2010 Mitsubishi Outlander

With its 2010 refresh, the Mitsubishi Outlander has transformed itself, reviews say. It gains a nicer cabin, some neat gadgets and an advanced all-wheel-drive system that turns it into a true athlete -- for an SUV.

Although it's not recommended as often as the ultra-safe, ultra-sporty 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan (Base MSRP: $23,200 to $33,500), critics place the Outlander as a good runner-up in the small, sporty SUV class, on par with the 2010 Nissan Rogue (Base MSRP: $20,460 to $25,310).

Two touches come straight from Mitsubishi's rally-ready Lancer Evolution X sports sedan: the Outlander's new big-mouth grille and a Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system that is available only on the top-level Mitsubishi Outlander GT.

"S-AWC is the reason Evos can hang with supercars on twisting roads," Autoblog.com's Jonny Lieberman writes. It can send torque to the wheels with the best traction -- forward or back, right or left -- and lets drivers select from three modes, Tarmac, Snow and Lock. The result is an SUV that's "shockingly" quick and smooth in corners, Lieberman says. Most other testers agree, and About.com's Jason Fogelson says even the less advanced AWC system found on lower Outlander trims is "a hoot and a half." (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.) Car and Driver disagrees, saying the Outlander GT impresses on the skid pad but suffers too much body roll and heavy steering on the road.

Opt for the front-wheel-drive base Mitsubishi Outlander SUV, and you'll get good fuel economy for a small SUV: 21 mpg city/27 mpg highway/24 mpg combined with the base engine, a 168-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder coupled with a continuously variable transmission. AWD sacrifices 2 mpg highway and combined. This engine lets the Outlander tow 1,500 pounds. Upper trims can tow up to 3,500 pounds with their 230-horsepower, 3-liter V6. Coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission, this engine delivers 19 mpg city/25 mpg highway/21 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, dropping 1 mpg all around with AWD.

Inside the cabin, testers say there's plenty of room for five in the Mitsubishi Outlander's first two rows, but forget the tiny, optional third-row seat. "Well, 'seat' isn't the right word," writes John Phillips at Car and Driver. "It's more like three pieces of rebar rattling inside a roll of felt, with flip-up headrests fashioned from Ping-Pong paddles." About.com's Fogelson says they're "more like slings than seats, literally cloth hammocks hung on a frame" and sized only for children -- although Car and Driver's Jared Gall notes, "No child is going to be comfortable back there unless he's unconscious."

Fold all the rear seats, and you're left with a 72.6-cubic-foot cargo bay that is roomy for its class. Testers say the Outlander is handy for tailgating, as the bottom half of its clamshell liftgate folds down to form a tailgate.

The entry-level Mitsubishi Outlander ES (Base MSRP: $20,840 to $22,240) comes with the four-cylinder engine and air conditioning, full power accessories, reclining rear seats, cruise control and a CD stereo. The Outlander SE (Base MSRP: $22,540 to $23,940) adds remote start and sporty touches including paddle shifters, fog lights and sport seats.

The Outlander XLS (Base MSRP: $24,990 to $26,390) switches to the V6 engine and adds several tech goodies that impress testers, including the Fuse voice-activated multimedia system (similar to Ford's Sync system) and Bluetooth. The Outlander GT (Base MSRP: $29,250) tops out with the improved AWD system, an upgraded stereo with satellite radio and more. Options include heated leather seats, a backseat DVD player, sunroof and a navigation system with free traffic information that testers say is particularly attractive and easy to use.

Crash ratings range from acceptable to good. The Outlander earns the highest possible front- and side-crash ratings from two separate crash-test organizations, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Its 4-star government rating for rollover resistance is likewise high for an SUV. Its rollover roof strength and rear-crash protection are judged Acceptable at IIHS. The Outlander includes the usual complement of standard safety features for its class: antilock brakes, traction and stability control, and front, front-side and curtain airbags, plus front head restraints designed to reduce whiplash.

The 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander should be more reliable than the average SUV, according to one major testing organization. It is covered by a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, with a 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

Car and Driver tests the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander head-to-head against seven other small SUVs. Tests at Edmunds.com and ConsumerReports.org also compare the Outlander with its rivals, but ConsumerReports.org has not yet fully tested the redesigned 2010 model. Neither has Cars.com, although editors name the 2010 Outlander a top pick. Autoblog.com's test of the 2010 Outlander GT is extremely thorough, and we also found helpful reviews at The New York Times, About.com and The Washington Post. FuelEconomy.gov provides official fuel-economy estimates, and NHTSA's SaferCar.gov and the IIHS publish crash ratings.