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Don’t care if the vehicle in the driveway weighs 14 tons and can travel only from one gas station to the next before the tank needs to be filled at $3 an ounce.

Hmm. Winter must be coming with thoughts of knee-deep snow, slippery pavement and idiots on the expressway sliding by sideways at 65 m.p.h. in a blizzard because they think their front-wheel-drive sedan is a snow plow.

Sorry, but preaching green has no value when the green is covered with white, rain turns to sleet and Corvettes and Mustangs join the lawnmower in the garage until May.

With that prospect, Mitsubishi offered, and we accepted, a chance to test drive its redesigned all-season performer, the 2007 Outlander sport-utility.

It sports new sheet metal to call attention to the fact it is built on a larger platform that will be shared with the redesigned compact Lancer sedan that comes out next spring and the performance Lancer Evo due next fall.

Outlander is offered in ES, LS or XLS trim with a choice of front- or four-wheel-drive. When you opt for 4WD, you just twist the dial in the center console for all-season and all-reason motoring.

But there’s no low range so you aren’t going to zip up the mountains, power over deep sand dunes or motor though snow at steering-wheel depths.

You will, however, be able to handle the typical Midwest winter, when plows replace construction barriers on the roads.

In addition to more fashionable appearance, Outlander has grown–by 2 inches in wheelbase, 3 inches in overall length and 2 inches in width.

You enjoy more cabin room as well as better road manners. And thanks to the added length, those who opt for the top-of-the-line XLS get a third row seat–but at the expense of stowage space when in use. When the seat is stowed or without the seat, there’s room for groceries, luggage or weekend/workout gear. The hatch lid is lightweight and a snap to open or close.

Besides increasing the dimensions to improve road holding and reduce shock filtering into the cabin, Mitsubishi replaced the steel roof with aluminum, which at 11 fewer pounds makes the vehicle less top heavy and lowers the center of gravity to eliminate wiggle or wobble in turns and corners.

And the seats are well cushioned with nice, long bottoms for ample thigh support on trips without fatigue setting in.

Ride is a little soft, and we felt handling a little vague. At times, the machine just wanted to wander. Have to suspect that if the LS offered the same wide-profile 18-inch radials as the XLS, it would be more sure-footed. But you can’t upgrade from 16-inch all-season radials on LS.

As an added benefit, Active Skid and Traction Control (ASTC) is standard with FWD or 4WD for better grip on slippery surfaces. The previous Outlander didn’t offer it.

ASTC uses sensors that monitor wheel speed, steering-wheel angle and vehicle yaw rate to help prevent side-drift on slippery roads. It uses anti-lock braking or reduced engine torque to improve stability and help keep the vehicle traveling in the driver’s intended direction.

Though ASTC is supposed to control lateral moves and Mitsubishi boasts attention was given to more responsive steering, at times the steering felt a little too loose in FWD.

Outlander is powered by a new 3-liter, 220-horsepower V-6 to replace the 2.4-liter, 160-h.p. 4. And a new 6-speed automatic is in place of the old 4-speed.

With the 4, Outlander was rated at 21 m.p.g. city/25 m.p.g. highway. With the V-6, mileage is 19/26, down 2 m.p.g. in the city and up 1 m.p.g. on the highway with far better off-the-line and up-the-steep-incline spirit.

The V-6 doesn’t deliver snap-your-neck back torque, but it responds to pedal pressure without acting as if in slow motion like the 4.

What was impressive were the surprise-and-delight touches, such as a series of tray holders under the cargo floor mat to hide a variety of items without rattling; a tailgate lid that not only lowers flat, but also adds a slide-out lip to cover the gap between the gate and the cargo area so you can sit on it or cook on it or whatever you want without things dropping through the opening.

Also, second-row seats flip and fold against the backs of the front seats at the pull of a lever. Just like that, you get more cargo room in the LS or easy access to the third-row seat in the XLS.

A friendly touch is the instrument panel message center that greets you with “welcome” when you start the machine and says “goodbye” when you leave it.

There are power plugs in the dash and under the center-console armrest, bottle and map holders in all doors, a slip-from-the-dash cupholder left of the wheel for the driver, a large covered stowage bin in the top of the dash and two glove boxes to boost storage capacity.

What wasn’t impressive were the small and weirdly angled sideview mirrors that created more blind spots than they cured.

The Outlander LS with 4WD starts at $23,770. The XLS with 4WD and the third-row seat at $25,010.

All Outlanders have air conditioning and cabin air filter; cruise control; power windows, locks and mirrors; keyless entry; an AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3 playback capability and six speakers; and side-impact and side-curtain air bags as standard.

The LS adds color-keyed folding power sideview mirrors; roof rails; rear privacy glass; steering-wheel remote audio switches; leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; two additional 12-volt accessory outlets; and floor mats.

Bluetooth hands-free phone technology is optional in the LS, standard in the XLS, along with FAST (Freehand Advanced Security Transmitter) Key. Carry the remote FAST fob with you and the doors automatically lock/unlock; press a button on the dash and turn the car on/off.

The test vehicle added a Sun & Sound Package at $1,740 with a power glass sunroof and sunshade, 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate premium audio system with nine speakers and Sirius satellite radio with six-month pre-paid subscription.

A navigation system is an $1,800 option but doesn’t come with a back-up camera to show what’s behind when moving in reverse.

A DVD entertainment system is available for LS models at $1,150.

2007 Mitsubishi Outlander AWD LS

Price as tested: $25,510 *

THE STICKER

$23,770 Base

$1,740 Sun and shade package with 650-watt premium audio system, six-disc CD/MP3 in-dash changer, power glass sunroof with sunshade and Sirius satellite radio with six months free service

* Add $625 for freight.

THE NUMBERS

Wheelbase: 105.1 inches

Length: 182.7 inches

Engine: 3-liter, 220-h.p. V-6

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

CITY: 19 M.P.G

HIGHWAY: 26 M.P.G.

PLUSES

Next-generation compact sport-ute with total redesign.

Nice touches such as storage compartment on top of dash and tray holders under rear floor mat.

Dial-up 2WD or 4WD.

MINUSES

Odd shape of outside mirrors creates blind spots.

Loose steering at times.

Read Jim Mateja Sunday in Transportation and Tuesday and Thursday in Business. Hear him on WBBM Newsradio 780 at 6:22 p.m. Wednesdays and 11:22 a.m. Sundays.

jmateja@tribune.com