Mitsubishi Launches Outlander Sport Limited Edition, Tempts Modestly Aspirational Customers
The great philosopher Jerry Seinfeld one ridiculed automobile naming conventions, reserving an extra helping of scorn for the long-running Ford LTD.
“Yes, it’s limited to the number we can sell.”
Mitsubishi won’t have to worry about jokes — not that particular joke, anyways — when it trots out the Outlander Sport Limited Edition to its dealer network. The value-packed variant, inserted near the bottom of the trim ladder, is, like the model itself, not long for this world.
Of course, the Outlander Sport isn’t disappearing entirely, but it is due to decrease in size, freeing up the compact crossover space for a wholly new 2018 model. Expect to see the new tenant revealed at the Geneva Motor Show next month.
As Mitsubishi prepares to boost sales through an overhaul of its meager utility lineup, it hasn’t forgotten about its U.S. sales leader. Outlander Sport sales fell in 2016 compared to the previous year, and Mitsu clearly hopes to reverse the trend by diversifying the outgoing model.
So, what does a Limited Edition get you? At $21,995, the model will slot just above the base ES when it lands on dealer lots later this month. For that price, the Limited Edition sports the same drivetrain as the base — a 148-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder and continuously variable transmission — but piles on the content.
The most noticeable cue is the model’s blacked-out 18-inch wheels. Side mirrors get the same treatment, while the upgrade also delivers an allow fuel door, fog lamps and high-intensity discharge headlamps. Inside, black fabric with red stitching abounds, and the pedals receive a sporty aluminum veneer. Heated front seats, a backup camera, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity round out the list of goodies.
[Image: Mitsubishi Motors]
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CVT means no-go for me, but I would drive that just based on the looks. The wheels really sharpen it up. HIDs and heated seats for cheap? That's a good deal.
I'd be seriously interested if they offered an AWD+manual variant. But even as it stands, a FWD manual version strikes me as a very reasonable and decent choice (or an AWD CVT variant as most consumers would want). Good feature set even on the base/mid-level cars, and they are reliable and well built cars by all accounts.