After test-driving Mitsubishi’s electric MiEV back in October, I was excited to get a chance to try out the 2013 edition of their Outlander Sport LE. I’ve never particularly enjoyed driving SUVs, so crossovers have a certain appeal: providing a certain stability and ruggedness without steering like, well, cows.
The 2013 Outlander Sport is not a bad vehicle, but lacks power and in many ways seems to have had too little thought put into its design. The stereo system, which on the LE model is supposed to be really good, had a confusing user interface to handle switching between sources and finding stations on the built-in Sirius/XM satellite radio system. Stranger was that to load CDs or DVDs the faceplate of the display swings down — a design feature I don’t think I’ve seen in at least a decade. The navigation system, while accurate, also seemed to need a UI revamp.
The ride was comfortable enough, and handled adequately on both local roads and highways, but I confess I don’t really understand the “Sport” term being applied to it. The engine seemed occasionally sluggish, and while it wasn’t a bad experience, I couldn’t say that it was particularly fun to drive. While my experience is somewhat limited, I know that there are SUV crossovers that have a reputation for being at least a bit more exciting.
When it comes to interior space, the Outlander Sport is pretty good. Cargo space was, while perfectly adequate for most needs, not quite as spacious as in similar vehicles. One place the Outlander Sport excelled was passenger space: I’m not a small person, and I was nearly as comfortable sitting in the back seat as in the front — even in the middle. That’s rare enough I can’t remember the last time I encountered it. The front seat warmers were nice to have, but the switches were hidden well enough it took some searching to find them.
All in all, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport LE is a decent, reliable car. But for the MSRP of $23,695 (with basic options), its combined MPG of 26 and general lack of exciting features seem to fall short. I certainly wouldn’t say that it’d be a bad purchase for someone looking for a good crossover, but I can’t highly recommend such a purchase, either.
Photos: Mitsubishi Motors North America
