2011 Mitsubishi ASX Review

Parents looking for an aggressively sporty, small crossover with the ability to rock out should look no further than the all-new 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. It's probably not the first vehicle that comes to mind when "small crossover" is uttered, but that doesn't mean the Outlander Sport shouldn't be considered. It's sportier than most, and as I implied, it's got a killer stereo.

The 2011 Outlander Sport is more dude-like than your average small crossover. Its trapezoidal grille matches that of its Lancer Evolution sibling and looks more on the lean-mean-driving-machine side than some of its daisy-picking competition. It looks shark-like, and its 148-horsepower inline-four-cylinder is peppy enough for everyday driving and can be pushed to be aggressive. Also, the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters kept me feeling race-inspired. My one hang up was the continuously variable automatic transmission. I'm trying to love CVTs, but the constant high-pitched revs in the Outlander Sport make it difficult. A five-speed manual transmission is standard on the base Outlander Sport ES.

Regardless, the Outlander Sport is a distinctive standout in a market segment with growing appeal and interesting models. My test car, an Outlander Sport SE with all-wheel drive, cost $25,575. The base front-wheel drive model starts at $18,495.

• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety