Vehicle Overview Mitsubishi’s new five-seat Outlander Sport is the latest in a growing segment of ultrasmall crossovers that includes models like the upcoming Nissan Juke. It’s offered with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive and will be available in base ES and uplevel SE trim levels when it hits dealerships in fall 2010. Additional competitors include the Kia Soul and Hyundai Tucson.
Exterior The design connection between Mitsubishi’s larger Outlander crossover and the new Outlander Sport is clearly evident in the front-ends of these two models. Both feature Mitsubishi’s distinctive trapezoidal grille that’s bisected by the bumper, and the slitlike headlights are even a little similar. Overall, the Outlander Sport is about 14 inches shorter than the Outlander.
The Outlander Sport’s front fenders are made of dent-resistant plastic, and the ES trim level has standard 16-inch wheels and low-rolling-resistance tires, LED taillights and heated side mirrors. The SE trim adds 18-inch alloy rims, fog lamps and high-intensity-discharge headlights.
Interior Outlander Sports come with front bucket seats and a 60/40-split folding backseat with a pass-through to the cargo area. Standard features include air conditioning, cruise control, steering-wheel audio controls, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, USB and auxiliary inputs, and Mitsubishi’s Fuse system that features Bluetooth for phone calls and audio streaming.
SE trims add automatic climate control, automatic headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers and heated front seats. A Navigation Package and a Premium Package that includes a panoramic glass roof and a Rockford Fosgate audio system are optional for SE models.
Under the Hood The Outlander Sport is powered by a 148-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder that teams with a five-speed manual or a continuously variable automatic transmission with paddle shifters that simulate gear changes. The available all-wheel-drive system has a lock mode for particularly slippery driving conditions.
Safety Standard safety features include antilock brakes, an electronic stability system, side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags and a driver’s knee airbag.
