with seven airbags, Mitsubishi's Fuse hands-free communication system with Bluetooth streaming audio and USB input and the same mechanics we see throughout the line. Up the ante to the SE 2WD and you shell out $21,695 but end up with FAST-key passive entry and one-touch start/stop, 18-inch wheels and auto on/off HID headlights. The final step in the Outlander Sport family is the SE AWC (there it is again), which adds heated front seats, an available (and giant) transparent panorama roof and Mitsubishi's All Wheel Control all-wheel-drive system.

The AWC system is Mitsubishi's driver-adjustable electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system. Spin the console-mounted knob to 2WD mode and the Outlander Sport is set for best fuel economy and easiest driving. Twist the knob to 4WD and you get all-wheel drive with limited power sent to the rear wheels. Flick it one notch over and you're in LOCK and there you get as much as 60 percent of power sent to the rear wheels. (This setting is for fun.)

But that's all standard stuff. When our 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport showed up it had some $6,000 in extras. The Premium package was $1,800 and came with the panoramic glass roof, black roof rails, a 710-watt Rockford Fosgate stereo and Sirius Satellite Radio. The navigation system and rearview camera package is $2,000 and comes with navigation, a rearview camera and an aux video input. Finally there are the Cargo package and the wheel locks for $185 and $55, respectively.

All said and done, this 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE AWC stickers for $28,810. We didn't pay that, however, since Mitsubishi provided the vehicle for the purpose of this test.

Why We Got It
The Mitsubishi Outlander has always been a staff favorite. Sure, the third row is a bit of a disaster, but it's there if you need it. But the real secret of the Outlander is (especially with the AWC turned to LOCK and taking full advantage of the magnesium paddle shifters) that you can really drive it. In fact, the Outlander makes us think that Mitsubishi might even know what it's doing with sporty, all-wheel-drive vehicles. (Shock.)

But the Outlander Sport is a different beast. It doesn't have the V6 power of the Outlander GT V6 in the long-term test fleet. But can a smaller, lighter package make up for that?

20,000 Miles To Go
In our full test of a front-wheel-drive 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport ES, we wrote, "It's cheap, though. And big enough for gear, small enough to park, easy on gas and comes with an iPod adapter standard. What more do kids want from a car these days, anyway?"

And the short answer is "Everything." We've already noted that Mitsubishi's late to the party, so it's tried to make up for lost time by equipping the Outlander Sport with virtually everything a driver could want in a small crossover, including an electronically activated all-wheel-drive system. But can this new Mitsubishi hang in the quality and reliability departments? Is the small 2.0-liter four-cylinder hooked to a CVT going to be enough power for reasonable driving? When the Mitsubishi product planners shrunk the Outlander, did they shrink its fun, too?

Stick around for our Long-Term Road Test blog, where we'll put 20,000 miles on our new 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport over the course of 12 months. We'll see if showing up late was better than not showing up at all.

Current Odometer: 1,679
Best Fuel Economy: 26.8 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 18.6 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 22.1 mpg