(By Tom Lohnes) – For two companies in such a dire financial state, Nissan is the one taking huge risks, with the sporty Z proto, rugged Frontier and Pathfinder, and outlandish Rogue. Well, apparently the Rouge was just Outlandish enough to be rebodied and called an Outlander, because that is exactly what the 2022 vehicle is.

Literally mechanically the same as the Nissan Rogue, the Outlander swaps it’s old, reliable 2.4-liter Inline-4 and 6-speed auto for a new 2.5-liter unit and Nissan’s ever-problematic CVT. Power output is up to 185, but torque is down to 160.Personally, I would say the Mitsubishi looks far better than the Nissan, but that has been a controversial topic. Inside, the Outlander ditches the old boring interior with subpar material quality and a build that is always slightly misaligned for a gorgeous combination of quilted leather, faux aluminum, and an infotainment system that looks miles ahead of the old one.

Starting at $32,500, the old Outlander was a deal, and I suspect the same with this new one. Expect the updated Outlander to start around $35,000 and range to around $45,000. Pretty good deal if you ask me. Just be a little careful around that CVT.