2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2.4 GT AWC First Test

The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is the Japanese automaker's best-selling model, but we've consistently berated the compact crossover for its lackluster engine. For 2015 Mitsubishi has addressed our biggest complaint with the Outlander Sport by adding a more powerful engine option. Since its 2011 model year debut, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport's sole engine offering has been 148-hp, 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder with 145 lb-ft of torque. It is now available with the Lancer sedan's 168-hp, 167 lb-ft, 2.4-liter MIVEC I-4. Available on 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport ES and GT variants, the new 2.4-liter engine provides a noticeable improvement in drivability.

In our testing, the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2.4 GT AWC with CVT (the only transmission available for the optional engine) reached 60 mph in 8.6 seconds and finished the quarter mile in 16.7 seconds at 84.8 mph. That's a noticeable improvement over the front-drive 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE (9.0 seconds; 17.0 seconds at 83.5 mph) we recently tested and our previous long-term all-wheel-drive 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE (9.7 seconds; 17.4 seconds at 80.7 mph) with the 2.0-liter engine. The 2015 Outlander Sport GT stopped from 60 mph in 115 feet, one foot shorter than the front-drive 2015 SE and five feet shorter than the all-wheel-drive 2011 SE.

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The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2.4 GT AWC lapped the figure eight in 28.7 seconds at 0.60g average and pulled 0.78g average around the skidpad. Those numbers are slightly better than the front-drive 2015 Outlander Sport ES (29.0 seconds at 0.68 g; 0.77 g) and the all-wheel-drive 2011 Outlander Sport ES (29.0 seconds at 0.55 g; 0.77g).

We weren't impressed with the 2.0-liter engine in either of the Outlander Sports ES models we drove. "I accelerated and then reached for the hand brake, thinking it must still be half on or something,"Motor Trendcreative director Alan Muir said in the first update of our 2011 long-term tester. "The vehicle feels really sluggish off the line, with quite a noisy/revvy engine note, which becomes annoying over time."

Our thoughts on the 2015 Outlander Sport ES tester weren't much different. "Unfortunately, the times when slower-moving traffic necessitated canceling cruise control, the Outlander Sport would struggle to accelerate back up to speed — especially when climbing even the slightest inclines. Additionally, the CVT would stutter or hesitate when gently modulating the gas pedal when heavy freeway traffic required constant adjustment."

The 168-hp, 2.4-liter engine is a marked improvement over the 2.0-liter engine. Additionally, the Outlander Sport GT didn't experience the same transmission stutter as the front-drive ES with the 2.0-liter and CVT. That issue may have been cured because of the 2.4-liter engine's broader torque curve or different powertrain programming. It could also have been an anomaly of that particular vehicle. Regardless, the 2.4-liter engine feels peppier than the 2.0-liter in traffic and when climbing steep grades.

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Despite the 2.4-liter engine being noticeably better than the base 2.0-liter, the Outlander Sport falls short compared to one of our favorite compact crossovers: the larger Mazda CX-5. The Outlander Sport's times are only slightly better than our previous front-drive, 155-hp, 2.0-liter 2013 Mazda CX-5 long-term tester. That model hit 60 mph in 9.4 seconds and finished the quarter mile in 17.1 seconds at 79.9 mph. Braking from 60 mph took 113 feet. In handling, the 2013 CX-5 lapped the figure eight in 28.4 seconds at 0.59g average and pulled 0.84 g around the skidpad.

The Outlander Sport GT was slower than our current all-wheel-drive, 184-hp, 2.5-liter 2015 Mazda CX-5 Touring long-term tester. In testing, the 2015 CX-5 sprinted to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds and through the quarter mile in 16.0 seconds at 87.1 mph. It took 124 feet for the all-wheel-drive CX-5 to stop from 60 mph. The 2015 CX-5 lapped the figure eight in 28.6 seconds at 0.71g average and pulled 0.77g average around the skidpad.

That increase in performance comes with a fuel economy penalty. The 2.0-liter engine is EPA-rated 24/30/27 mpg city/highway/combined, but the 2.4-liter is rated 23/26/24 mpg.

In addition to the more powerful engine, the $25,820 (including $825 destination) 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport GT 2.4 AWC comes with a CVT and the automaker's selectable AWC (all-wheel control) with a 2WD (front-drive), AWD, and 4Lock modes. Standard exterior features include automatic HID headlights, LED running lights, foglights, LED taillights, heated power side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, 18-inch alloy wheels, and black roof rails. Interior features include push-button start, automatic climate, a tilting and telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, a leather-wrapped shift knob, a power driver's seat, and a 6.1-inch touchscreen audio system with SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and rearview camera.

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Our Octane Blue 2015 Outlander Sport GT tester came with the $4,650 GT Touring package, which includes a navigation system with a 7.0-inch touchscreen and real-time traffic, leather seating surfaces, a 710-watt Rockford Fosgate nine-speaker audio system including 10.0-inch subwoofer, a panoramic glass roof with LED illumination, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Total price came to $30,470.

Other than the increase in power, the Outlander Sport GT is much the same as the Outlander Sport ES. It has modern exterior lighting and aggressive EVO-like face, and while the black interior initially feels upscale, it's saddled with some hard plastics throughout. The seats are fairly comfortable but could use a lumbar adjustment. Although the upgraded audio system enriches the sound, particularly with lower frequencies due to the Rockford Fosgate subwoofer, the head unit is starting to show its age with dated graphics and an unintuitive Bluetooth pairing procedure. The fixed panoramic roof with power shade and LED track lighting is still a cool party trick.

The available 168-hp, 2.4-liter is a welcome improvement over the standard 148-hp, 2.0-liter engine, but the aging Outlander Sport could still use more power and a refresh or redesign. After all, the compact crossover has only had minor revisions since it went on sale for the 2011 model year. The additional power is welcome, but Mitsubishi's best-seller is in need of more.