Mitsubishi Outlander Sport (Review)

The compact crossover segment has been increasingly growing over the years. In fact, the small crossover segment will increase 480% by the year 2013. Mitsubishi recently entered this segment with the new 2011 Outlander Sport, a five-passenger crossover seeking to make an impact in the crossover arena. It has a sleek look, with the all-wheel-drive capacity of a crossover, the usefulness of a wagon, and the driving ease of a small car.

The Sport is the smaller version of the company's Outlander and is uniquely different, because of its compact size, shape, and stylish exterior. It is about a foot shorter than the Outlander in length, weighs about 400 pounds less, and has a bold, attractive inverted trapezoid shaped grille, similar to the Lancer Ralliart and full sized Outlander. The Sport has soft exterior contours and seats up to five passengers.

The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport comes in an SE and ES trim. Front-wheel drive is available on the SE and all wheel drive is available on the ES, which adds stability in slippery road conditions, such as in the snow and rain. Both trims use a standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and come with air conditioning , fabric upholstery, folding and reclining high-back rear seats, keyless entry, power doors and windows, heated mirrors, a four-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 sound system, audio and cruise controls built into the steering wheel, LCD multi-information display, hands-free link system with USB port, LED combination tail lamps, telescopic tilt steering wheel, 12-volt power outlets, halogen head lamps, hill start assist, rear privacy glass, uses electric power steering, and delivers 25 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway.

Optional packages and safety features include a panoramic sunroof, 710-watt Rockford-Fosgate nine-speaker audio system, all-wheel drive, backup camera, and heated front seats.

When I first saw the Outlander Sport, I noticed the exterior's beautiful, bright red color, detailing, and compact size, which is smaller than a Toyota RAV4, but yet bigger than a compact sedan. The car has specially designed plastic polymer front fender panels on each side and a sophisticated glass roof. That same roof comes alive in the evening with LED mood lighting inside of the vehicle with three light settings. This is a unique feature that I have never seen before in any other CUV or SUV.

I like the fact that the Outlander Sport is not difficult to step into, like so many SUV's are today, because of its smaller size, although while driving, I did feel like I was in an SUV and the cabin is very spacious. The front seats are very comfortable and supportive, and in the second row, the back seats are solid and plush, and there is plenty of space and leg room for at least two adults or three children. The GPA system is both accurate and decipherable, the radio system has a perfect sound, and the backup camera gives a clear view of objects and people in back of the vehicle while in reverse mode.

The Outlander Sport is powered by a 2-liter four-cylinder engine, produces 148 horsepower, has145 pounds of torque, and handles very well with only minor road noise.

Also, if you are looking for a cool way to shift into gear, you can easily do that with the column-mounted magnesium alloy paddle shifters. They are located on the right side of the steering wheel and have six programmed shift points. You can even save gas by using them. Who doesn't want to save on gas these days? I know that I do. You can also use the continuously variable transmission that is also easy to use and shifts into gear smoothly.

The lights and buttons on the console and dashboard area are modern and youthful. I am a rather conservative person, but in my opinion, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is a great choice for teenagers or young adults, because of the mood lighting and other modernistic features in the vehicle. While driving, I almost felt like I was on the Star Tours ride at Disneyland. This is a positive attribute of the Outlander Sport and makes it an exciting and fun car to drive.

There is also a large cargo area to put groceries, boxes, and much more. The one thing that I do not like about the hidden compartment in the cargo area is that it is not carpeted. I know that the Toyota RAV4 has a similar hidden storage area, but it is carpeted. It is not a major element, but an addition of carpeting to this area can help keep objects from sliding that cause noise in the cargo area while driving. I personally like to put things in the hidden compartment, because they remain completely hidden from the view of people that walk by the vehicle.

Overall, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is a wonderful car that is stylish, handles very well and maneuvers highways and curvy roads with ease. It is a fun and exciting vehicle to drive, that is fuel efficient and economical. Whether you are young or have a small family, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is a great car to own and drive. It appeals to both the young and the young at heart.

The base front-wheel-drive model has an MSRP of $18,495 and the fully loaded Outlander Sport has an MSRP of $22,995.

If you have been looking for a CUV with good fuel economy, an attractive exterior, modern state of the art features, and a comfortable interior, then I highly recommend that you check out the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.