Mitsubishi’s five-seat Outlander Sport is the latest in a growing segment of ultrasmall crossovers. It’s offered with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive and is available in base ES and uplevel SE trim levels. Competitors include the Kia Soul, Nissan Juke and Hyundai Tucson.
New for 2012 Mitsubishi has recalibrated the Outlander Sport’s optional continuously variable automatic transmission and engine control module in an effort to improve acceleration and responsiveness. Engine noise isolation has also been improved, according to Mitsubishi, and a backup camera display integrated in the rearview mirror is available.
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. Exterior features include:
Dent-resistant plastic front fenders
Standard 16-inch wheels with revised cover designs; optional 18-inch alloy wheels
Standard LED taillights
Standard heated side mirrors
Available fog lights and high-intensity-discharge headlights
Available panoramic glass roof
Interior Outlander Sports come with front bucket seats and a 60/40-split folding backseat with a pass-through to the cargo area. Interior features include:
Standard CD stereo
Standard tilt/telescoping steering wheel with audio controls
Standard air conditioning
Standard cruise control
Available heated front seats
Available navigation system
Available Rockford Fosgate premium stereo with a subwoofer
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. Mechanical features include:
Available all-wheel-drive system has a lock mode for particularly slippery driving conditions
