while the roofline is not as high as in many 4x4s there is still ample headroom. Behind the seats the boot offers 408 litres of luggage space, which is adequate rather than massive, but drop the rear seats down and you create a more generous 1,049 litres.

The Mitsubishi Outlander was never a massive seller in the UK and tracking down a secondhand example may involve travelling a few miles, but if you want one of the best value crossover 4x4s in the country then it will be well worth the effort.

Gearbox Standard fit four-speed auto works well and ensures the engine is never overrevved

Bumpers Parking sensors were a cost option so check for signs of car parking scuffs

Security Standard fit remote central locking, which operates the alarm and immobiliser

Off road The Outlander deals with soft off-roading well but the absence of a high/low ratio gearbox and differential lock means it is not best suited to serious off-roading

Safety Front and side airbags standard

Upholstery Standard cloth upholstery is hardwearing; leather upholstery is standard on Sport SE models, which fetch a premium of around £500 over the SE on used examples

Towing Has a 1,500kg towing limit

Servicing A major service at 54,000 miles costs around £750 at a franchised dealer

Roof rails Standard on all models

Vital statistics

Model Outlander 2.4 Equippe

Engine 2378cc, four cylinders

Power 158bhp

Transmission Four-speed automatic

Fuel 28.0mpg (combined cycle)

Acceleration 0-60mph: 11.2sec

Top speed 119mph

The one to buy

A 2005 05 Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4 Equippe automatic with 20,000 miles. Pay £9,325 at a Mitsubishi franchised dealer or £8,500 privately

Mileage

10,000 20,000 40,000

2004 04 Trade £7,275 £6,875 £6,100

Retail £9,095 £8,675 £7,895

2005 05 Trade £7,975 £7,525 £6,775

Retail £9,775 £9,325 £8,575

2006 06 Trade £8,775 £8,250 £7,450

Retail £10,595 £10,095 £9,250

Or for similar money

2002 52 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT

2003 53 Land Rover Freelander 1.8 HSE

2004 04 Nissan X-Trail 2.0i Sport

2004 04 Toyota RAV4 2.0 XT2

2004 54 Honda CR-V 2.0 Sport