fisrt among equals

At first, I was impressed by the Outlander's straight line acceleration and quick shifting automatic transmission. The leather steering wheel and magnesium paddle shifters felt good in my hands. I was even enjoying the firm suspension, and then the road got bumpy.

All at once, the too-firm-for-an-SUV suspension, hollow plastic interior panels, and boomy overpowered stereo created a perfect storm of rattles, buzzes, and creaks that made the Outlander feel cheap and, well, annoying.

The Outlander's powertrain and tech package (which includes an available hard-disk based navigation system) are impressive and the price is right, but ride and build quality keep us from wholeheartedly recommending the Outlander over the more expensive competition

The 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander is available with a fairly good suite of cabin tech that includes a hThe Outlander's cabin is trimmed in hard plastics that feel cheap to the touch. Ride quality is hars