2025 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER

OUTLANDER SHARES DNA WITH NISSAN ROGUE AS MITSUBISHI’S TOP SELLING MODEL

By far, the Outlander rates as Mitsubishi’s best seller, but considering the Japanese automaker has less than a 1 percent share of the U.S. market, that is a little like being the Most Valuable Player on a last-place major league baseball team.

The Outlander doesn’t even break into the Top 20 when it comes to U.S. SUV sales, but it does have some things working in its favor following an update for 2025.

Currently, the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander shares many features of the Nissan’s best-selling Rogue as a product of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, but in addition to the similarities between the two vehicles, including platforms and powertrains, there also some distinctions that set the Outlander apart.

The most prominent is an upscale interior that is both spacious and comfortable with leather trim throughout. There also is three-row seating which gives the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander seven-passenger capacity to the Rogue’s five, though the back row is pretty much suitable only for children and smaller ones at that.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander is available in four trims not including the plug-in hybrid version. The ES, SE, SEL, and Platinum Editions all come with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that, like the Rogue, is mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and produces 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This review is based on the SEL trim.

Fuel mileage ratings of 24 miles-per-gallon city, 31 highway and 27 combined for front-wheel drive models and 24/30/36 for all-drive versions somewhat make up for what the Outlander lacks in overall performance.

The interior features a new 12.3-inch touchscreen to operate tech features that include navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth wireless technology, and a multi-view camera system.

Other standard features on the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL include automatic 3-zone climate control, keyless entry and push-button start, rear-door sunshades, wireless cellphone charging, and a handy dial on the center console for selection of driving modes (Tamarac, Normal, Gravel, Snow, Eco, and Mud).

Leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, 8-way driver and 4-way passenger power adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats, aluminum pedals, and LED foot lights also are included.

Standard exterior features include LED headlights, taillights, and fog lights, headlight washers, heated side mirrors, a power liftgate with adjustable heights, silver roof rails, and 20-inch alloy wheels.

Safety systems include forward collision mitigation, rear cross traffic alert, blind-spot warning and lane-keeping assist, lane-departure assist, adaptive cruise control, and front and rear parking sensors.

Also standard is Mi-Pilot assist, which is Mitsubishi’s version of Nissan’s ProPilot Assist that isn’t  a hands-free driving system but helps the driver maintain driving lanes and safe following distances.

Starting MSRP for the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL is $40,290 including the destination and delivery fee. My test car added a Premium Package (Dynamic Sound and heads-up display) and other options that ran the final total to $45,930. MSRP for lower trims is in the $30,000 bracket while the Platinum Edition starts at $46,040. That’s a bit more than the Rogue which tops out at around $40,000 for the Platinum trim.

What I liked about the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL: The roomy interior has a premium feel to it and the exterior is appealing. It comes with a long list of standard features. The larger touchscreen provides easy access to infotainment features.

What I didn’t like about the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL: Cargo area behind the third row is especially tight, though folding the far back opens up a a more generous area of 30.6 cubic feet. The third row is pretty much for children only as getting to the rear is quite a chore. The engine could use a little more in the way of pop. It might help going with an 8-speed automatic instead of the CVT.

Would I buy the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL? It’s worth a look especially if you are looking for a 3-row SUV to handle your growing family. You might be surprised.

2025 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE

MUSTANG SOLDIERS ON AS NUMBERS DWINDLE IN PONY CAR SEGMENT 

With a 2024  redesign  moving the Mustang into its seventh generation, Ford saw little reason for major changes to the 2025 Ford Mustang. If it wasn’t broke, why fix it?

As virtually the only survivor in a shrinking “Pony Car” segment, the 2025 Ford Mustang embodies the spirit of the original model that hit the ground running. Ford expected to sell 100,000 Mustangs in its first year back in  the spring of 1964

Instead, despite a late release in April, Ford topped that number with over 121,000 sold in the U.S.. With a full year on the market in 1965  sales reached nearly 560,000 and continued to soar with  over 607,500 old in the U.S.in 1966.

Even with the gas crunch of the 1970s and the addition of such competing Muscle Cars as the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, and Pontiac Firebird, Mustang sales still hit 385,993 in 1i974

Recent numbers, perhaps reflecting buyers’ love affair with SUVs and the availability of performance versions of traditional sedans, are much more modest for the Mustang; Since hitting the 10 million mark in all-time US. sales in 2018, the U.S. annual sales high is 48,200 in 2019.

Sales were at the 44,000 mark for 2024, thrown off by supplier issues according to many sources, and got off slowly this year with a drop to under 10,000 for the first quarter. They rebounded in the second, however, to over 14,000  to bring the number to over 23,500 for the first half of 2025. 

One factor behind the Mustang’s continued success is the numerous configurations it comes in. The 2025 Ford Mustang is offered with 4- or 8-cylinder engines, a 6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic, transmission, and in coupe/fastback, or convertible form.  (We’re not including the Mach-E electric Mustang here, which is more SUV-like than Pony Car.)

Pricing runs the gamut from the low $30,000 for the 4-cylinder EcoBoost coupe to just under $50,000 for the base 8-cylinder GT, to $60,000 for the Dark Horse Fastback.

If a high price is not a porblem, the Ford Mustang GTD unveiled this year.offers super car performance (815 horsepower) with a price tag well over $325,000, according to reports.

The 2025 Ford Mustang Convertible that this review is based on carried a starting price of $43,045 before extras were added on that ran the total to $51,905

It came with the turbocharged 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine that not only delivered  peppy performance but also had the throaty, deep-bass engine exhaust tones the Mustang is famous for. Car & Drivcer clocked the turbocharged 4-cylinder EcoBoost at 4.5 seconds which was just a couple of 10ths off the time for the GT V8.

