The 2024 Outlander Sport offers a good suite of safety features, an affordable price and a decade’s worth of warranty coverage. But it’s not particularly fun to drive and lacks refinement, even on top trim levels.
Its tepid acceleration and unrefined CVT make it hard to compete with fresher rivals in terms of driving excitement. Still, it delivers decent value for the money and a pleasant interior.
Interior
Mitsubishi’s aging Outlander Sport is still around because it offers something that many other SUVs don’t: a generous five-year basic and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. That’s why it continues to appeal to people who want a no-frills vehicle that won’t break the bank.
Its modest 181-horsepower four-cylinder engine has enough pep for daily commuting and is capable of towing up to 2,000 pounds. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel control (S-AWC) is available, allowing the Outlander to handle light off-roading. Fuel economy is average for the class, with 26 mpg in combined city and highway driving.
The Outlander’s interior is straightforward and functional with a layout that prioritizes ease of use. Its cabin can feel a little last season when compared to competitors with more contemporary interiors, however.
The Outlander’s raised driving position and roomy back seats make it a solid choice for families on road trips. Its comfortable ride quality and composed handling are also noteworthy. While not a sporty model like the Mazda CX-30, it can comfortably handle spirited mountain driving, and body lean is well-controlled even when cornering at high speeds. Cargo capacity is a bit limited with only 21.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat, but it can expand to 49.5 cubes by folding down the second row. There’s an average amount of small-item storage as well, including a cupholder and a cubby beneath the center stack.
Exterior
Mitsubishi isn’t blind to the sea of newer and nicer SUVs competing with its aging Outlander Sport, which debuted in 2011. It has taken steps to improve its value proposition. For example, it offers a generous warranty and roadside assistance that rivals those of premium brands.
The Outlander Sport looks distinctive, with a rugged exterior that’s ready for off-road adventures. It’s also roomy and features a user-friendly infotainment system. Pricier models come with a touch of luxury, offering leather seats. However, the interior feels cheap and lacks the refinement of other compact SUVs. The Outlander Sport has less rear headroom than its competitors, and the seating position is a bit awkward.
Despite its rough ride, the Outlander Sport drives competently. It accelerates quickly and keeps its composure when tackling mountain curves. However, it’s not a fun choice for spirited drivers.
Mitsubishi’s safety suite is impressive for a small SUV, with advanced features like forward-collision mitigation and lane-departure warning. It’s not a Top Safety Pick+, but it earned four out of five stars in crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The 2024 Outlander Sport is a good choice for Tulsa drivers who want a safe, reliable SUV. The 2024 Outlander Sport is also affordable, with an MSRP that’s below many of its rivals. Moreover, it offers a competitive lease and finance offer.
Technology
Mitsubishi has added plenty of digital tech to this small SUV, and the infotainment system is intuitive to use. Wireless smartphone integration and charging add convenience, while a premium sound system with a digital subwoofer delivers an immersive experience for the front passengers. In terms of comfort, the seats are well-padded and supportive for long drives. A reclining second-row seat allows adults to stretch out and relax, but it limits legroom for tall passengers.
Mitsubishi’s patented All-Wheel Control system helps the Outlander Sport tame difficult road conditions, and its 2.0L MIVEC four-cylinder engine offers excellent power with low fuel consumption. It’s a bit noisier than many competitors, but the SUV feels agile when driving around town and handles nicely when tackling a twisty road.
A suite of advanced safety features includes the available MI-PILOT Assist, which monitors your surroundings to help you maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead of you. A rearview camera with multi-view monitor and parking sensors helps you keep an eye on the surrounding environment when backing up or pulling into a tight spot. For extra peace of mind, the Outlander Sport is equipped with a generous new-vehicle warranty and five years of roadside assistance. It also earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2023. The Outlander Sport is the only compact SUV with a third row, so buyers can consider it alongside smaller three-row crossovers like the Volkswagen Tiguan and Kia Sorento when shopping for a family vehicle.
2024 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Review
Safety
In the event of an accident, this compact SUV has you covered. It uses seven well-placed airbags to help keep you and your passengers safe, including advanced dual-stage front airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, and a driver knee airbag. Plus, it uses a unique system called RISE, or Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution body construction, to help divert energy away from the cabin. Other safety aids include Lane Departure Warning, which helps you stay centered, and Blind Spot Monitoring with Lane Change Assist, which lets you know when another vehicle is nearby. You can also monitor your parking area with the available rearview camera, and it comes with a Reverse Auto-Tilt Function that makes backing out of a space easy.
The only area where this Mitsubishi falls behind its competition is in the power department. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder that powers lower trims is capable of delivering just 148 hp, and it takes longer than competitors to accelerate. For instance, our all-wheel drive Outlander Sport traveled from 0 to 60 mph in 9.7 seconds on the Edmunds test track. That’s too slow for this segment, where competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota Corolla Cross are quicker. Still, we give the Outlander Sport points for a strong warranty and roadside assistance program that rivals those of more premium SUVs.
