In the case of the Outlander Sport, Sport doesn't mean "sporty performance"; Sport means small, at least versus the regular Outlander, itself not exactly huge. Neither does Sport mean fast or agile, though the larger 2.4-liter unit in the upper trim levels, such as this one, gives this model a little more oomph than the base ES 2-liter. Power is adequate for in-town cruising, provided you're not impatient, but it takes a while for the slightly raspy engine to really get this wee SUV going, particularly with its continuously variable transmission.
Acceleration arrives with a retro-style lift of the nose and continues with a moderately loud growl as the Outlander Sport gains speed. Braking is equally retro, with heavy nosediving. Cruising at highway speeds delivers reasonably muted engine and road noise, and the engine feels a little more at ease; at high speeds it remains reasonably well composed, but this is clearly not the Outlander Sport's comfort zone.
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