Archive for the ‘Outlander’ Category

It's about time that another automaker took on Ford's Sync hands-free communication and entertainment interface. One of the best rival systems—at least in affordable vehicles—comes from an unlikely source: Mitsubishi. The new 2010 Outlander is the first vehicle to get the handy interface.

In a way, it figures. Mitsubishi used to have a geeky reputation in the U.S. and elsewhere; many years ago now, the Japanese automaker stood out from the rest with features like all-wheel-drive, active yaw control, speed-sensitive four-wheel power steering, and high-end audio with steering-wheel controls. With recent features on offer like the excellent...

Punch your destination into the navigation system in a new vehicle—especially a luxury-brand model—and you’re likely to get more than just driving directions. Many of today’s systems alert you of upcoming traffic congestion and even adjust your route on the fly to help avoid it.

But there’s a catch. Most of the real-time traffic features offered as original equipment use satellite radio-based data services—called either XM NavTraffic or Sirius Traffic—that require a monthly fee of about $10 a month (four dollars if you add it to satellite radio service). Past the trial period, if you don’t subscribe, you’re out of luck.

Mitsubishi is an...

In the three years since the second-generation Mitsubishi Outlander first went on sale, Mitsubishi has gone through a sort of identity crisis here in the U.S. market. While the Japanese automaker’s compact Lancer models—especially the high-performance Evolution and Ralliart—have been generally well received, Mitsubishi’s larger vehicles, including the larger Endeavor SUV, Galant sedan, and even Eclipse sport coupe, have lost their way in the market.

With a modest but transformation refresh for 2010, Mitsubishi is bringing the Outlander’s styling closer to that of the Lancer on which it’s based. A subtle set of design changes takes the...