By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(November 24, 2017) Despite the name Outlander Sport, a sporting driving experience is not in the equation. The steering is vague with little feedback, body roll presents itself quickly on curves and when cornering, and acceleration from the 168 horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is disappointing. Much of the blame can be attributed to the CVT automatic transmission that really struggles to get the most from the rather anemic horsepower, creating excessive engine noise in the process.

Fuel economy was modest and we achieved just over 26 miles per gallon during our weeklong testing. Not bad for an all-wheel-drive vehicle, but we expected better, especially given its diminutive size.

Another area we felt the Outlander Sport fell short was the ride. Like most vehicles, on smooth pavement the ride was perfectly acceptable. But on all other surface types it was choppy, stiff and the suspension crashed when hitting larger potholes.



Visibility to the front was excellent, but limited to the side and back. It didn’t help that, not only was our top SEL trim level test car not equipped with blind spot warning, Mitsubishi doesn’t even make it available as an option. The rear window is small and second row head restraints further impair reward visibility.

For 2018, the Outlander Sport receives updated styling to the front and rear along with some negligible interior enhancements. The interior receives a new 7-inch Smartphone Link display audio system with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with a new floor console and shift lever. Overall, changes are very minor.

An option called the Touring Package is new for 2018 and is available only on the SEL trim level. It adds a panoramic roof, advanced safety and technology features including Forward Collision Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, Automatic High Beam, a rear backup camera and added insulation for a quieter interior ride.

Inside, the Sport is surprisingly roomy up front; even the tallest drivers will find a comfortable seating position. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes and, with the exception of the infotainment system, controls are intuitive to use, easy to access and clearly marked. Front doors are large and open wide, but taller passengers will need to duck their heads to get in back. Once there, headroom is limited as is shoulder and legroom.

Door pockets are large and can accommodate a decent sized water bottle. There are two cupholders on the center console and a very small cubby at the front of the console. We wished for more places to put sunglasses, the Smartphone and other small pocket items. The instrument panel is padded, as is the upper door trim, but everything else below the belt line is hard plastic.

Other than an on-off knob that also controls the volume, the infotainment system is difficult to use with the touchscreen controls. Just changing the radio station can be maddening, with numerous screens to go through. And the touch areas are extremely small, so errors are plentiful. We tried doing it with voice command however the system always failed to understand what we were asking it to do.    

The Outlander Sport is the smaller sibling of the Mitsubishi Outlander with seating for five with less rear-seat room and cargo space. The larger Outlander seats up to seven with three rows of seats. The Sport is available in three trim levels: ES, SE and SEL. All three come standard with front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. ES is powered by a smaller 2.0-liter 148-horsepower four-cylinder engine with a standard five-speed manual shifter. The automatic CVT is optional. The GT trim level available last year has been discontinued for 2018.

While competition in this size and class of crossover vehicles is fierce, the Outlander Sport isn’t without its merits, the main one being bang-for-the-buck. It is one of the least expensive crossovers available. It’s also comes loaded with most of the features shoppers are looking for, without an additional up charge. Its 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty and five-year/60,000 mile new vehicle warranty is also best in class. Mitsubishi also provides a full five-year unlimited mileage roadside assistance. These are important considerations if you plan to keep your vehicle for a long time.

The Outlander Sport comes standard with front, side, side curtain and driver’s knee air bags. But forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning and automatic high beams are only available with the optional touring package ($2,000) that also includes an upgraded audio system and panoramic glass roof.

The Outlander Sport received the highest “Good” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, head restraint and seat crashworthiness. It received an “Acceptable” rating for small overlap front driver side crashworthiness. Headlights received the lowest possible “Poor” rating. It was awarded four out of a possible five stars in government crash test ratings from the NHTSA.

Overall, the Outlander Sport is an attractively styled vehicle that seems well screwed together and delivers on its promise of a practical, reliable vehicle with good value. And it is one of the least expensive choices in its segment. Unfortunately, it just isn’t that pleasant to drive and certainly isn’t sporty.

Vital Stats
Base price: $21,235 - $26,835
Price as tested: $29,110
Seating: 5
Engine: 2.4-liter four cylinder
Horsepower: 168 hp
Transmission: automatic CVT (continuously variable transmission)
Fuel Economy: 23-MPG city – 28-MPG highway (all-wheel drive)

Competes With:
Chevrolet Trax
Honda HR-V
Jeep Renegade
Mazda CX-3
Mini Cooper Countryman
Nissan Rogue Sport
Subaru Crosstrek
Volkswagen Tiguan

Fab Features
Bang-for-the-buck value
Long warranty