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]
This is a “Limited Edition” in the same way the PT Cruiser had a “Limited Edition.”
Limited Edition like Honda and Nissan would do when they were about to change generations of a model.
This should be a thing with Mitsu
Also “Sport” doesnt mean what it used to. People call their CRV Sports and Corolla Conquest Sports the ‘sporty’ model what with their 4 spd autos and 1.8 port fuel fours.
Be that as it may I beleive this article is a bit snarkey. This is a Mitsubishi ASX?
Its a Qashkai/Rogue Sport slash Mazda CX3 competition. The subcompact FWD CUV market is hot as.
“Modestly aspirational” must be Mitsubishi-speak for credit scores above subprime but below median, i.e. – better than 640 but below 670.
That’s actually not terrible to get HID lights and heated seats for under $22K. I know it’s a Mitsubishi but you also get a long warranty and anyone with a pulse financing. Sounds like a win to me!
A valid point, it’s a pretty cheap crossover.
Having driven a 2015 Outlander Sport, I loved it. Did way better in snowstorms and passed most popular CRVS.
For the price of a basic SUV with good space, awd and warranty I would pick one in a heartbeat. It reminded me of a first generation Rav4.
I actually like these…if they had a side-swinging rear door, I would be tempted.
Because then it would be harder to use and park? Because even fewer people would purchase them?
I have a 2006 CRV and I like the side swing, but the rain shield above would be nice! I like these though.
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.
CVTs have come a long way, baby, since the early JATCO CVTs.
I’m not a fan either, but CVTs of today come with a long factory warranty.
CVTs are the wave of the future because of the fuel-economy gains that can be had by continually matching engine efficiency to load requirements.
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.