2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2.0 LE AWC

This post is made possible through a partnership with the kind folks at Mitsubishi Motors, who provided us with a vehicle to test drive for a week. You can follow the conversation on social media with the hashtag #DriveMitsubishi.

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It’s been a few years, but the Outlander Sport’s big brother, Outlander (minus the Sport) was one of the first vehicles we were able to test drive for this blog. I was impressed with Mitsubishi’s value, as you can get a lot of car for not a lot of money. With another vacation to Southern California scheduled, I needed some wheels for a short road trip between San Diego and Los Angeles. Fortunately, the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport was up to the challenge.

Specs

MSRP (as tested): $25,210
MPG Estimate: 23 city – 29 highway
Engine: 2.0L MIVEC SOHC 16-valve, 4 cylnders
Power: 148 hp @ 6000 rpm | 145 ft-lbs. @ 4200 rpm
Transmission: CVT
Color: Alloy Silver Metallic

Click here for more info about the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.

Comfort

As with any vehicle that is part of a journey to Los Angeles, you want something comfortable, ‘cause your gonna be in the car for a while. The nearly “3 hour drive” from San Diego was more accurately described as 2 hours from San Diego to LA and another hour trotting along in LA traffic.

Look, I’m a seat snob. I’m old and grumpy now and just thinking about three hours in a car makes my back ache. It’s simple: I like my car seats to feel like a recliner. Seriously, I will regularly take naps in my daily driver at during worktime lunches.

Are the seats in the Outlander the most comfortable? No, but you’re also not paying $50K for an Outlander Sport. definitelyately weren’t uncomfortable and for a $25k CUV, they did the job just fine.

Accoutrements

My favorite feature of the Outlander was the inclusion of the Apple Car Play—Seriously, why isn’t this mandatory in all cars? Write your senators.

If you’re into road trips and you like to rely on GPS, this is a clutch feature you’ll love. No more squinting at your phone for directions, as everything is displayed on the vehicle’s larger screen.

I’m also an audiophile and listen to millions of hours of podcasts, audio books on audible, and music on Spotify, so it’s also great to have those within an easier reach as well.

Looks

Over the years, Mitsubishis haven’t been known for their smashing good looks. Except for maybe the 90-2000’s era Eclipses, Mitsubishi seemed to be happy not to stand out. But I think they’ve done a great job with the exterior of the Outlander Sport. It looks sporty. It looks fun. It looks ready for anything.

It also has cool black wheels (another feature I wish more cars shared).

Cargo

No vehicle post would be complete without a picture of luggage in the back.

Although I was traveling solo, you can get an idea of what the Outlander Sport can hold. Two checked bags and then some would fit in the rear without issue.

Performance

What I really enjoyed about the Outlander Sport was that it had the feel of a car, but the benefits of an SUV. It was nimble, easily parkable, and visibilty was good all around. It was also nice to have the lift of sitting a bit higher up than a sedan.

Gas mileage average roughly 27 MPG, which falls in line with Mitsubishi’s estimates.

You can never have too much power, so I’m known for advocating a turbo charger in every vehicle (which will be my main platform for my 2020 Presidential campaign). The Outlander Sport could use a few extra HP for merging onto highways, but got the job done for city driving. Especially since you rarely exceed 15 MPH in LA.

Since I was in sunny California, there was no need for the all wheel drive (or “All Wheel Control” aka AWC as Mitsubishi calls it). However, for a crosserv near the $20K mark, I would give this a strong look for folks in heavy snow states.

Pics from the Drive

Classic San Diego Palm Trees. View from my Friendbnb (bed and burgers).

It doesn’t look like it, but this is a secret beach.

View from my Silverlake Airbnb: Welcome to Los Angeles.

Take a hike.

Overall

All in all, what the Outlander Sport does best is its ability to hide great value behind a sexy exterior. With an MSRP around $25K, you could easily get that down closer to $20K with incentives and shrewd negotiating. Additionally, you can’t forget about the 10-year / 100k-mile powertrain warranty and 5-year / 60k-mile new vehicle limited warranty. It’s nice to know won’t need to worry about costly repairs during ownership.

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Disclaimer: As noted at the top of this post, we were provided a vehicle by Mitsubishi to test drive for approximately one week. We were not provided any monetary compensation and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Travel

Love Letters to Southern California

Alright, it’s time we went public with something…

We’re in a relationship with Southern California and things are getting serious.

Some of you may have already figured it out based on our previous posts, semi-annual trips, instagram posts, and incessant tweeting. So, let’s make it official with a few love letters to our favorite places in SoCal.

