2015 Mitsubishi RVR GT
Every auto maker these days wants to sell – needs to sell – a compact crossover and a sub-compact crossover, because they're the fastest-growing segments in the market. Mitsubishi's U.S.-built RVR is one of the Japanese company's most popular models, alongside its larger Outlander sibling, but how does it stand out against the competition?
There are seven different trim levels available for the RVR, starting with a $19,998 version that offers a five-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive, and 148 hp from its 2.0-litre engine. We drove the top-of-the-line edition with a larger 2.4-litre engine and paddle shifters for its continuously variable transmission, good for 168 hp. (Overall score: 6.5)
Walkaround
The RVR is a sharp-looking little truck, with nicely-finished panels and a sporty crease sweeping back across the profile. Swing open the driver's door and you step up into the seat, perched high for a long sightline down the road, just as many buyers now demand.
The overall look is fairly soft, not aggressive, befitting a "soft-roader" that's unlikely to ever leave the asphalt. It's also fairly non-descript. Try explaining its looks to someone at a cocktail party and you'll probably run out of conversation pretty quickly. Nobody will want to talk to you, anyway. (Score: 8)
Interior
Inside, it's tough to feel inspired, or especially enthusiastic. There's nothing wrong with the quality of the build, but it's all a sea of black, soft-touch plastic and grey cloth. Leather is not available in any edition. All the black plastic has the same slightly-mottled design, so it's a bit overwhelming – compare it to most others, like the Ford Escape, which has a different stamp design for the plastic at the bottom and the top of the dash. It's one of those things that's more pleasing, without you even realizing it.
It's not that the interior is bad, but it's dull. The display of the centre screen is not crisp and seems dated; it's also difficult to read through polarized sunglasses. There are only a few buttons and switches, which allows for a pleasantly clean design, but it means navigating too many simple tasks – like tuning the radio – through the touchscreen. (Score: 6)
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Tech
One of the RVR's biggest drawing cards is its selectable drive system. There's a large button in front of the gear-shift lever that allows you to toggle between permanent front-wheel drive, automatic four-wheel drive that kicks in when the road gets slippery, and permanent four-wheel drive. The only issue is that you'll very rarely use this – why not just leave it in the middle setting to automatically select the drive, based on conditions? When would anybody ever want to lock the vehicle into front-wheel drive? It might save a tiny amount of fuel, but why have four-wheel drive if you're not going to make use of it when needed? This is surely why the competition doesn't bother with this option.
There aren't many frills on the RVR. There's not even a sunglasses holder. The optional panoramic roof is a nice thing, but it doesn't open. The HID headlights available at this trim level are very good and can be manually adjusted to compensate for weight in the back. However, there's no blind spot warning or collision warning or other fancy driver's aids. Even the radio stations crapped out soon after leaving town, long before they'd fade on other vehicles. (Score: 5)
Driving
The new 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine is the best thing about the RVR, which isn't saying much. It's adequate. According to my notes, "You put your foot on the gas and then sit back and wait." However, it's a big improvement on the 2.0-litre engine that still drives four of the seven trim levels, and which was the only power plant available until this year.
It's also fairly thirsty. My overall fuel consumption at the end of a week was 9.1L / 100 km, much of it highway in warm weather. Its official ratings are 8.9L/100 km (highway) and 10.4 in the city, with a combined rating of 9.7 (and maybe that was locked into 2WD – just sayin'). Compare that to the AWD Mazda CX-3, with a combined rating of 7.3, or the AWD Honda HR-V, at 8.1.
The saving grace is the continuously variable transmission, which is well matched to the engine and derived from that in the recently-overhauled Outlander. There's a shift indicator on the instrument cluster that shows which gear-equivalent you're in, from 1 to 6, and at the beginning of my drive I didn't realize the transmission was a CVT; it doesn't whine or hum like some others. It didn't take long, though, to recognize the transmission is a series of belts and pulleys instead of the crisp cogs of conventional gearing.
The shift paddles on this high-end trim didn't really add any pizazz to the drive, and in fact were annoying – they don't revert to Drive after not shifting for a while. When you blip down a gear or two to overtake on the highway, then back up to top gear and forget about it, you'll stay in Manual mode until you knock the lever over to automatic mode. Pull off the highway in manual and it'll shift down on its own, but you'll leave the lights and then bang off the rev limiter in first before you remember to put it back to automatic. (Score: 6)
Value
This is where the RVR gets a foothold into the market, because it's priced at or lower than the competition. The loss-leader base model is two bucks below $20,000, and the popular trim levels are around $26,000. Even the top-end tester comes in below $30,000, if you pretend freight and taxes don't exist.
Unfortunately, the competition usually offers more features, especially in the higher trim levels. Most buyers will opt for the market familiarity of a Honda or Mazda or Chevy, which will resell more easily in a few years' time. (Score: 7.5)
Conclusion
There's nothing wrong with the Mitsubishi RVR and it looks good, at least on the outside. It's priced right, and it does what it's supposed to. That's the upside.
The downside is there's little reason to buy one when there are so many other choices on the market that offer something extra. What does the RVR have that others don't? It has the selectable four- or two-wheel drive, which is pretty much pointless.
But look at what else is out there: The Fiat 500X and Jeep Renegade offer funky style; the Honda HR-V offers the Honda name and numerous drivers' aids; the Mazda CX-3 offers much better mileage and a great transmission; the Nissan Juke and Chevy Trax offer popular practicality; the Subaru XV Crosstrek offers a terrific all-wheel drive system and those drivers' aids again – I could go on.
By all means, consider the RVR if you're looking for a subcompact crossover, for all the reasons mentioned in the upside. But drive the competition too before making any buying decision.
Autofocus.ca is a Canadian automotive website dedicated to making car shopping easier and driving more fun. Follow Autofocus on Facebook and Twitter.
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