2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Now in its 16th year of production, the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport once competed in the compact class with rivals like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. While the Mitsubishi used to offer similar utility at a bargain price, the Honda, Toyota and others have gotten bigger and more expensive, allowing smaller SUVs to grow and fill the gap. These days, the dimensionally unchanged Outlander Sport competes against subcompacts, and it's outclassed by every one. All of its rivals are newer, and most have modern safety features and are more refined and nicer to drive. The Outlander Sport has some things going for it — it comes standard with all-wheel drive, and the warranty is generous — but that's where its strengths end.

There's no shortage of highly rated subcompact SUVs to choose from, and all of them are newer than the Outlander Sport. Our favorite is the Hyundai Kona, which offers tremendous value in its lower trims and nifty driving aids at the top end. The Kia Niro is a little more expensive, but its standard hybrid powertrain will help cut down on fuel costs. We also like the Volkswagen Taos and Chevrolet Trax.

There are some benefits to buying a vehicle that's been on sale as long as the Outlander Sport. Sure, it comes without the latest tech and most advanced safety features, but it also has a lot of the kinks worked out. It's also one of the few vehicles in the class with a lengthy warranty, including a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. It also comes with a five-year/unlimited-mileage roadside assistance plan and a two-year/30,000-mile maintenance plan, which covers oil changes, tire rotations and a cabin filter replacement. Mitsubishi builds value into the Outlander Sport, even if it's not in obvious places.