Pasta Sisters – Los Angeles, CA

Dear Pasta Sisters,

It has only been a month since our lips last touched your frest pasta, but we can still taste every flavor like it was yesterday. Your menu so simple in quantity, yet complex in flavor. This is what our heart has yearned for over the years. This is what pasta is supposed to taste like.

Oh how we would give anything to drown in a sea of your porcini mushroom cream sauce. Delicate, rich, yet not heavy.

Your Arabbiata warms our soul like a sunrise in Italy. The spice lights up our tastebuds.

The only thing warmer is the generosity of your employees. With smiling faces, their enthusiasm exudes far beyond reaches of your storefront.

It was a meal like few others, which transported us from a non-descript strip mall in Los Angeles to the dinner table of a gracious Italian family. Our visit is sure to be the first of many.

Playa Provisions – La Playa, CA

Dear Playa Provisions,

Your proximity to LAX is alluring and although we “hit it and quit it,” you can rest assured that when we say we’ll call you in a few days, it’s the truth.

You’re the whole package: Restaurant. Coffee shop. Ice cream parlour. Culinary shop. You got it all going on and then some.

Even celebrities wanna hang with you (sup, Conan O’Brien?).

Your fish tacos are good enough to be the first or last of a trip; they make us want to miss our flight back home.

I’m sure your competitors will be jealous when they read these words, but they shouldn’t hate the Playa, they should hate the game.

El Zarape – San Diego, CA

My Dear El Zarape,

I can’t remember the last time we visited San Diego and didn’t meet up…because we always ensure you’re one of our first stops.

Your selection of salsas leave nothing to be desired and there’s no reason to be unfaithful. The colorful salsa bar, is a feast for the eyes, while also pleasantly burning our mouths.

Your California Burrito fills not only a void in my stomach but the void in my heart left by other unsatisfying Mexican food joints. The whole is far greater than the sum of its parts: Carne Asada, french fries, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, beans.

You are our first, our last, our everything.

Beerfish – San Diego, CA

Dear Beerfish,

They said it couldn’t be done. They said it was superfluous. They said you were insane. Alas, you were able to put fish and chips into a burrito. It wasn’t gimmicky, either. It was awesome. You are awesome.

Oh how we miss the way your fish crunches amongst the soft tortilla.

Oh how we long to taste your spicy green sauce again.

Oh how we yearn to wash it all down with one of the many local beers you have on tap.

You fill our stomachs with a warm burrito and a cold beer, while you fill our mind with clarity to know that anything is possible.

Beer? Good.

Fish? Good.

Beerfish? We are in love.

2018 Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring

Dear CX-3,

Our rendevouzs are becoming more frequent and almost annual. Each time we spend together, I long for the next time to be sooner. Oh how I miss your handling. Every curve is an adventure, every twist bring on more heart palpatations.

I love the way your premium leather seats feel on my skin.

I love the way you keep us safe with the automatic lane assist.

I love the way your heated steering wheel keeps my hands warm on cool mornings.

I love the way your zoom zooms.

Although your small size helps you get into small spaces, there’s plenty of room to put junk in your trunk.

See you again soon…

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Thanks to Mazda for sharing the wheels with us for a week; join the conversation and share the love with hashtag #DriveMazda. Wanna know more about the Mazda CX-3? You can check out the brochure here, or just go drive it for yourself.

We were not provided with any compensation for this post from any restaurants or car brands. All opinions and love letters remain our own.

Reviews, Travel

Retreat Yo Self > The Inn at Perry Cabin – St. Michaels, MD

At some point during the last twelve months, my life turned into one that involves attending Board Meetings once every quarter. As fun as that sounds (it’s really not that bad), there is a nice perk: The Annual Board Retreat.

This year’s retreat was at The Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, MD and although most of my time was spent in meetings, the backdrop was a gorgeous waterfront property that would be an easy weekend escape for anyone in the Washington, DC metro area.

That Water View

Even if you hate boats and/or sailing and/or fishing–which would be a wasted use of a hatred–you can’t help but appreciate the calming water views. We were spoiled with perfectly warm fall weather, but it would also be a cool place to visit during a snowy winter day.

Stay Active

Although the work portion of my trip prevented us from enjoying one of the many daily activities, the list was long enough to entice us to return on a future trip. The daily activities ranged from early morning oyster boat tours to kayaking. Wanna bike through St. Michaels? They got you covered with complimentary bikes.

The best part? All of the activities are inlcluded in your stay. No upsells or surcharges. Luxury without a price tag on everything.

