2009 Mitsubishi Outlander LS 4WD Review

I can't imagine the challenge for someone, who doesn't know much about cars, shopping for one. I consider myself fortunate to know pretty much every detail of most cars, especially ones that will be on my short list when the time will come to trade in the family car. No salesperson can fool me.

The wedge shape of the Outlander is modern and dynamic, and is aging well.

On the other hand, when I shop around for, say, a sump pump for my flooding basement or a Valentine's Day gift for my lovely spouse, I'm as dumb as a brick. I'm clueless. I'll believe almost everything the person behind the counter will tell me.

And yet, I'll be cautious, and try to find the safest choice within the vast selection; the pump model or gift that me or my girlfriend would be happy with, even though I didn't choose the best one. Can this tactic work with cars and trucks? Yes.

Wedge styling
Mitsubishi's Outlander stands out somewhat in the stuffy compact SUV segment. Its wedge shape is modern and dynamic, and is aging well. The high ride means good visibility for the driver, while the rear hatch and bumper cleverly dissimulate a fold-down tailgate for loading objects at a lower height or setting up the kids for a summer evening out at the drive-in.

Inside, the curved dashboard looks like the one in the Lancer sedan. The choice of materials is agreeable, although some surfaces are a little crude. The velour-like seat fabric is grippy and looks good.

Spacious cabin
The front seats are comfortable and sculpted to provide good support. In back, the 2nd-row bench offers an appreciable amount of space, although the center seat backrest isn't particularly comfy because of the fold-down armrest.

LS and XLS models are equipped with what must be the cheapest 3rd-row bench seat on the market. It's extremely basic and there is virtually no padding for those who will be confined to sit back there.

The front seats are comfortable and sculpted to provide good support.