2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Review

MPG-o-Matic 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Review Summary: The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport aims to carve out a niche in the crowded small SUV and Crossover market, with good fuel economy, Evo-inspired styling, light weight, solid handling, and the best set of paddle shifters in the business. It falls short when it comes to sport, due to modest horsepower levels and CVT transmission. With a few tweaks, the Outlander Sport could achieve its full potential.

The 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is powered by a 16-valve DOHC MIVTEC 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 148 horsepower (HP) and 145 foot pounds of torque. The inline four can be mated to either a five-speed manual or continuously variable automatic (CVT) transmission. While the Outlander Sport is available in either two-wheel- (2WD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD), a manual is not offered with the AWD verison.

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2012 Honda CR-V EX-L Review

MPG-o-Matic 2012 Honda CR-V EX-L AWD Review Summary:
The Honda CR-V is the new ubiqui-wagon. Chunkiness is out and smooth lines are in. An 18 percent improvement in coefficient of drag enables higher fuel-efficiency and a quieter ride, when compared to the previous model, with attention to detail underneath the CR-V delivering better aerodynamics. More miles per gallon (MPG), a sleeker face, Honda’s legendary reliability, and a well-designed interior ensure that the CR-V will continue to be one of the safest bets among small SUVs and Crossovers.

The 2012 Honda CR-V is powered by a 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 185 horsepower (HP) and 163 foot pounds of torque. The inline four is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control. The CR-V is available in either front-wheel- (FWD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD).

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2012 SUVs and Crossovers with Manual Transmissions

Do you love driving stick shifts? Is your car dealer giving you a runaround when you ask about SUVs or Crossovers that are available with manual transmissions? Look in the right place (here!) and you’ll find a slew of manual SUVs that are currently offered in two-wheel-drive (2WD), all-wheel-drive (AWD), and four-wheel-drive (4WD) … even though your dealer might not have what you’re looking for on their lot. Legend has it that our fellow Americans got lazy and stopped driving manual-equipped vehicles, so the dealers stopped ordering them. But the tide is changing. More-and-more folks are waking up and realizing how much more engaging the ride can be with three pedals.

We created this list of manual SUVs and Crossovers to make it easy for you to see what’s out there … and how they stack up with regard to horsepower (HP), torque, gas mileage, fuel capacity, and driving range.

2012 Nissan Juke FWD

  • 2012 Nissan Juke AWD1.6-liter, turbocharged
    inline 4-cylinder engine
  • 6-speed manual
  • 188 HP / 177 ft. lbs. torque
  • Premium
  • 11.8 gallon fuel tank
  • 318.6 mile combined range
  • MPG: 25 City / 31 Highway /
    27 Combined

 

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2012 Mitsubishi Outlander GT Review

MPG-o-Matic 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander GT Review Summary: The 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander GT cuts a sporting line through the pack of three-row SUVs. You might be keen on the Outlander GT if you value handling over ground clearance and cargo versatility over a comfortable third row. The Outlander sits between the smaller (two-row) Outlander Sport and larger (three-row) Endeavor in Mitsubishi’s SUV line up.

The 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander is offered in three trims: ES, SE, and GT. We tested a top-of-the-line “Super All Wheel Control” (S-AWC) Outlander GT equipped with Mitsubishi’s 3.0-liter MIVEC V6 engine and six-speed Sportronic automatic transmission with Idle Neutral Logic. Idle Neutral Logic automatically switches the transmission into neutral while stopped to conserve fuel.

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Best Seven Passenger SUV MPG

The first two questions you should ask youself when shopping for a new sport utility vehicle (SUV) are: 1) how many folks do you need to haul, and 2) do you need all-wheel-drive (AWD) or four-wheel-drive (4WD) capabilities. Five-passenger (two-row) SUVs are typically more fuel-efficient than seven-passenger (three-row) SUVs, while two-wheel-drive (2WD) SUVs are usually better on gas than AWD and 4WD SUVs. Consequently, the vast majority of the best gas mileage SUVs are 2WD, five passenger vehicles.

Out of the crowd of 2WD 2011 seven-passenger SUVs, the Mitsubishi Outlander (23 city / 28 highway), Dodge Journey (19/26), and Ford Explorer (17/25) get the best gas mileage, followed by the Mazda CX-9, Chevrolet Terrain, Buick Enclave, GMC Arcadia, and Ford Flex at 17 city / 24 highway MPGs. The 2WD Ford Explorer takes a significant jump in fuel economy for 2012, with the EcoBoost inline four cylinder version rated at 20/28.

The best gas mileage 2011 AWD 7-passenger SUVs include the Toyota Highlander Hybrid (28/28), Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTec 4Matic (18/25), Audi Q7 TDI (17/25), and the Dodge Journey (16/24). The GL350 BlueTEc and Q7 TDI clean diesels are exceptionally well-suited to long-distance, with excellent highway mileage and capacious fuel tanks.

We’ve tested the following 7-seat SUVs:

  • Audi Q7 TDI – With its powerful clean diesel engine, the luxurious Audi Q7 TDI delivers a unique combination of fuel efficiency, range, driveability, luxury, and towing capacity, along with some of the best in-cabin technology on the market today.
  • Chevrolet Traverse – Room for seven and highway gas mileage in the mid-twenties, the Chevy Traverse offers a compelling feature set, with a spacious interior that’s chock full ‘o creature comforts.
  • Ford Flex – A brilliant alternative to traditional SUVs and minivans, the Flex represents a rebirth of the great American station wagon with the comforts of a spacious limousine.
  • Lincoln MKT EcoBoost – Takes the large luxury crossover to a new level. While it lags behind the European turbo-diesels when it comes to fuel economy, the twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine provides a remarkable rush of power. The MKT EcoBoost is an executive jet on wheels, with a luxurious ride for six or seven.
  • Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTec – Although the ticket to entry is substantial, the Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTEC is one of the most fuel-efficient seven-passenger luxury SUVs on the road today.
  • Mitsubishi Outlander – Among the most sporting of the mid-size Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV), with a rally-inspired design that provides real four-wheel-drive, and magnesium paddle shifters. The third row seating is strictly for the kids.
  • Toyota Highlander Hybrid – Plays a trump card in the sport utility market, by delivering the best gas mileage in its class.

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