Don't get confused by the ASX nameplate on this newly released 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport crossover. The ASX is a name stashed on the back of the European Outlander Sport, and as the new one will be released at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, it is only logical. What seems less logical is yet another facelift for the Outlander Sport. The car has been around since February 2010, and for the past nine years, it received exactly three facelifts (this being fourth). This means that the third generation of the Outlander Sport has exactly five different looks. While previous redesigns haven’t been, what one would call...ahem... exhaustive, the new redesign is. The new 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport received a full visual makeover with the styling cues reminiscent of all new Mitsubishi cars. So, it looks a lot like the Eclipse Cross then.

The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport's Exterior Is Praiseworthy

Adopting design cues from the Eclipse Cross, the front end of the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport actually looks all grown up and modern. It looks like it belongs on an all-new vehicle. Not on one rooted in Mitsubishi's GS platform that is exactly 13 years old. Despite all this awesome “Eclipseness,” the new Outlander Sport reveals its age with a somehow strange relationship between its width, height, and length. It is too narrow, and I don't see that a front end like this can successfully connect with an only slightly reshaped rear end.

Despite my own feelings about it, I can tell you that with the LED front lights, the “Dynamic Shield” grille, and signature fog lights/turn signal combo, the new Outlander Sport has some appeal to it.

The back of the compact crossover is changed, but not in a way the front is. Instead of a complete makeover, Mitsubishi designers modernized the taillights with a lot of LEDs, and this gave the small crossover an edgier, more defined look. Still, I don't feel that the rear end resonates with the front, although it does look reasonably nice. However, there is one thing at the rear end that I really like. That centrally positioned fog light. I know that American cars do not have it in the back, but European cars have to have it. Positioning it at the center is just right. Let me tell you though, the Outlander Sport (ASX actually) got it after the first facelift. It is not a novelty, but still kinda OK.

Not that you will do a lot of that in a city crossover, but it is a nice touch nevertheless. Especially with similar hue for the side skirts. All said and done; the Outlander Sport actually looks sophisticated. I am not even joking.

Serious Infotainment Advancements Inside The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

The new 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport interior does not hide anything special. It is still a place at least a generation older than everything on the market right now. However, Mitsubishi did, in fact, drizzle it with a novel infotainment system. Now, it works in conjunction with the TomTom navigation system (only for the high-end models). It will also better manage video files on USB sticks. The previous one was underwhelming in that regard, and it seems that was a big “thumbs down moment” for some. The new one will reproduce anything you throw at it.

The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Is Most Likely With The Same Powertrain As Before

While Mitsubishi stays tight-lipped about the full specifications for the American 2020 Outlander Sport, the European version will continue with the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, gasoline engine with 148 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque. Honesty, I do expect the same for the U.S. bound model. Along with the 2.4-liter, gasoline engine that will be available for the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander GT.

Conclusion

With a serious redesign, the well-aged Mitsubishi Outlander Sport bought a few more years on the market. Possibly just enough years for Mitsubishi to finally get back on its feet with the rich overseers from Renault-Nissan.

This one really is an important product for the brand as Mitsubishi managed to turn out 1.32 million of them since 2010. It is a nice crossover proposition for sure. Finally, for 2019, it comes with the safety tech such as the RISE impact safety body and Forward Collision Mitigation braking system. All in all, we are in for a couple more years with the Outlander Sport. I am OK with it, but I would be even better if Mitsubishi managed to offer a 1.5-liter, turbocharged engine for it.

You know, like the one in the Eclipse Cross.

Current Mitsubishi Outlander Sport lineup

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.

Read our full review on the 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.

Read our full review on the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.