2007 Mitsubishi Outlander: Good Lookin'

Escape is waaayyyy too many different styling cues for my taste, looks like it's trying to be your father's Ford Truck. CR-V is betrayed by awkward front-end, but this doesn't seem to be hurting sales. Outlander is a bit Lexus RX knock-off from the rear, but I agree best looking of those mentioned above. I do like the RAV4 in darker colors, though (BLACK!), only one that gives the Outlander a run for the money in style dept.
 
IMO, the new new Mitsus - this OL, and the Lancer... are HOT.

Gotta agree with you there, the Outlander is a knockout in styling inside and out, and it's got cool features like the tailgate, hard drive, magnesium shift paddles. It's my pick in the segment. The Ford Escape is pretty good in exterior and interior styling too despite its age. The CRV is the worst looking one, and looks like a computer mouse instead of an SUV. They destroyed the previous boxy generations in favor of this ugly design.
 
The upcoming Liberty and Patriot are well styled, wonder how they will do.

Wow it seems to be unanimous thus far. I think the CR-V is definitely the ugliest of the group with the most bizarre looking nose and proportions. The Ford escape looks ok, but it to similar to the 2001-2006 (because it actually is) escape with some rough looking bling bling. Kind of a dated design. The Rav-4 especially in sport trim is definitely a good looking vehicle that i could see catering to the most people, but the Outlander to me is the the best looking vehicle by far. the proportions, the flanks, the stance, and the chiseled lines. the sportiest and best looking out of the bunch.

I tend to prefer the new Escape musculature - even though I don't favor Fords in general. Also, it seems like you're leaving the Hyundai Santa Fe and the myriad Jeep/Chrysler and GM offerings out of this contest. Is that on purpose?

That's an Escape? I thought it was the new baby Land Rover..

I think the looks of those 4 SUV's go : Outlander, Rav 4, CR-V then the Ford Escape. But overall, I think the Rav 4 is a close second to the Outlander.

All of them look very good in my opinion. I am just kinda disappointed at Mitsubishi for faking those LED lights on the tailgate piece.

The Escape is like a lot of Ford vehicles that are, say...almost 10 years old: it looks dated. And if you're wondering what I mean when I say old: Ford Escape, introduced 1998, Ford Focus, introduced 2000, Ford Ranger, last major refresh 1996, Ford Corwn Vic, last major refresh, 1998. (hope I got those dates right, going on memory)
 
The Toyota also rides on an older platform.
 
Also, the RAV-4 and CR-V mostly appeal to women more than men, being the new Mommiemobiles. In catering to that crowd, they look soft and happy and homely.
 
The Mitsu is clean of weird shapes and looks like it begs for excitement.
 
By the way, maybe you could include the Grand Vitara and CX-7 in exciting (looking) SUV's?

Fun post.
 
altima, I can correct one date....the Escape debuted in '01 - we had one of the first ones. I think the Escape is definitely getting old but early on and to some extent now, its size and design is perfect for the segment. This new styling looks like someone hit it square with an ugly stick marked "over the top" - kind of ruined it IMO.
 
I'm going to put the CRV first - I think it really has a great design and looks really good in EX trim. That said, I don't think I'd get one for myself - too feminine. Maybe that's where the Outlander wins, it is more masculine.
 
I too think that the Santa Fe should have made it into the mix. The new design is very nice IMO.

Of the 4 mentioned, I'd have to agree that the Mits is the best looking. Having seen the shorter wheelbase RAV not available in the US, I'd have to say the American version looks lengthwise disporportional.

The Outlander is by far the best looking compact SUV IMO.

Well, you only are the owner of one, dodo2. :o)
 
I would have to agree with you, Scott, and most of the others here.

While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I'm going to have to say that the Escape by FAR looks the most muscular. And by muscular, I mean which one looks like it would be most at home off-road. I don't think it's even close. The Escape likes like an SUV while the other three look more like elevated wagons.

I agree that the Mitsu is the best looking trucklet...but I have to say that the rear-end looks a bit hastily resolved - almost more square and 'cut-off' than what I expected. The LED taillights are really cool, though.

SubyTrojan: Indeed I do have an Outlander in my garage and this is the result of the "love at first sight affair" I had with this vehicle when I saw the first picture of it. I still remember it was a picture of the rear end of an Aqua XLS (the first official pictures I believe) that made me go "WOW". After that, I spent an incredible amount of hours on the Internet looking at pictures, researching, discussing and learning about this vehicle and all this was happening months before it went on sale. I still love it and I think it looks the best from any angle (especially in the XLS trim).
I'm not short sighted either as I like other SUVs too - CX7, X3, LR2 just to mention the compacts, but the CRV, RDX, RAV4, Santa Fe just don't do it for me.

Couldn't agree more - the Outie outlooks them all (sorry, couldn't resist). I am homing in on this as my next ride (and I can't believe I am even considering a CUV ...)

The Escape looks older than it did before the "update". The Rav is ok but its a lil plain. The CRV is kind of upscale but a bit on the soft side.
The Mits looks the best without question.

Right now I go for the Outlander too. It's probably the best looking Mitsu on the road. At least till the new Evo. But I'm curious to see how the new Escape looks when they move it to the L2 platform. This end of the generation redo on the Escape I found rather uninspired. I'm hoping for more in the next go around.

Out of those, it probably does look the best. But best in a relative sense. I think all of those vehicles are ugly and cheap looking.

I certainly prefer the Mariner over the Escape sibling due to styling. Though the only reason thoughts of mini-utes would cross my mind is because of the Mariner Hybrid, otherwise I'd be looking for vehicles closer to the ground if looking for a people mover.