The 2013 RVR GT | Photo: Sébastien D'Amour
Straight up: I had more or less written Mitsubishi off as a viable and competitive player in the North American car business. That was before I got to spend a week with two 2013 RVRs.
Although the Mitsubishi RVR has been available since 2010, I had not yet been acquainted with the compact crossover. It’s crazy what expectations can do to one’s perceptions; I wasn’t anticipating much, and here I am writing the review still in disbelief over how much I enjoyed the vehicle.
The sum of its parts and size are what make the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR attractive and pleasant to drive. Nothing about it stands out as being overly good or bad. I am partial to the styling (especially in GT guise), the cabin is well appointed, the engine’s got enough where it counts, and I actually did not bitch about the CVT for the entire week. That is revealing.
The 2013 Mitsubishi RVR is the current shining star in the Japanese maker’s shrinking lineup and deserves far more attention than it’s getting. Couple the product to an enticing price and its value grows exponentially. I like the RVR far more than I ever expected I would.
Youthfully yours
As far as looks are concerned, the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR is one of the most) youthfully designed compact crossovers in North America. Where some manufacturers seek out sophistication or all-out class, the RVR is a dash of cool.
SE and GT trims add fogs and alloy wheels which complement the RVR’s miniature bulldog stance and snub-nosed look. The overall effect is that of an attractive vehicle that tells its owner, like a good dog, that it’ll play along as commanded, and always be by your side.
The cabin switches it up quite a bit from the playful exterior. Just about as German as a Japanese interior can get, the level or seriousness displayed by the diminutive number of switches and buttons is quite contradictory.
The functionality and simple presentation are what I found to be most pleasing. The 2013 Mitsubishi RVR’s dash has a little more definition than the Outlander’s which furthers its general appeal. The seats provide ample comfort and the rear bench accommodates three passengers with relative ease; however, two will enjoy the ride much more.
The trunk is fair in size, but a weekend’s worth of camping gear for four will not fit. With the $28,998 GT 4WD roof rails are included, and with the addition of a storage box it could be possible. As well, in this trim, the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR lacks nothing to please technophiles and those searching for luxuries such as navigation, a back-up camera and a rocking 710-Watt Rockford-Fosgate audio system.
Another 2.0L
The engine displacement of the moment is 2.0L. Nearly every manufacturer has one, and the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR’s is a fine one. With 148 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque, the CUV’s no speed demon, but gets the job done far better than, once again, I expected.
Could it be that the CVT box has something to do with it? I also got some wheel time in an SE FWD with a 5-speed manual transmission ($22,098) and was thoroughly amused with the gearbox’s shifter and clutch action, and it too moved about with relative zest.
The CVT’s programming is somewhat aggressive, which allows the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR GT 4WD to take off with surprising gusto. Never loud or completely raucous, the CVT and 2.0L combo is well matched. Through the use of the steering-column-mounted magnesium-alloy paddle shifters driving can actually be entertaining. The RVR’s All-Wheel Control (AWC) AWD system is well versed at tackling Canadian winters.
Size matters
And in this case, the smaller, more compact dimensions of the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR allow it to be agile, nimble even.
Steering is light but sharp, and the suspension is sporty enough that the RVR can hold its own on the road. The stiff chassis works in conjunction with the suspension and provides the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR with a ride that is pliable and capable of limiting pitch and roll. Once more, I was not expecting the RVR to be as poised on the road as it was.
The brakes were also up to the task: All in all, the RVR provides plenty of road-surface-to-driver communication which increases confidence and entices the person behind the wheel to push a little harder. It is obviously completely happy cruising about town, as well.
The 2013 Mitsubishi RVR is manoeuvrable and plenty of fun to drive. If Mitsubishi can reproduce the pint-sized CUV’s character in its future products, I’ll be more than happy to completely reverse my thinking of the brand. The RVR is Mitsubishi’s current beacon of hope.
Although the Mitsubishi RVR has been available since 2010, I had not yet been acquainted with the compact crossover. It’s crazy what expectations can do to one’s perceptions; I wasn’t anticipating much, and here I am writing the review still in disbelief over how much I enjoyed the vehicle.
The sum of its parts and size are what make the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR attractive and pleasant to drive. Nothing about it stands out as being overly good or bad. I am partial to the styling (especially in GT guise), the cabin is well appointed, the engine’s got enough where it counts, and I actually did not bitch about the CVT for the entire week. That is revealing.
The 2013 Mitsubishi RVR is the current shining star in the Japanese maker’s shrinking lineup and deserves far more attention than it’s getting. Couple the product to an enticing price and its value grows exponentially. I like the RVR far more than I ever expected I would.
Youthfully yours
As far as looks are concerned, the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR is one of the most) youthfully designed compact crossovers in North America. Where some manufacturers seek out sophistication or all-out class, the RVR is a dash of cool.
SE and GT trims add fogs and alloy wheels which complement the RVR’s miniature bulldog stance and snub-nosed look. The overall effect is that of an attractive vehicle that tells its owner, like a good dog, that it’ll play along as commanded, and always be by your side.
The cabin switches it up quite a bit from the playful exterior. Just about as German as a Japanese interior can get, the level or seriousness displayed by the diminutive number of switches and buttons is quite contradictory.
The functionality and simple presentation are what I found to be most pleasing. The 2013 Mitsubishi RVR’s dash has a little more definition than the Outlander’s which furthers its general appeal. The seats provide ample comfort and the rear bench accommodates three passengers with relative ease; however, two will enjoy the ride much more.
The trunk is fair in size, but a weekend’s worth of camping gear for four will not fit. With the $28,998 GT 4WD roof rails are included, and with the addition of a storage box it could be possible. As well, in this trim, the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR lacks nothing to please technophiles and those searching for luxuries such as navigation, a back-up camera and a rocking 710-Watt Rockford-Fosgate audio system.
Another 2.0L
The engine displacement of the moment is 2.0L. Nearly every manufacturer has one, and the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR’s is a fine one. With 148 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque, the CUV’s no speed demon, but gets the job done far better than, once again, I expected.
Could it be that the CVT box has something to do with it? I also got some wheel time in an SE FWD with a 5-speed manual transmission ($22,098) and was thoroughly amused with the gearbox’s shifter and clutch action, and it too moved about with relative zest.
The CVT’s programming is somewhat aggressive, which allows the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR GT 4WD to take off with surprising gusto. Never loud or completely raucous, the CVT and 2.0L combo is well matched. Through the use of the steering-column-mounted magnesium-alloy paddle shifters driving can actually be entertaining. The RVR’s All-Wheel Control (AWC) AWD system is well versed at tackling Canadian winters.
Size matters
And in this case, the smaller, more compact dimensions of the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR allow it to be agile, nimble even.
Steering is light but sharp, and the suspension is sporty enough that the RVR can hold its own on the road. The stiff chassis works in conjunction with the suspension and provides the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR with a ride that is pliable and capable of limiting pitch and roll. Once more, I was not expecting the RVR to be as poised on the road as it was.
The brakes were also up to the task: All in all, the RVR provides plenty of road-surface-to-driver communication which increases confidence and entices the person behind the wheel to push a little harder. It is obviously completely happy cruising about town, as well.
The 2013 Mitsubishi RVR is manoeuvrable and plenty of fun to drive. If Mitsubishi can reproduce the pint-sized CUV’s character in its future products, I’ll be more than happy to completely reverse my thinking of the brand. The RVR is Mitsubishi’s current beacon of hope.
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