Review of the 2015 Outlander and Lancer Evolution

OUTLANDER SPORT REVIEW

Communities Digital News (11/17/2015)
"The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is helping a stoke a brand revival."
"The front end of the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport GT reminds one of Audi and lends a sophisticated air to a design that otherwise blends in with the rest of traffic. In our GT model, the Mercury Gray metallic paint and the LED running and tail lights. Octane Blue (pictured) is an attention getting color that calls out for attention, while not risking scorn from the valet at Morton’s Steakhouse."
"The relatively small size of the Outlander Sport GT makes for parking without worry, but is not indicative of the interior space."
"Inside, one finds a roomy cockpit and cabin that almost seems like a magic trick. The panoramic sunroof with LED illumination adds to that airy feeling and was loved by passengers and driver alike."
"Heated leather seats that are more comfortable than an expensive ergonomic chair result in little driver fatigue during long drives. The side bolstering and sporty contrast stitching hold the driver in well during vigorous driving. It was easy to get comfortable in the Outlander, with a power driver seat adjustable for height, and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel."
"The leather wrapped steering wheel, with convenient infotainment and phone controls was a pleasure to grip."
"The infotainment system in our tester included a seven-inch touch screen, navigation with real time traffic and 3D mapping was easy to use."
"The highlight of the navigation was a visual 3D representation of the next turn. That was very helpful in case the audio directions were missed. One final bonus of the navigation is it shows the speed limit of the street on which one is driving. That could help one keep on the friendly side of local law enforcement."
"This is one of the few vehicles in its class to come with locking all-wheel drive that even works at higher speeds. That is definitely something those in northern climates will appreciate, along with hill start assist, rear heater floor ducts, and the heated front seats/side mirrors."
"Our review vehicle also did not leave out safety from the equation. The bevy of air bags is expected, but the HID headlights is a nice touch."
"The Outlander Sport earns a quite respectable Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, with an acceptable rating in the small front overlap test, and good scores across the other tests. Feeling safe in the Outlander Sport GT will not be a worry for the owner."
"The roominess, thoughtful touches on the interior, crash safety, and tech make this vehicle one to check out. We enjoyed our time with the vehicle and recommend giving one a spin if in the market for a compact crossover sport utility vehicle (SUV)."

LANCER EVOLUTION REVIEWS Portland Tribune and syndicated widely (11/13/2015) "2015 is the last year of the Lancer Evolution, the barely civilized rally car disguised as an economy sedan from Mitsubishi." "The Evo, as it is commonly called, is still the same blast to drive." "The Evo has always been considered a separate model because of significant upgrades that include a powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four cylinder engine, bigger brakes, full-time all-wheel-drive, a much stiffer suspension, and an optional six-speed twin-clutch automated manual transmission that shifts faster than humanly possible." "Our test 2015 MR version had every option except the navigation/rear parking sensor package and was still a refreshing throwback to the early days of boy street racers." "Everything was immediate and direct, from the brisk acceleration to the responsive steering to the stiff transmission that conveyed all surface imperfections instead of covering them up." "Especially fun was the automated manual transmission, which Mitsubishi calls a Twin Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission or SST for short. It is far more responsive than a normal automatic transmission, and includes a Sport mode that holds the gears longer and shifts them more abruptly." "The Evo also features a version of the company's excellent all-wheel-drive system, called Super-All Wheel Control or S-AWC. As the name says, it is super adhesive, providing tremendous grip through tight corners." "The result of all that power and technology is a constantly entertaining ride. With larger and more powerful cars, you have to wait for open stretches of road to find out what they're made of. With the Evo, just switching lanes was a gas." "In the racing world, the Evo is best known as the strongest direct competitor against the high performance versions of the Subaru Impeza, the WRX and STi. They have been going head-to-head since 1992. The fact that Mitsubishi is still challenging Subaru for bragging rights is remarkable, considering how underfunded the company is. The current Evo is based on a Lancer sedan that is nine year old, an eternity in the automotive world. Subaru debuted a new Impreza in 2012 and redesigned it for 2015." "The competition ends in 2016, when a new version of the Lancer debuts without an available Evo package. Mitsubishi says it will continue the spirit with a high performance crossover, but the automotive world will have lost one of its true stars. Get yours while you can."
Car Buzz (11/14/2015) "The Evo has had a good run. The last Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution that will be built is finally here and Mitsubishi is letting the vehicle go out with a bang" "As the Evo’s last model, the Final Edition comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s good for 303 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque." "The sedan gets a host of performance upgrades and exterior modifications that differentiate the special edition from the rest of retired lineup."
"10 Cars That Make Crazy Horsepower from Tiny Engines" in Popular Mechanics (11/14/2015) "The Lancer Evo is leaving us soon, but for now, it's still a car with one of the most power-dense engines on the market. Its 2.0-liter four-cylinder is turbocharged up to 291 horsepower, giving it a specific output of 145.5 horsepower per liter."
"15 FUN-TO-DRIVE FOUR-CYLINDER SEDANS UNDER $55,000" in Motor Trend (11/16/2015) "With the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution no longer in production, the rivalry between it and the Subaru WRX has come to a close. However, the Evo left its mark on the automotive landscape through its legendary performance and rally legacy. The Final Edition models commemorate the end of the Evo’s life by giving the last cars off the line more power—at 303 hp and 305 lb-ft—and more go-fast hardware, such as 13.8-inch Brembo brake rotors up front and 13-inch units out back, Bilstein shocks, Eibach springs all around, and Enkei alloy wheels wrapped in Yokohama performance tires. So long and see you again soon (we hope), Evo."