Relaxation was the only thing on the menu over the weekend, and our 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander fit into my plans unexpectedly well. The wildflowers are in season in Southern California, so I took day hikes on both Saturday and Sunday.
The Outlander was its usual comfortable self. I've always liked the shape of its driver seat, and its ride quality is excellent, considering how steady it feels through the turns. And there are many of those, since most of the trailheads, even in Los Angeles County, are off two-lane roads. Once I was at my destination, I pulled right off the pavement without a second thought, because, well, I was in a crossover SUV with a little extra ground clearance.
Granted, I could have reached all these trailheads in a normal car. However, if I was doing hikes on a more regular basis, and in more remote areas, the Outlander could be a satisfying compromise. It has basically every thing I like about the BMW X3 (take away some refinement) for about $20,000 less.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 24,015 miles
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