Get Turnt Down

At most nice places, you might feel ashamed to get cookie crumbs on your bed. Well, this is actually encouraged at The Inn: Turn down service includes fresh baked cookies.

You read that correctly. Every evening, you are cordially invited to a cookie party in your own bed.

Make Room

A picture is worth a thousand words? Okay. Here are four thousand words:

Enjoy The Journey

Although not long enough to be considered a “road trip,” the two and a half hours it took us to travel to The Inn at Perry Cabin was long enough to warrant a couple pit stops for food.

If you have time, we highly recommend checking out Bakers & Co. in Annapolis, MD. The test of a good bakery is this: If you finish eating breakfast, then go back into the bakery to take stuff home for later, it’s a pretty damn good bakery.

We took two croissants home with us.

And also pizza from Vin 909…

A Smooth Ride

Thanks to the fine folks at Hyundai, the journey was also made much more comfortable by having the transportation provided via a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Ultimate.

I appreciate the accurate use of “Ultimate” in the trim level. Some vehicle manufacturers use vague descriptions (SE, Grand Touring, SLX, R2D2) to describe the model trim level. Hyundai eliminates any guessing as to how well-equipped the Santa Fe is: Ultimate.

What makes a Santa Fe Sport an Ultimate? Not only heated seats, but a heated steering wheel. 360 degree surround view, Apple Car Play, and plenty of power with 240 HP in a 2.0L turbo engine to name a few. You can check out our separate Review/Q&A here and follow the conversation on social media: #DriveHyundai.

One Last Tip

We wanted to end the post with one final tip, as it was a hard lesson that we had to learn. No matter how many nights you plan on staying at The Inn at Perry Cabin, add an extra day. We regretted not staying longer and you will too.

Car Reviews

Car Q&A: 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T Ultimate

This post is made possible through a partnership with the cool cats at Hyundai, who provided us with a vehicle to test drive for a week. You can follow the conversation on social media with the hashtag #DriveHyundai.

Specs

MSRP (as tested): $39,875
MPG Estimate: 19 city – 24 highway
Engine: 2.0L Turbo Gasoline Direct Injection 4-Cylinder
Power: 240hp | 260 lb-ft of torque
Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic
Color: Twilight Black (exterior) / Gray (interior)
Options: Ultimate Tech Package (Smart Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking w/ Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Electronic Parking Brake w/ Auto Vehicle Hold, Dynamic Bending Light, High Beam Assist, Auto-Leveling Headlights)

For more info, click here to view the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Brochure.

We spent a week with the Santa Fe Sport, including a beautiful weekend on the water in St. Michaels, MD (check out our companion post here). Afterwards, we sat down–or rather, IN—the Santa Fe to see what makes it so ultimate.

Get in my Mouf (GIMM): I notice that you don’t beat around the bush with your model trim: ULTIMATE.

Santa Fe: I feel as though it is a quite accurate descriptor.

GIMM: Indeed, but in the words of Kendrick Lamar, “Be humble.”

Santa Fe: I hardly think Kendrick was referring to a family SUV when he wrote that song. And yes, I am familiar with his music library. I do subscribe to XM Sirius.

GIMM: Yes, I recall enjoying satellite radio on our trip.

Santa Fe: I know. I was there. Anyway, you were questioning my humbleness?

GIMM: I didn’t mean to question your humbleness, I was just pointing out how…not humble it is to use “ultimate” to describe one’s self.

Santa Fe: You did and it’s possible to be humble and accurate. Look, I’m not a flashy luxury vehicle that flaunts what I have. I’m an all around great SUV who happens to have an options package that is, well–

Do you know what the definition of ultimate is?

GIMM: Of course. I mean, I didn’t go to college for five years and not learn big words.

Santa Fe: Right. Then you already know that “ultimate” can be defined as the “best achievable or imaginable of its kind.”

Can I ask you another question?

GIMM: Go for it.

Santa Fe: You spent a week with me. Was there anything else you felt that I was lacking? Something else that you desired to have?

GIMM: Hmm…Anything?

Santa Fe: Anything at all.

GIMM: Pizza.

Santa Fe: You did have pizza!

GIMM: Yeah, but we had to order it and pick it up. Would be nice if you could just make pizza. THAT would be ultimate.

Santa Fe: I’ll keep that in mind for next year’s model…

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Disclaimer: As noted above we were provided this vehicle courtesy of Hyundai. Other than being allowed to test drive this vehicle, we were not provided any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions and fake interviews with inanimate objects remain our own.