Saturday, December 24, 2022
We test drive a Outlander Sport (2.4 GT)
You can choose between two enignes and both seem very odd. The standard 2-liter four-cylinder doesn't offer the flexibility you'd desire on the highway but it feels more than up to the job for driving around town. We'd say it's best to avoid the all-wheel-drive with this engine as it really isn't needed. The optional 2.4 is the pick of the range. You may have to pay a little bit more in the purchase price but the engine feels more than up for the job in both city driving and highway driving. The 2-liter is the only engine that can be had with a 5-speed manual gearbox while the CVT (continously variable transmission) is the better choice for lower running costs.
The Outlander Sport isn't sporty at all. We do love the comfortable ride that is associated with it. The 18-inch alloys really doesn't make the ride firm but on faster paced roads the ride can offten feel unsettled and the steering is more on the numb side. It doesn't feel as sharp to drive like we'd like it to be but for what it offers it's not disappointing in any sense. Road noise is nothing to complain of but wind noise can be heard at highway speeds. It's far from a deal breaker.
The interior layout is pretty much straight forward. It's not as flashy as some of its rivals but the fact that the layout is simple and easy to navigate through is a plus in our eyes. The more expenisve higher trims get a full-touch screen infotainment system that feels sort of dated compared to the rest of the conpetition. We wish that Mitsubishi put a little bit more effort in it because it would pretty much be the best in class. It's simple to use and the most logically laid out in terms of menus and interface. The front seats do offer decent comfort but the driving position is just way too awkward. The rear seat offers plenty of space while the boot offers decent space too. It's actually more generous than the size of the vehicle suggests.
Our tester car 2.4 GT came equipped with roof rails, fog lamps, HID headlights, all-wheel-drive and rear spoiler. Push button ignition switch, power folding mirrors and rain sensing windshield wipers also come kitted as standard. The generous amount of standard featues for such a low price did spark a lot of interest in the vehicle. It fit within our budget and resulted in the purchase of the vehicle.
The Outlander Sport certianly won't please everyone, but that's okay because it's not meant to. It's the cheapest way into a crossover, with low running costs and high standard features. Some may be worried about residuals and the fact that the Outlander Sport feels a little dated compared to its rivals. You could pick some great crossovers in this segment but the Outlander Sport is one of those crossovers that really is worthy of the shortlist.
Likes: Low running costs with stylish looks inside out. Standard kit is generous and it's quite comfortbale to drive.
Dislikes: It feels its age. Residuals are low.
Our pick: Ditch the 2-liter and go right for the 2.4 GT which with deep discounts makes it the best buy of the compact crossover segment.
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