With the exception of the 166-horsepower 2007 Honda CR-V, shoppers will find the current and upcoming crop of small/midsize SUVs to be available with lively, if not exhilarating, engines. Consider the Toyota RAV4 with its optional 269-horsepower V6, the Mazda CX-7 and its 244 turbocharged ponies, and the redesigned Hyundai Santa Fe with up to 242 horses.

Starting in November, the all-new 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander joins the fray, adding a standard 3.0-liter, 24-valve, MIVEC (Mitsubishi Valve-timing Electronic Control) V6 to the mix, which carries a clean PZEV emissions rating for California. Horsepower registers a respectable 220 at 6,250 with 204 lb.-ft. of torque peaking at 4,000 rpm. EPA-rated fuel economy measures 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway for front-wheel-drive models, or 19/26 mpg in four-wheel-drive guise. Our straight highway drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles in an XLS 4WD, at rather quick speeds, returned 23.1 mpg, while a subsequent run in mixed traffic yielded 19.9 mpg. Those EPA figures are only a smidge lower than last year, despite a gain of two cylinders, 60 horsepower, and 42 lb.-ft. of torque. Regular 87-octane fuel is recommended.

Also new for 2007 is a six-speed, manually-interactive automatic transmission that, again, is standard issue across the Outlander lineup. It replaces 2006's five-speed manual and four-speed automatic. XLS models feature paddle shifters formed from magnesium – designers claim the material is warmer and softer to the touch than aluminum or steel, and superior to the plastic parts used by other manufacturers. Designers claim these are identical to those slated to be used on a "future performance sedan." Guess we'll have to wait and see what that, uh, evolves into.

Under the 2007 Outlander, weighing in between 3,527 (ES 2WD) and 3,791 (XLS 4WD) pounds, is a MacPherson strut front suspension complemented by a multi-link rear setup and anti-sway bars. Front-wheel-drive models can tow up to 2,000 pounds, while the four-wheel-drive versions can pull up to 3,500 pounds. Stretching 182.7 inches in length, the Mitsubishi is 1.6 inches longer than the Toyota RAV4, and about two inches shorter than the Mazda CX-7 and Hyundai Santa Fe. ES and LS models accommodate five passengers, while the XLS with its fold-away third-row bench ups that figure to seven. But that bench, amounting to little more than a seat frame wrapped in stretch fabric, is possibly the most inhospitable of the small SUV offerings. Interior measurements are on par with the competition for the most part, though space is decidedly tight for those in the third-row. The seven-passenger RAV4 provides 37.2 inches of third-row headroom, 30 inches of legroom, 52.6 inches of shoulder room, and 43.3 inches of hip space. In comparison, the Outlander offers respective measurements of 35.4, 27.7, 49.8, and 39.1 inches.

Given the limited use of that rearmost bench, many shoppers, whether opting for the Mitsubishi or one of its competitors, may find that to be of little concern. Not so with topics like brakes and steering. Engineers have fitted the 2007 Outlander with discs all around to ensure steady, sure stopping power, aided by ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, and active skid and traction control (ASTC). Steering is the job of a variable-assisted rack-and-pinion assembly.

Four-wheel-drive Outlanders feature a rotary dial between the front seats which controls three settings. In 2WD mode, all of the engine's power is directed to the front wheels; in 4WD Auto, power is delivered to the rear wheels when slippage occurs or up to 40 percent under full throttle (drops to 25 percent over 40 mph); and 4WD Lock is best suited for optimal traction on slippery or rough surfaces by pushing added power to the rear wheels immediately (up to 60 percent under full throttle). Interestingly, the 4WD settings can be used on any road surface, and selecting a mode can be done at any speed.