The model actually rolled out the assembly line in 2001 as the Airtrek, 2003 having been the date of the car’s inception as the re-named Outlander.
It was the same car as the Airtrek with little extras to differentiate one from another. The Outalnder sported a different grille and headlights while its overall length was stretched by nearly 5 inches. Until 2005, when the car entered its second life cycle, it came with a choice of three gasoline units displacing 2.0 L and 2.4 L. The first had a turbocharged version while all engines had 4-valve cylinder heads. The 2.0 L Turbo was by far the brawniest with power and torque outputs of 148 hp and 223 Nm.