Latest Compact SUVs Cater to Families of All Kinds

One of the hottest car segments for families — and all car shoppers — is the compact SUV. New versions of the popular Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forester and the Mitsubishi Outlander were unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show last week. All three can undoubtedly handle family duty in their own ways, but they each have different strengths when compared to one another.

2013 Toyota RAV4
Before its redesign, this was the SUV I'd recommend most to my friends with kids but would never actually drive myself, but the all-new RAV4 is something I'd not only consider but enjoy. The tried-and-true RAV4 has been a winner for families because of its reliability and spacious cargo area. That's because it had an awkward-to-open swing-gate with a spare tire attached to it, allowing for more room inside.

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The new RAV4 got a drastic makeover; now it's chiseled and polished with a liftgate (the spare tire is underneath the cargo area), but it hasn't lost all of its interior space. The cargo area is slightly smaller than in the previous generation, but it's still large, especially when compared to sleeker competitors such as Kia Sportage. The second row is roomy and provides more legroom than the redesigned Ford Escape. Simply put, the RAV4's biggest strength is that it looks great and still manages to feel larger inside than it really is.

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander: Photo Gallery

For 2014, Mitsubishi gave its three-row crossover an extreme makeover, inside and out. On the exterior, the new Outlander loses its sharp, aggressive appearance and instead gets a more rounded silhouette for a modern look.

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Inside, a more comfortable second row and a redesigned dashboard layout are big improvements. Check out the photos below.

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander: Up Close

Earlier this year, I took a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander on a long road trip with three other adults. My passengers weren't thrilled with the second-row comfort, and they made it clear — the whole way.

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A redesigned 2014 Outlander aims to improve seating comfort in all seven seating positions: two in front, three in the second row and two in the rear.

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander at the 2012 L.A. Auto Show

• Competes with: Ford Edge, Kia Sorento, Toyota Highlander
• Looks like: Outlander loses some weight and gets a spruced-up interior
• Drivetrain: 2.4-liter four-cylinder or 3.0-liter V-6; CVT or six-speed automatic transmission
• Hits dealerships: TBD

The clunky, chunky Mitsubishi Outlander is one of the least competitive crossovers in the class. A redesign for the 2014 model year should add some sophistication, both inside and out.

The new Outlander gets sleeker exterior styling, a more upscale interior and revised engines. The third generation of Mitsubishi’s largest SUV loses an inch in length and weighs about 200 pounds lighter than the outgoing model. 

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Changes to the exterior styling include a restyled grille, a raised belt line, a more contoured body and wraparound headlamps. Mitsubishi said the new design reduces aerodynamic drag, but the automaker wasn’t specific about fuel-economy gains.

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander, 2013 Outlander Sport Limited Edition to Bow at L.A. Auto Show

A pair of Mitsubishi crossovers are set to make their North American debuts later this month at the 2012 L.A. Auto Show: the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander and the 2013 Outlander Sport Limited Edition.

Full specs haven't been released, but Mitsubishi says the third generation of the midsize Outlander boasts a new design that emphasizes aerodynamic efficiency and a new, more fuel-efficient engine.

The revised Outlander loses more than an inch of length for 2014. Changes to its exterior styling include a restyled grille, a raised belt line, a more contoured body and wraparound headlamps. It follows the look of the Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV II first shown at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.

Regular Cars that Take Premium Gasoline

It's common to see "requires 91 octane gasoline for best performance" on the fuel door of sports or luxury cars. So, we scratch our heads when we see the same premium recommendation on a family car, hybrid or non-performance car. According to AAA's FuelGauge Report, the price difference between regular and premium gas is 32 cents nationally. Spending an additional $4.80 on a 15-gallon refuel isn't an insignificant amount of money, and you could save it if you buy a similarly efficient car at a similar price that runs on regular gasoline. 
 
Below is a list of cars that you may not guess recommend or require premium fuel. The manufacturer's fuel recommendation from the owner's manual or consumer website is listed alongside each vehicle. 

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander: Car Seat Check

The 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander is the automaker's largest crossover, but we found its three rows to be too small when it came to fitting rear-facing child-safety seats in its second row. The Outlander can be had with two or three rows of seats.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back TurboBooster seat.

Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid Could Challenge Chevrolet Volt

A totally new Mitsubishi Outlander is coming for the 2013 model year, and with it comes the brand's first U.S. plug-in hybrid SUV. The Outlander PHEV will debut at the 2012 Moscow International Motor Show. The carmaker has revealed a bit more information about the model and Mitsubishi’s unique approach to building hybrids.

The Outlander PHEV will be one of the first that can run in EV-only, serial hybrid or parallel hybrid modes, depending on operating conditions. Mitsubishi says the model gets a combined 143 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) under Japanese testing cycles. But since Japan's testing cycles produce figures that are more optimistic than our own, don't expect the same results from the EPA. The model will have a total range of about 550 miles, the company says.

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander at the 2012 Geneva International Motor Show

• Competes with: Ford Edge, Kia Sorento
• Looks like: Outlander gets a more fluid and sculpted look
• Drivetrain: No word on U.S. powertrains, but Europe will get diesel and gas versions: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and a 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel
• Hits dealerships: On sale in Russia this summer; other markets will follow

Mitsubishi's Outlander is going green. The Outlander is redesigned for 2013 with more sculpted styling, new safety features and plans for a plug-in model.

The third generation of the midsize crossover loses less than an inch in length and gets a whole new look, including a restyled grille with Mitsubishi's three-diamond logo prominently displayed, a raised belt line, a more contoured body and wraparound headlamps. We first saw the new design in concept guise from the Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV II at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.

Cars.com Family Reviews the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi keeps it simple in the 2012 Outlander SUV. Maybe a little too simple, says Cars.com Family contributor Courtney Messenbaugh. She found the plastic-laden interior yawn-inducing, but the optional third row really raised her ire with its flimsy materials and tight confines — even for her young son. However, Courtney did appreciate the Outlander’s sporty exterior and agility on the road.

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Review