I don't agree with the fuel economy statement. They sell the Outlander in Europe with a 2.0 diesel engine, and I understand a manual transmission is even available in some markets. Obviously, with the diesel engine option they're considering fuel economy, but somewhere along the line, it was "determined" that Americans only wanted big, powerful engines, fuel economy be damned.

Thus, America gets hardly any of the diesel engines offered elsewhere in the world, nor do we get the manual transmissions. A few years ago, I was shocked that when I rented a car in Spain it had a manual transmission. Manuals in America have something like 5 percent of the market.

I recently bought a used 07 Outlander XLS because I couldn't find a used 4 cylinder anywhere near me. I wish I could have, because I find the V6's gas mileage pretty unimpressive. At about 22 mpg in mixed highway/city driving, it barely surpasses my 1996 Jeep Cherokee with a 4.0 I6 and manual transmission. I'm hoping the mileage improves a bit with the warmer weather.

Love the car otherwise, though, but if Mitsu offered the diesel and/or manual in the States, I'd buy it. The V6 is going to suck when gas hits $4/gallon again.

 

the PSA/VW diesels in the Outlander are "too dirty" for North America, and require expensive addons to make them meet emissions standards. Likewise, its not worth supporting standard transmissions, as barely anybody buys them in North America.

 

Yeah, but VW is one of the biggest sellers of diesels in the U.S., so there must be an easy solution to that.

 

Has anyone installed auto lights or wipers in an 07 outlander yet?

 

bummed it doesn't have memory seats or mirrors and I dislike the location of the heated seat switch. Other than that me and my wife both love our 2010 GT.