2024 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SUV

　　

2024 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Review

byJosh JacquotCorrespondent

　　Josh Jacquot is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　Mitsubishi's Outlander Sport is a small SUV with standard all-wheel drive, a low cost of entry, and solid warranty coverage. But there are other not-trivial considerations: Not only has the Outlander Sport remained essentially the same for 13 model years (sure, there have been face-lifts), but its base 2.0-liter engine hasn't seen a power bump in all those years either. That means that buying a new Outlander Sport today, with a few appearance and tech exceptions, is essentially like buying an Outlander Sport in 2011. There is a more powerful optional engine choice but it, too, is unremarkable. Meanwhile, the rest of the SUV market has made huge strides in efficiency, design and tech.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2.0 S 4dr SUV AWD (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

　　$149/mo  for Outlander Sport 2.0 S

　　Outlander Sport 2.0 S

　　2.0 S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $23,695 MSRP2.0 ES 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $25,695 MSRP2.0 LE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $26,395 MSRP2.0 SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $27,695 MSRPTRAIL EDITION 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $28,345 MSRP2.4 SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl CVT) - $28,495 MSRP

　　vs

　　$167/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Creatively competitive

Mitsubishi isn't blind to the sea of newer and nicer SUVs competing with its aging Outlander Sport and it has taken a number of steps to make it more appealing. In addition to the generous five-year basic and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, it's added five years of roadside assistance and two years/30,000 miles of included service. In other words, there are reasons, powerful ones, to give the Outlander Sport a look. If what you're after is basic, low-cost transportation that comes with hassle-free peace of mind, the Outlander might be the right choice.

　　

Competitors to consider

SUVs in the Outlander Sport's class encompass a wide spectrum of specialities and capabilities. We tend to favor those that do everything well. The Mazda CX-50 and CX-5, the Honda CR-V and the Kia Sportage all come to mind. Subaru's soft-roading Forester approximates the Outlander Sport in size and mission too.

　　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. 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.

　　

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.

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