One of Mitsubishi’s newest products, the 2011 Outlander Sport, is set to be among the brand’s core products. It’s hoped that it will help maintain sales momentum and push the Japanese brand out from obscurity in the U.S. auto market.
In its first drive of this new crossover, Autoblog compared Mitsubishi to Chrysler, and for good reason. Both brands have fragmented product lineups and both brands have lost serious ground in segments they once dominated. Although there are some bright spots in Mitsubishi’s current lineup, there’s still plenty of work ahead.
All automakers seem to be focusing on the compact crossover segment, and that’s where the 2011 Outlander Sport comes in. The company needs to have a product that serves as a formidable competitor to vehicles like the Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan and the upcoming Nissan Juke. Lighter and more compact than the larger Outlander, the all-new Outlander Sport may the right fit for consumers, but unlike its larger brother, the Sport is still very much a “budget-oriented model.”
“In other words, it’s still a power-lifter affair – impressive up top and underwhelming down below,” writes Autoblog’s Damon Lavrinc. “The one exception is the Premium Pack’s panoramic glass roof with adjustable LED ‘mood lighting.’ We didn’t get a chance to play with the discotastic LEDs in the dark, but the glass roof is a sweet option in the segment, even if its framed by a less-than-pleasing (okay, mouse fur) headliner.”
Despite a lack of refinement, there are still plenty of positive features that can be found within the 2011 Outlander Sport. One is the peppy MiVEC-equipped 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which Mitsubishi says will deliver 31 mpg on the highway. A slew of safety features are also standard, including seven airbags, stability control, ABS and Hill Start Assist.
Although this was only a first drive, Lavrinc feels that the Outlander Sport is at the very least comparable to what’s already available in this popular segment, in terms of price and amenities. Hopefully this new model will have what it takes to stand out from the crowd.
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