Honda Accord Or Nissan Altima: Which One Does V-6 Better?
A decade ago, both the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima were offered in base four-cylinder versions... Read More
- #2LEADERBOARD RANK
- 2660ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
- 108COMMENTS POSTED
GREEN | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
24 mpg city, 31 highway (manual 2WD); 25/31 (automatic 2WD); 24/29 (auto 4WD)
U.S. EPA
We did manage 25 miles per gallon in suburban driving with a fairly heavy right foot, and we averaged 29 mpg on the highway, by the way.
Winding Road
Vehicles like the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport—tall in profile but subcompact in footprint—tend to get impressive gas mileage around town, but aerodynamics get in the way of good highway mileage.
The Outlander Sport is really no exception in this regard; with either the manual gearbox or the CVT, it gets EPA city ratings in the mid-20s and highway ratings around 30 mpg.In a mix of driving, including some short trips, we saw 24 mpg on average with a CVT-equipped Outlander Sport; yet even with the cruise control set to modest speeds we were unable to average 30 mpg on the highway. Factor in the CVT's tendency to raise revs for even slight uphill grades, and this may be an economical urban daily-driver but it's not an efficient long-distance road-tripper.
Conclusion
Frugal in town but thirsty on the highway, the 2013 Outlander Sport is a mixed bag for those who keep close watch on their carbon footprint—or fuel budget.
