Video: 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander

It competes against models like the Chevy Equinox and Toyota RAV4, and it gets some changes for the 2010 model year. Overall, it offers a pretty good handling experience for this class, but a four cylinder powertrain that leaves a lot to be desired. Big difference for the 2010 Outlander is its new front end. That includes new headlights and a really large front grill that draws inspiration from the company's Lancer Evolution Sport sedan. It's really imposing, has a really aggressive design to it. And it's a lot bigger even than the one on the new Outlander Sport that the company just released. This Outlander has the 2.4 liter four cylinder engine with a continuously variable automatic transmission. And it really feels a little underpowered in this vehicle. It doesn't feel very strong when accelerating. It feels like it's actually slipping a little bit. You really have to press the gas pedal hard to get good acceleration. So if you're considering this model, I'd really recommend looking at the V6, which is available for this vehicle. And especially because the fuel economy penalty isn't that much. The V6 gets 18 miles per gallon in the city, 24 on the highway with all wheel drive. And this four cylinder is just rated at 21/25 city highway. By comparison, the Outlander's handling is pretty good for this class. It handles itself well on the corners and its steering is among the best I've experienced in small crossover. So it's got that going for it. Otherwise, interior quality is decent overall. It's not to the level of what you're gonna find in a Chevrolet Equinox, which is one of the leaders now in this class, but it's okay. Though some of the switches aren't particularly great. They feel a little notchy when you rotate them, like the air conditioning controls. I'm pretty impressed with the Outlander's second row seat. It's pretty spacious for adult passengers. So that's good if you have to carry people that are taller. The seat slides and reclines. So another nice feature for customized comfort. The Outlander has a somewhat unique lift gate tailgate combination. This tailgate, when you put it down, it's ready to hold 440 pounds. That's quite a lot. Overall cargo room is 36.2 cubic feet, and that's pretty comparable for the class, and is enough to hold a few golf bags if you want to store them back here. And the Outlander is one of the few small crossovers that can have an optional third row seat that increases seating capacity from five to seven. (trunk slamming) There are plenty of competitive models in this segment, and the Outlander's four cylinder powertrain doesn't help its case. But if you're looking at the V6, this is a more appealing model, especially because it gets pretty good overall reliability and crash test ratings. <v Announcer>For more car related news, go to cars.com or our blog, kickingtires.net.