Should you wait for the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport? Styling: As its name suggests, the "2011 Mitsubishi Outlander" Sport plays Mini Me to the Mitsubishi Outlander compact SUV. The Outlander Sport is more than a foot shorter than the Outlander in overall length and is essentially a wagon-on-stilts version of the Mitsubishi Lancer compact car. The Outlander Sport will have seating positions for five, with fold-down rear seats. Like the Lancer, the 2011 Outlander Sport will come with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive (AWD). It’s quite possible the CVT will be the only transmission offered on AWD Outlander Sports.
On the safety-feature front, expect the Outlander Sport to follow Lancer’s lead with rear drum brakes standard on lower-line models.
The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander ranks 10 out of 24 Affordable Compact SUVs. At first glance, the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander seems like a compact SUV that’s just average. Before settling on the Outlander, though, reviewers recommend you check out the competition. Test drivers complain about the Outlander’s unrefined engine and interior materials that just seem cheap. Note that the RAV4 can’t match the Outlander’s warranty coverage, however.
The Outlander was freshened in 2010, so 2011 sees few changes.
The latest industry trend to be spotted at the New York auto show was the incredible shrinking crossover, exemplified by the Nissan Juke and this Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. A base model with manual transmission weighs in at an estimated 3050 pounds, thanks to features like recycled-plastic front fenders and extensive use of high-strength steel. Mitsubishi claims that the "Mitsubishi Outlander" Sport will get an EPA number of 31 mpg on the highway.
Like the regular Mitsubishi Outlander, the Sport is front-wheel drive, with an optional all-wheel-drive system. The uplevel SE model has features such as automatic climate control, 18-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated front seats, and a keyless entry system as standard. The Outlander Sport goes on sale at the end of 2010 as a 2011 model.
