What do you get when you combine the homely looking Subaru Outback with the ho-hum features of the Subaru Forester? A 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander.

When you're playing second fiddle to Subaru styling, its time to rethink your design, and that is just what Mitsubishi did for the 2007 Outlander. The new design blends a stern looking front end with a lean profile bearing fender flares that resemble a Mercedes M-Class, and a sporty looking rear with privacy glass and Lexus-like LED tail lamps. Style carries over to the inside with black leather seats and a clean dashboard design. The interior is also functional with plenty of storage compartments, an emergency third-row seat, and a very cool tailgate which makes loading heavy items a breeze. On top of all this, driving the new Outlander is a pleasure. With this vehicle, Mitsubishi delivers a satisfying combination of paddle-shifting fun, V6 power, and all-wheel-drive handling. Overall, besides some hard plastic surfaces and the lightweight feel of some of the components, the Outlander is a well rounded package worthy of consideration.