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.

***

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.

***

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.

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…

***

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.

Car Reviews

2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring Review: Hello, Old Friend

2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring | getinmymouf.com

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

Before we get into the 2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring, I wanted to start with a couple photos (courtesy of my younger brother, Tyler) of a different car:

That blue beauty right there was my first new car purchase. A 2006 Mazda3 S in Winning Blue Metallic. No co-signers. No help with the down payment. And since it was new, no previous owners!

It’s ridiculous to think now, but buying that car felt like a serious rite of passage into adulthood. A decade later I’m still not not sure if I’m actually an adult, but at that moment I sure did.

Not only was it my first new car purchase, but it was also my first introduction to Mazda and the “zoom zoom” philosophy.

What’s changed since 2006? A lot, but the core heart of Mazda has remained the same. Driving the 2018 Mazda3 was like reconnecting with an old friend. It felt familiar and comfortable, while also exciting to see what had changed over the last twelve years since we were first introduced.

An Emotional Decision

After having had a week to enjoy the 2018 Mazda3, I was reminded of just how much a car purchase is an emotional decision.

You can spend hours–days even–researching vehicles. Comparing options, reliability, and scouring reviews, but the only portion of the decision that really matters is how you feel when you sit in the driver’s seat.

My old Mazda was a stick shift with killer handling, so even though the car only had 160 hp, it was a blast to drive. It felt great.

The 2018 Mazda–my sample equipped with an automatic transmission–was no different. It was peppy. It hugged corners. It made driving fun and helped tug at my emotions.

Yeah, I cried a little, so what?

That’s not to say that there aren’t plenty of logical reasons to enjoy the Mazda3, but the final choice is ultimately made with the heart.

Continuously Evolving

At the time, my Mazda was part of the first generation of Mazda3s, which were originally introduced in 2003. It was lauded for its performance, refinement, and aesthetics in an otherwise boring car class. For me, it was the perfect vehicle for what I needed. As a college student, I was looking for a reliable four-door car, that was also affordable and fun to drive. None of the other brands came close.

Over the last decade-plus, Mazda has continued to not only create solid vehicles that connect with the driver on an emotional level, but also introduce features and options that are a reflection of innovation in the car industry.

The first is efficiency in gas mileage. In real world driving, my Mazda averaged about 25 MPG with just 160 horsepower. The 2018 Mazda–with about 28 more horsepower–averaged roughly 30 MPG during our week of test driving. More power, less gas? I’ll take it!

Next, comes a technology system that is user-friendly, a screen that is easy to see, a a crystal-clear back-up camera.

And you can’t forget about safety! Radar cruise control, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning (and assistance), and blind spot monitoring are just a few features that can help satisfy the fact that the Mazda3 is a logical decision (you’re welcome, brain).

Last, but first to my hands, we must also commend the presence of a heated steering wheel. Cold weather never felt so warm.

Gratuitous Labradoodle Section

It wouldn’t be a car post without mentioning how much our pup, Cooper, loves hanging out in the back seat of a Mazda.

Yeah, he approves.

Something to Talk About

Even excluding this post, I’ve always been a vocal proponent of Mazda–and specifically the Mazda3. My brother and I share fond memories of my car since I sold it to him after I grew out of it. It’s easy to share an appreciation for a vehicle that just feels right. Although he had to upgrade to a larger vehicle for his growing family, we still reminisce about changing gears and taking tight corners in the ol’ Mazda.

Aside from nostalgia, even the new Mazda3 is a great conversation icebreaker. Upon hearing that my buddy, Micah and his wife, Lizzy, recently purchased one, I instantly lit up. They gushed about how much they loved the car and I emphasized my fond memories for Mazda. The rest of the table probably thought we were weirdos, but who cares?

It’s worth stopping to point out that this is a compact car. It’s not a sports car or the latest electric car that will eventually transport you to mars.

It shouldn’t be exciting.

But it is.

Because driving matters…

…hmm…where have I heard that before?

2018 Mazda3 Specs (As Tested)

MSRP (as tested): $28,470
MPG Estimate: 27 city – 36 highway
Engine: 2.5L Skyactiv-G, 4 cylinder
Power: 184 hp | 185 lb-ft torque
Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic
Color: Snowflake White Pearl
Options: Appearance Package and Premium Equipment Package

For more info, click here to view the 2018 Mazda3 Brochure.

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

Car Reviews

Car Q&A: 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage G4

2017 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 | getinmymouf.com

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

Specs

MSRP (as tested): $17,830
MPG Estimate: 35 city – 42 highway
Engine: 1.2L MIVEC DOHC 12-valve 3-cylinder
Power: 78 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 74 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
Transmission: Continuous Variable Transmission
Color: Infrared (exterior) / Black (interior)

For more info, click here to view the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 brochure.

As much as I enjoy test driving SUVs, it’s always fun to have a smaller car to zip around town in. They’re more fuel efficient, easy to park, and if you get stuck underneath it, you can probably find a few strong folks to lift it off of you.

Enter, the Mitsubishi Mirage. It’s kind of an adorable car. You’re tempted to both pinch its cheek and also try and lift it off the ground. Despite the cheek-pinching, the Mirage was kind enough to answer a few of our questions:

Get in my Mouf (GIMM): You are not a figment of my imagination, correct?

Mirage: A Mirage joke. Very Clever. Yes, I am a real.

GIMM: What’s with the name, then?

Mirage: I like to think of myself as a thirst quenching pool of water in a dessert of cars.

GIMM: Dessert or desert?

Mirage: Dessert.

GIMM: Dessert?

Mirage: Yes, the world as a sweet place, filled with candy, ice cream, and pastries.

GIMM: Like the game, Candyland.

Mirage: Never heard of it. Look, in this world we live in, I find it’s best to be an optimist. Some might say that my trunk is half full, but I would argue that it’s half-empty.

GIMM: I think you have that backwards…

Mirage: No, if it’s half empty, that’s a good thing. It means, there’s room for more suitcases, more beach towels, more picnic foods.

GIMM: You seem to subscribe to the ol’ adage of “big things come in small packages” philosophy.

Mirage: Quite the contrary, that adage is cliché, dated, and it really is offensive to small packages. I’m a small car and I embrace that. For example, I bet you could parallel park two of me in one space.

I’ve seen the way you park; you need all the help you can get.

GIMM: Fair enough.

Mirage: But should it be fair enough? Life is naturally not fair. If it were fair for everybody, then would that not actually be unfair to those who would otherwise have an advantage?

GIMM: You’re quite the philosopher.

Mirage: Am I, or is it just a figment of your imagination?

GIMM: …anyway, your gas milage is very efficient.

Mirage: Miles and gallons are simply man-made constructs in which we subjectively measure what is efficient. I believe efficiency is a measure of pleasure, divided by time.

GIMM: And now we’re doing math…

Mirage: But either way, by your human definition and my more accurate definition… I am indeed efficient.

GIMM: Last question–or rather, I’ll just make a statement and you can turn it into something deeper and more philosophical. Your warranty coverage is one of the best in the industry: 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable New Vehicle Limited Warranty, a 7-year/100,000-mile Anti-Corrosion/Perforation Limited Warranty and 5-year/ Unlimited Miles Roadside Assistance.

Mirage: Yes, I’m pretty well covered.

GIMM: That’s it?!

Mirage. Yes. Sometimes saying nothing is more powerful than saying something.

GIMM: There it is.

***

Disclaimer: As noted above we were provided this vehicle courtesy of DriveShop and Mitsubishi. 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.