The 2021 Toyota RAV4 is the meat-and-potatoes crossover for many buyers; the RAV4 Prime supplies the all-electric range.
Pros Performance plug-in hybrid Great exterior looks Wide customization possibilities Standard active safety features Good all-wheel-drive systems
Cons Interior is compromised Prime priced prime near $40,000 Buzzy base inline-4 Small-ish rear seat
Toyota has made only one change to the RAV4 for the 2021 model year: Blizzard Pearl replaces Super White on the color palette. A plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime joins the lineup, and the hybrid model gets a new XLE Premium trim; we review the two hybrid models separately.
Pros Truckish good looks, car-like road manners, driver-assistance features are standard.
Cons Spartan entry-level model, engine moans and groans, top trims can be pricey.
No significant changes for 2021.
Pros Quiet interior and comfortable ride quality Abundant cargo and passenger space Easy-to-use controls
Cons Lackluster power from powertrain Uncomfortable front passenger seat Vague steering
The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is another year older and another step behind its competitors in every area but price.
Pros Inexpensive Reasonably stylish Spacious interior Larger touchscreen
Cons Noisy and slow Short on standard safety tech Subpar fuel economy Lackluster quality
The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport comes with front wheel drive, and all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: continuously variable-speed automatic.Refreshed exterior design.New ES Convenience package includes new, larger touchscreen.Midlevel SE trim adds advanced safety features.
Pros Well-equipped for the price Excellent warranty coverage
Cons Ride quality is rough over bumpy roads Many interior materials look and feel cheap to the touch Transmission is aggravating due to slow responses Raucous drone while accelerating, especially with 2.0-liter engine
Though it's based on the same platform that it's used since 2011, the Outlander Sport did get marked improvements for 2020. Restyled inside and out, it sheds some of the baby pudge from its old styling by trading soft edges for sharper, more deliberate lines, especially in its nose and headlamps. There's a new 18-inch wheel design and LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights across the range. The interior gets new climate-control knobs and there's an inch added to its infotainment screen on some trims, upping it to 8.0 inches.
Pros Refreshed look, good warranty, relatively low price.
Cons Lethargic base engine, no manual transmission, still not great inside.
