 If you believe the so-called professional reviews on the Outlander, you would be led astray; a bias definitely exists towards Mitsubishi.  I own three Mitsubishi cars and I believe they make a better car than Toyota, but with more bells and whistles yet a much lower price.  The rebates on these cars are insanely generous.  I have the 4 cylinder which is good enough for me, acceleration is acceptable as I am not looking to race anyone.  Nice interior.  Ride is very smooth and quiet.  I got the Premium sound system with mine and it's spectacular.   I expect quality to be outstanding based on my prior experience, and the warranty is excellent as it exceeds most manufacturers.  You owe yourself a look at the Outlander if you are looking for a small SUV.  The downside of Mitsubishi cars is that they depreciate greater than their Japanese cousins, simply due to market share and not quality; I don't care about this as I keep my cars a long time.  I almost bought an Avalon and I am glad I got this one instead--saved a lot of $$$ and this car is more practical.