The Santa Fe Sport’s cushy ride pairs with energetic handling for respectable on-road performance, but where the Sport shines is in its exceptionally well-appointed interior, wide array of available safety features, and price tag. The Santa Fe Sport delivers middling fuel economy, but its ample cargo hold makes up for some of that lost advantage and turns this compact version of the Santa Fe into a truly useful automobile.
Pros Upscale interior, agreeable to drive, a features list as long as your leg.
Cons Four-cylinder power in a V-6 class, light on standard safety gear, hoped-for fuel economy gone missing.
The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport still does what good crossover SUVs do best: it delivers flexible space, decent performance, and great value.
Pros Hits all the right crossover-SUV marks Lots of standard features A very good value, then and now Clever sliding seat Turbo-4’s minimal gas mileage penalty
Cons Dull base engine Gas mileage isn’t its strong suit Could use better steering feel 4-cylinders only
Pros Relative value Lots of available luxury features Cabin storage Handling Seating flexibility
Cons Off-the-line power versus V-6 competitors Rearward visibility Rear seating position Road noise Interior quality
The 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander is a solid option outside of the usual crossover SUV choices but is often forgotten for a reason.
Pros Good base features Large touchscreen standard Available all-wheel drive across the range Updated styling for 2019
Cons Cheap interior feel Overworked inline-4 Thirsty, underpowered V-6 Tight third row Expensive active safety tech
Refreshed styling including new headlights.Steering and suspension tweaks for better ride comfort and handling.New rear-seat climate control vents.The 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander is one of the least expensive SUVs you can buy with a third-row seat.
Pros Generous list of standard features Standard three-row seating
Cons Slow, noisy acceleration with the base four-cylinder Thirsty V6 is available only on the top-of-the-line GT Third-row seat is pretty small Limited Mitsubishi dealer network
For 2019, the Outlander receives a host of changes that include revised front-end styling and standard 18-inch wheels. Every model also has more supportive and comfortable front seats, upgraded interior trim, newly illuminated window controls, rear-seat climate-control vents, and an electric parking brake. Likewise, all gasoline-powered models have revised suspension and steering that Mitsubishi says has enhanced the handling and ride quality.
Pros Affordable three-row transportation, advanced plug-in hybrid powertrain, quiet and relaxed ride.
Cons Dull to drive, abysmal infotainment system, contentious front-end styling.