The EcoBoost has a big advantage in fuel economy, earningEPA ratings of 22 miles per gallon city, 33 highway, and 26 combined to the 16-24-19 for the for the 5.0-liter V8 in the GT.

The 2025 Ford Mustang Convertible could use a bit of in the way of cabin refinement but it is nicely equipped.  Front-seat occupants get nice room but you can’t say the same for anyone hoping to ride along in back. Legroom there is extremely tight even if those in front move their seats far forward.

Standard features on the 2025 Ford Mustang Convertible Premimum model include a 13.2-inch centerstack screen for operation of infotainment features that include navigation. FordPass Connect with 4G wi-fi gives you the ability to operate some functions like remote starting and stopping and remote locking and unlocking via your cell phone

You also get a leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt-and-telescoping capability, 12.4-inch LCD instrument cluster, LED headlights and taillights as standard.

Bu the main thing the 2025 Ford Mustang Convertible offers is motoring fun. There is no price tag on that.

What I liked about the 2025 Ford Mustang Convertible: The EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine has surprising acceleration. The top is easily lowered and raised. Just unlock the overhead clamp and push a button. Infotainment features are user-friendly. There is even a knob to adjust radio volume. Fuel mileage is decent for what you get in performance. 

What I didn’t like about the 2025 Ford Mustang Convertible: The rear seat has little in  the way of legroom for adults. But it can serve for extra storage. The interior overall could use a little dressing up.

Would I buy the 2025 Ford Mustang Convertible: A strong yes vote here. If you budget can fit in the 8-cylinder GT model, that is the way to go, but you won’t be disappointed in the sound or performance of the Ecoboost engine.

HYUNDAI SONATA

N LINE TRIM GIVES SONATA MORE PUNCH 

BUT RUMORS ABOUND ITS END IS NEAR  

Though company officials have not confirmed it, the Hyundai Sonata may not see a ninth generation as it approaches the end of a three-plus decades run in the United States that began in 1989 or four years after it replaced the Hyundai Stellar.

The 2026 Hyundai Sonata already is in many showrooms, but such publications as Motor Trend, citing sources in South Korea, reported several years ago that production likely will cease after the 2028 model.

The rising popularity of SUVs and decline in sedan sales no doubt is one factor. Available data shows that in 2010 cars, including sedans, accounted for 38-40 percent of the automotive market compared to 29 -30 percent for truck-based SUVs and car-based crossovers.

By 2024,SUVs owned nearly 60 percent of U.S. sales while smaller s vehicles like sedans had fallen below 20 percent.

For the Sonata specifically, Hyundai reported that though overall company sales jumped 12 percent this August to a record 88,523 vehicles the Sonata fell 19 percent compared to August 2024. Sales for the third-quarter were off 21 percent for the same period from a year ago

There is a touch of irony here in that somewhat grim picture and that is that the argument could be made that the 2025 Hyundai Sonata is the best Sonata yet. US News & World Report ranked it behind only the Honda Accord in its analysis of reviews for midsize cars. (With an all-hybrid lineup, Toyota’s Camry led the way for HEVs in the rankings.).

The 2025 Hyundai Sonata has a sleek fastback profile and is roomy and comfortable inside with lots of easy to use tech features. It comes in five trims including the hybrid model with the SE serving as the base. The SE, SEL, and SEL Convenience trims come with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine rated at 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque.

The 2025 Hyundai Sonata N-Line, which this review is based on, ups those numbers to 290 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft with its 2.5-liter turbocharged-4-cylinder. (The Sonata Hybrid, reviewed here last March, is rated at a  combined a192 horsepower for its gas engine-electric motor combo.)

The engine in the 2025 Hyundai Sonata N-Line is mated to an 8-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. It scoots from zero-to-60 mph in 5.2 seconds according to zeroto60times.com, and drinks regular gas at the rate of 23 miles-per-gallon city, 32 highway, and 27 combined, which is only a couple of miles off that for the non-turbo models.

Sitting at the top of the portfolio, the 2025 Hyundai Sonata N-Line offers a lot in the way of standard features. Inside the roomy cabin are unique premium cloth seats with microfiber inserts, 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat with 2-way lumbar support, heated front seats, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, Bose premium sound, Bluetooth compatibility, a wi-fi hotspot and wireless charging, voice recognition, leather-wrapped “N” steering wheel, steering-wheel paddle shifters, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and dual automatic climate control.

The 2025 Hyundai Sonata rides on standard 19-inch wheels and features Smart (adaptive) cruise control with automatic stop/start, auto hold (to prevent creeping), and Hyundai’s Blue-Link services. LED headlights, taillights, and daytime driving lights.

Safety systems include blind-spot warning, lane following and lane keepin
g assist. rear cross-traffic assist, and highway drive assist.

Starting MSRP is $36,400 including destination and delivery. My test 2025 Hyundai Sonata N Line came with only two extra charges — $1,000 for the silver matte extrrior paint and $210 for carpeted floor mats to run the final total to $37,610.

What I liked about the 2025 Hyundai N Line: The turbo-4 in the N Line trim gives the Sonata a little extra boost while still offering good fuel economy. The comfortable interior is roomy and packed with lots of standard features that eliminate the need for costly options. The infotainment system is very user-friendly and even features knobs to adjust audio sound and surf the radio dial. Switches on the center console change drive mode (Comfort, Sport, and Smart) and also activate Auto Hold to prevent creeping at stops.

What I didn’t like about the 2025 Hyundai Sonata N Line: No manual transmission is offered, and the N Line comes with front-wheel drive  only. No all-wheel drivei is available.

Would I buy the 2025 Hyundail Sonata N Line? Sure would. It’s the most expensive of the non-hybrids in the trim lineup but still is under the price of the similarly equipped Sonata Limited HEV.