2011 Mitsubishi RVR: Good vehicle, questionable strategy

The first time I saw the RVR was at the 2010 New York Auto Show. As I approached the Mitsubishi stand, I noticed what looked to be a small Outlander. In fact, it was nearly identical to the Outlander, except for some differences, such as size and certain aspects of the front and rear. But there were no signs around the vehicle. And within a few minutes, a cover had been drawn over it. The next day, it was unveiled as the Outlander Sport, a slightly smaller version of its big brother.

Several months later, Mitsubishi Canada introduced Canadian journalists to the RVR, as the Outlander Sport is known on our side of the 49th parallel. The Japanese manufacturer decided to call it the "Recreational Vehicle Runner" (RVR) for our market. Personally, the name doesn’t do much for me. But what really irks me is their marketing strategy. Mitsubishi’s line-up of models is relatively modest, and the company’s top two sellers are the Outlander and the Lancer, which are both built on the same platform. I think they would have been wiser to broaden their horizons by focussing their efforts on another category, instead of creating competition for one of their bestsellers.

These misgivings, however, have nothing to do with the car itself. After rolling into our market last fall, it didn’t quite win the hearts of my colleagues. Word from them was that it had a noisy engine, poor soundproofing, an excessively firm suspension, and so on. Essentially, the reviews were not positive. So, I set out to judge the RVR for myself. After all, this compact SUV had seemed pretty interesting at first glance.

Four cylinders only

If there’s an aspect of this car that is beyod reproach it is its platform. It’s a modified version of the Outlander platform, which is widely recognized as one of the best in its category. Basically, the RVR has a solid base. And respecting the spirit of the category, just one engine is available – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 148 horsepower and 145 lbs-ft of torque. This output is all right, but several competitors offer more.

I test drove the GT, which is the most luxurious in the RVR family. Since it comes factory-standard with all-wheel drive, the only transmission offered is a CVT. And either I’m going deaf or the rumours are unfounded, because I didn’t find this transmission to be all that loud. In fact, it did a decent job overall. On the test vehicle, I was able to switch gears using the metal paddles found on either side of the steering wheel (right for upshifting and left for downshifting) or the stick shift. On less expensive models, manual shifting is possible using the stick only. A five-speed manual transmission is also available, but it only sends power to the front wheels.

Elegant and composed

From the outside, the RVR looks a lot like the Outlander, with its flat nose. It’s a nice look and the people we met during our test drive said they thought it was "cute." The interior is nicely assembled and features good quality materials.  In fact, I prefer the materials used on the RVR over those on the older sibling. The rest is quite subdued, but not in a bad way. Following current trends, three dials under the radio control the climate settings. The steering wheel offers good grip and can be adjusted in height and depth. There are cruise control and radio buttons on the steering wheel spokes.

I found the seats comfortable, offering decent lateral support for a car in this category. Some people, however, have mentioned that the seats lacked a little added cushion. I don’t agree as it seemed thick enough, but the seats are nonetheless firm – a little like a Volkswagen. The 60/40 rear seats are all right and you can adjust the angle of the seat back. Meanwhile, the baggage hold could be bigger. You’ll have to fold the rear seats down if you want to transport larger items.

On last thing worth mentioning is that the GT comes with a huge panoramic roof. It doesn’t open, but it does give you a glimpse of the sun and the stars. An LED accent adds a nice touch as night falls.

Not bad at all...

The bad reviews I had heard about the RVR had really led me to believe that this car would be awful. Yet, after driving it for several hundred kilometers, I found I liked this agile Japanese SUV. It’s practical and offers good handling. Plus, the power steering was a nice surprise. Sure, the suspension is firm, but it’s not that bad – even when faced with bumps and potholes.

On flat-out accelerations, I’ll admit the engine was noisy, but not as much as I had anticipated. In fact, it’s about average for a vehicle in this category with CVT. When I took this compact SUV off-road, the all-wheel drive proved to be both efficient and transparent. Turn the large aluminum button on the central console to the left, and you’re in two-wheel drive. Bring it back to centre, and it’s all-wheel drive. Turn it to the right, and the all-wheel drive locks into 50-50 mode.

On the whole, this vehicle scored well. Compared to other vehicles in its category, the oddly named RVR offers good balance, nice road handling, and carefully crafted fit and trim. However, when I checked my notes, I realized that it had guzzled slightly less than 10 L/100 km – disappointing to say the least.

Since the RVR sells for a few thousand less than the Outlander, it must certainly cast a shadow over its big brother. But price is not the only difference worth considering. The RVR is a sport utility vehicle that rivals the Jeep Compass, while the Outlander is more powerful, can be equipped with a V6, has three rows of seats and generally offers better performances.

In conclusion, Mitsubishi engineers did a great job, but at the end of the day, this less expensive model steals some of the spotlight from the Outlander. In an attempt to beat the competition, this manufacturer shot itself in the foot. They should have offered us a sub-compact as we waited impatiently for the i-MIEV!