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Most people who drive in Bahrain are aware that the road can often be a dangerous place.
I personally face a number of challenging situations daily as I make the daunting drive from my home in Juffair to my office in Sanad. Whether it's a careless driver on a mobile phone swerving out of lane or a haphazard motorist who thinks an indicator is nothing more than a party light, accidents happen.
Many drivers opt for a sporty convertible but the more sensible among us would prefer to have a secure and rugged SUV to help navigate through the dirt paths, traffic jams and maniacal drivers.
The 2011 model Outlander is just such a vehicle and while it's certainly big enough to command a little respect from other road users it's also powerful enough to command respect from whoever is driving it.
The 4-cyldiner engine has a fair amount of kick and rarely feels overstretched. The Outlander can accelerate from 0-100km/h in around 10 seconds and the engine does a reliable job with a decent amount of torque. In fact, it's easy not to notice how fast you're going until the speedometre beeps to alert you that you have reached the speed limit.
The steering is light and precise, although at higher speeds cornering can feel a little sluggish. However, with that said, the vehicle still delivers an exceptionally smooth ride.
When it comes to the interior, everything is clearly laid out and easy to access. Most of the entertainment controls are conveniently located on the steering wheel making it easier for the driver to give the road the attention it deserves when trying to tune in to Radio Bahrain.
Often these days people are more inclined to buy an automatic vehicle, however, for those of us who are a little old fashioned, the Outlander gives the driver the option of switching between automatic and manual.
On either side of the steering wheel are the gear controls, which shift up and down when you select the manual setting, this gives more experienced drivers the classic clutch control they desire, while still providing the modern comforts. And, when it comes to modern, this car is the very definition.
The Outlander is so high-tech it doesn't even require keys, it simply relies on a remote sensor to lock and unlock the doors. This sensor sends a signal to the car when you are around 10 metres away, and automatically locks the doors. Meanwhile, when you return to within 10 metres of the car, the remote sensor then unlocks the doors.
For something with such a tall body and a high centre of gravity, the Outlander handles quite nicely.
You get a good view over traffic as well, and when you factor in the flexible engine/gearbox and the huge side mirrors (wide and tall) that offer good rearward visibility, the Outlander is quite at home in urban situations as well as off road.
Standard features include cruise control, leather steering wheel with audio controls, air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, a six disk CD stereo and four airbags. Prices start from BD8,007. For more information on the Outlander and other Mitsubishi or Peugeot cars contact Ziani Motors on 17703703.
