The Mitsubishi Outlander had been completely redesigned for the 2010 model year with a more aggressive front end, and a higher ground clearance. The front end was taken directly from the compact Mitsubishi Lancer, and the rear tailgate folds two ways letting you both load and unload cargo easily; the Outlander’s rear end also comes with LED tail lamps with brighter and longer-lifespan bulbs. Unlike the Oultlander’s competitors, such as the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and the Ford Escape, the Mitsubishi Outlander comes with a CVT (continuously-variable transmission) transmission (same as the Nissan Rogue) which is operated by a pulley instead of gears; this way, you will have a longer-lasting transmission which would last up to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Will Mitsubishi’s compact crossover outrun the competition besides these mentioned categories? The Mitsubishi Outlander for 2010 comes in four different trim levels: the base-level ES, SE, XLS, and the top-of-the-line GT with either 2WD or AWD models. Both the base-level ES and the SE comes with a 2.4-liter MIVEC inline-four, putting out 168 horsepower, which might be a little more underpowered than the Honda CR-V’s 180 horsepower. At a ballpark price of around $22,000, the base-level ES has everything that its competitors might consider optional such as pre-wired Bluetooth, halogen daytime running lights, rear window defroster, and heated side mirrors, along with your basic power windows, door locks, mirrors, and cruise control. The XLS and GT trims come with the bigger 3.0-liter MIVEC V6 which puts out 230 horsepower. Of course, it may not be able to outrun the Toyota RAV4’s 269 horsepower V6, but acceleration for the V6 Outlander is still adequate. A 0-60 mph time of 8 seconds may not be considered blazingly quick, but it is no slug either; the ¼ mile time comes up in just 15.8 seconds at 88 mph. The Outlander GT comes with leather seats with a 40GB HD navigation system, Bluetooth, a sunroof, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The GT handles marvelously thanks to its rear multilink suspension and MacPherson struts towards the front. The Mitsubishi Outlander may handle like a crossover version of the Mitsubishi Ralliart, but that does not mean that safety is in jeopardy. Thanks to dual front airbags for the driver and passenger, side-curtain airbags and high-steel side beams in the doors, it is no wonder that Mitsubishi had 5 out of 5 stars for both front and side crash tests for the driver and passenger; however, 4 out of 5 stars for rollover is still pretty commendable. The Mitsubishi Outlander may be a bit more expensive than the competition other than the RAV4, but you get pretty much what you paid for as far as performance, comfort, versatility, and style. Still thinking about that CR-V or RAV4? Well, it is your call, then. Category:Home › Home • Will higher gasoline prices mean lower sales for new cars? — part 2 • Will higher gasoline prices mean lower sales for new cars? — part 1 • Should the crew of the Sea Shepherd board whaling ships? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 13 • Grandparents: Can blogging chronicle your genealogy? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 12 • Are teachers unions the cause of public school problems today? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 11