Mother Proof's view

I’ve noticed this nasty habit I have. No, it’s not anything gross but I do think it’s obnoxious. If someone makes a nice comment about something of mine, or something I am wearing, I can’t just be gracious and say thank you. I have to be the person that says, “Thank you! I got it on sale at the Gap. It was only $4.99 on clearance!” or, “Costco, $15.99.” I don’t know when or where I started doing that. I shouldn’t assume that just because someone says they like my shirt, they must want one too. I’ve been trying to accept a compliment and not be the Queen of Too Much Information.

The exception to this rule is the 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander. A common occurrence is for people to say something like, “I like that car, but not for $35,000.” And I’d gush, “Oh my gosh, you have SO not done your homework! This hottie starts around $20k! Did you really think it was $35?” I sound like a teenager. In any case, the Outlander is a great little SUV for the money. I happen to think it looks pretty sharp. It’s compact yet roomy inside. The interior is simple and clean, yet very functional and thoughtful details abound. I have no issues installing car seats in it, and the kids are able to get in easily while still feeling like they are up high with a prime view.

Another charming feature of the Outlander is its 6-cylinder engine. It has a ton of get-up-and-go. The Outlander is actually designed for, and geared towards, college-age males. Really, though, Mitsubishi could come up with a Mom Package and the Outlander would do very well. My test car has black fabric seats. No good for moms, so I’d change that to leather. In addition to those items, each door has a bottle-holder, and even though my kids can’t reach it easily from their car seats its fun for them to have a place to officially “stow” their stuff.

There is a third row available in the Outlander, but there are no Latch connectors in it, so it would only work for bigger kids. Notably, bigger kids who have no problem using their booster seats. The third row jump seat is cumbersome to use without devoting time to practice because it folds down into the floor of the cargo area. When it’s up, there’s no room for anything back there except maybe an umbrella stroller. But the option is always nice to have and would work well for the occasional carpool. A neat feature of the cargo area is the flap-fold tailgate. This little number is quite versatile. I can lift the hatch to stow my groceries, but there’s also a little tailgate that folds out for ease of lifting things into the back, or for tailgating.

The Outlander is a good time to drive. It’s not top-heavy so it handles well, and there’s none of that rollover fear if I take a corner faster than 3 mph. I feel like I can actually use the adjective “nimble” to describe the Outlander. It also has a spectacular sound system. While I could do without the heavy-metal inspired font of the Rockford Fosgate badge emblazoned on the dash, I can completely rock out even if I’m just listening to Laurie Berkner. Plenty of headroom through the doors prevents head-bonk, and child car seats are easy to install. This adds to my joy as I know I can get the kids in and out without incident.

One of the things I like most about the Outlander is the All-Wheel Control feature. It consists of a knob by the gearshift that lets me decide how I want to operate the drivetrain. No, it’s not as intimidating as it sounds. If the knob is to the left, set on 2WD the Outlander will let me cruise around in front-wheel drive. Turn the knob to the center, 4WD Auto, and I get a car that will put part power to the rear. When I turn the knob to the right into 4WD Lock, I get a true 4-wheel-drive vehicle that drives with a ton of traction when I want or need it. I love it! Not all Outlanders will come with this, but I’d recommend it be part of the aforementioned Mom Package combined with leather.

The Outlander should be on your list if you’re considering a small SUV. It has a ton of features without such a premium price tag. You say you’re starting to like the Outlander? It starts around only $21,000! I mean, I like it too.

*For more information on the Mitsubishi Outlander and its safety features visit Cars.com.

LET’S TALK NUMBERS

LATCH Connectors: 2

Seating Capacity (includes driver): 5/7

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample

Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Great

Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Good Times