The Mitsubishi Outlander presents a bolder appearance than the other sport-utilities in its class. Mitsubishi says styling is very important to its customers, so it wanted its entry-level SUV to be distinguished from the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Subaru Forester. Mitsubishi anticipated most Outlander buyers would be women, typically 30-45 years old, most of them married and with a young family or a large dog.Mitsubishi Outlander buyers want an SUV with a muscular, masculine, aggressive appearance, the company says. To achieve this look, designers created a wide nose section that splits the grille and flows back over the hood. Mitsubishi thinks this thick, dynamic pillar with the triple-diamond emblem in the middle demonstrates that the Outlander owner isn't about to be intimidated. This attitude is enhanced by the large, tinted headlight covers, and especially by the fog lamps mounted at the edges of the bumper on the XLS model. Gray cladding on the bumpers and side sills adds to the aggressive appearance, and the 16-inch wheels (the same diameter as those on the RAV4 and Forester, but larger than those on the CR-V) lend substance to the Outlander's stance. The aerodynamic design minimizes excess noise going down the road. Mitsubishi Outlander presents a wind-cheating, wedgy profile that provides an 0.43 coefficient of drag, making it more slippery than the CR-V, RAV4, or Forester. Its standard rear spoiler and the optional roof rack with tubular rails give it a substantial appearance. More important, it has great door handles that are easy to grab.
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