2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

　　

2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　The Outlander Sport is Mitsubishi's smallest and most affordable SUV. Don't be confused by the Sport in its name because it simply means that it's a smaller version of the Outlander, not a sporty version of it. While rival SUVs have evolved and improved over time, the Outlander Sport is still stuck in the past. It's basically the same SUV that was introduced in 2011, and because of that, it's one of our lowest-rated SUVs.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2.0 S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$143/mo  for Outlander Sport 2.0 S

　　Outlander Sport 2.0 S

　　2.0 S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $21,795 MSRP2.0 ES 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $23,795 MSRP2.0 ES 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $24,995 MSRP2.0 LE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $24,745 MSRP2.0 LE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $25,945 MSRP2.0 SE Special Edition 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $25,545 MSRP2.0 SE Special Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $26,745 MSRP2.0 BE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $25,845 MSRP2.0 BE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $27,045 MSRP2.0 SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $26,045 MSRP2.0 SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $27,245 MSRP2.4 GT Special Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl CVT) - $27,545 MSRP2.4 GT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl CVT) - $28,045 MSRP

　　vs

　　$167/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　Since its introduction, Mitsubishi has updated the appearance of the Outlander Sport and added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, along with some advanced driver aids. But that doesn't make up for its shortcomings in nearly every category. Despite that, it's not all bad news for the Outlander Sport. It's priced lower than most SUVs in its class and offers generous warranty coverage and optional all-wheel drive.

　　With that said, if you're looking for a simple SUV to get you around town and aren't too concerned about ride comfort, drivability, quality or tech, then the Outlander Sport should suffice. But keep in mind there are many alternatives to choose from in the small SUV segment, and they might not cost you more. For example, if you're considering a midlevel trim of the Outlander Sport, it costs about the same as a base Honda CR-V, which has far more to offer. The recently redesigned Nissan Rogue and Hyundai Tucson are two other rivals worth considering. Check out the zzdcar' Expert Rating below for an in-depth review and to see why the Outlander Sport falls short of the competition.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　6.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

5.0/10

　　How does the Outlander Sport drive? The "Sport" in Outlander Sport is a misnomer. The engine is underpowered, the continuously variable automatic transmission performs poorly, and handling and suspension tuning are unrefined. It's a pretty dreary vehicle to drive. Acceleration is jumpy from a stop but settles into a 8.5-second crawl to 60 mph. Under heavy braking, we noted both extreme nosedive and side-to-side wiggle, neither of which instills confidence.

　　There's very little on-center steering feel, so you must constantly tend to the Outlander Sport's steering, and inputs are met with a delayed reaction from the SUV. Stiff shocks make the Outlander Sport skittish, especially around bumpy corners, yet do nothing to tame the large amounts of body roll.

　　

Comfort

5.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Outlander Sport? The Outlander Sport lacks the ride comfort and suspension compliance of its competition. For a vehicle that has been on the market for as long as this Mitsu has, there's really no excuse for this. It's OK for around-town use, but long-distance drivers should look elsewhere.

　　The ride is particularly egregious: harsh over bumps yet floaty over smoother undulations, giving you the worst of both worlds. The leather-upholstered seats in our test vehicle were hard and inflexible, and the cabin was noisy from traffic, road surfaces and the loud climate control fans.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below