2020 Mitsubishi Outlander

You can get your rear in the driver's seat for as little as $24,895 when you go for the base model ES 2.4 in 2WD guise. But, the price of the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander increases to $26,895 when you select 4WD. The cost increases by $2,000 for 4WD across the range. The SE will set you back $26,095, rising to $28,095 for the 4WD version. The LE steps up the price to $27,295 (2WD) and $29,295 (4WD), and the SP goes for $28,495 (2WD) and $30,495 (4WD). SEL models sit below the range-topping car and cost $27,495 (2WD) and $29,495 (4WD). At the top sits the GT, which comes with 4WD as standard and goes for $33,745. These Mitsubishi Outlander prices are MSRP, and do not include the $1,195 destination and handling fees. Compared to Kia's Sorento and Nissan's Rogue, the Outlander is the cheaper choice, on average.

The 2020 Outlander handles exactly as you'd expect a tall-riding SUV would: you get excessive body roll when entering and exiting sharper corners, which is especially concerning because of its narrow body. Despite being at the receiving end of a refined suspension and steering setup in 2019, the Outlander still displays handling characteristics of SUVs of old. Over small bumps, the Outlander will maintain its composure and soak undulations with relative ease but hit more serious stuff, and the Mitsubishi feels like it won't stop bouncing around. Not cool. To add to the Outlander's woes, the steering is overly soft, and there's virtually no feedback coming out of the steering wheel, which is unnerving when you're driving at highway speeds. Off-road, the Outlander's wobbly stride is more forgivable, but out on the road, competitors such as the Kia Sorento and Nissan Rogue do a much better job.

In an age where every second car manufacturer is jumping onto the SUV bandwagon, it takes more than just the good-old college try to be competitive in the US. Mitsubishi has decades of experience in building tough and reliable SUVs, but in this new age, buyers depend on more than good ground clearance numbers and sturdy cloth seats. The Outlander received a minor update in 2019, and 2020 saw the addition of a couple of new features as well, but behind the fresh face lies an SUV that's showing its age. The 2.4-liter engine found in lower-trim models is woefully underpowered and struggles when pulling along a full load, but gets good gas mileage and should be bulletproof. The ride and handling is another issue we simply can't get past; it's wallowy, wobbly and uncommunicative - not something you want in a family SUV. The interior is also showing its age and makes use of hard plastics and glossy bits and pieces that just don't cut it anymore. Its saving grace is its affordable price tag and good safety record.

New buyers are spoilt for choice with six trim levels to choose from, two engines, and 2WD or 4WD, there's something for everyone. The Outlander is best looked at as a family workhorse, rather than a trendy city runaround; if you're looking for a city crawler, then you'd be better off looking elsewhere. For that reason, we would suggest sticking to the lower end of the lineup. Based on our reviews of the Outlander, we would go for the SE purely because it includes advanced driver assistance systems such as forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning, and automatic high beam assist. The SE also offers an upgraded eight-inch infotainment system with standard SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Other conveniences include an auto-dimming rearview mirror, push-button start, and steering wheel voice recognition control. The SE goes for $26,095, only $1,200 more than the base model when selected in 2WD guise. That said, the current generation is due for replacement, so you might want to hold out to see what the newest Outlander will have to offer, or just wait for a deal on the outgoing generation.

Kia has taken the American car market by storm in recent years, and it's easy to see why: their cars are good to look at, they're packed with features, and they drive good too. The 2020 Kia Sorento plays into that ethos perfectly. We should start with the Sorento's most disappointing feature; it's base engine. As with the Outlander, Kia's 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine is underpowered and underwhelming. With 185 hp and 178 lb-ft, the Sorento is more powerful than the Outlander, but struggles all the same. You'll have to get the 3.3-liter V6 engine if you're serious about getting around. Fuel consumption ranges from 22/29/25 mpg city/highway/combined in the base model, down to 18/24/20 mpg in the AWD V6. On the road, the Sorento displays car-like driving characteristics, which is far removed from the sloppy experience we had in the Outlander, and the interior and infotainment setup are also more modern. The Sorento scored a Top Safety Pick Plus award from the IIHS and its pricing starts at $26,990. We'd happily pay the extra money for the Kia.

The Nissan Rogue is an affordable contender to the Outlander that will appeal to younger buyers. It offers similar power levels, with its 2.5-liter four-pot mustering 170 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque, and, although it doesn't offer a big V6 or turbo alternative, it still manages to get the job done, and the lack of power is made up for by a gas mileage figure of 26/33/29 mpg city/highway/combined. The exterior styling hasn't seen an update in quite some time, but it still looks more compelling than the muted Outlander, and its more compact dimensions will appeal to younger and smaller families. On the road, the Rogue handles and drives better than the Outlander, despite suffering from unresponsive and overly light steering. Inside, the Rogue is clearly a better car than the Outlander; its styling design and build quality is sure to win you over. The Rogue has a good list of standard features and shares a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS with the Outlander. If it was our choice, we'd go with the Nissan every time.