I have owned the 2007 Outlander XLS (w/sunroof, leather seats, Fosgate sound
system, optioned out EXCEPT for the in-dash NAV) since May of 2007.  I too
looked at other vehicles in the same class such as the Hyundai Sante Fe,
Toyoda Highlander and Honda CR-V.  But in terms of options and overall looks
the Outlander won me over.  I like the 6-speed trans which helps on gas
mileage and the two 4-wheel drive modes are great as it gives you the option
to lock all 4-wheels.  Needless to say it is fantastic in the snow.  It
sticks to the road quite nicely around turns with the its stiff suspension.
After my purchase I did add an after market (Curt) tow hitch which was a
little tricky to install as you'll have to remove the muffler hangers to get
the right-side mount in place.

I have to add a note about Mitsubishi sales and service and since you live
in NNJ it may be of some use.  I first shopped at the Route 46 dealer in
Totowa and all but inked the deal after 3+ hours of wrangling with the
salesman and him making 5 trips into his manager's office.  After some give
and take we finally shaked hands on the final price.  So the joker went back
to his manager for what I thought would be the paperwork for me to sign.
However, he comes back with his manager in toe.  His manager (a short
squirrely guy who might I add kept staring at my wife.  What a dork!!)
stated that they could not do the deal as they didn't have my car in the
color I wanted in stock and they would have to pay to have the car shipped
from another dealership.  I said, no problem, I'll go pick it up myself or I
would be happy to wait for the delivery.   Of course he balked at those
suggestions and out of the blue starts pitching a Nissan Xterra which I
never expressed any interest in.  I of course told him I was uninterested in
a Nissan.  Before I left the dealership, I took the salesperson aside and
gave him a suggestion not waste the time of prospective customers, come to
an agreement w/handshake only to come up with some lame excuse not to do the
deal.  From where I come from that's not good business.  Anyway, I ended up
buying the car at Route 10 Mitsubishi in Randolph.  Here I haggled with the
sales manager but in the end I was finally able to get my price.  My
suggestion is to consult Kelly Blue Book and find out what the dealer is
paying for the car (invoice) with the options you're looking for and STICK
to your guns.  I would have paid about 2 K more if I didn't hold firm.
Remember car dealers have a reputation because they've earned it.

About service:  I recently wrote a post about Mitsubishi dealers loving to
upsell service.  When you go in for your first maintenance say at 3,750 or
7,500 miles they will pitch these packages ($129, $159, etc depending on the
dealer you call) which include nothing more than oil and filter change &
tire rotation.  They will say the mainentance also includes checking
windshield fluid, break fluid, etc.  What they fail to mention is that
they'll charge you more if they have to actually add fluid or perform any
additional work to those systems.   So what you end up with is an expensive
oil change!!

With all this said and one year and 16 K miles logged I am satifisfied with
this small sporty, SUV.  With sales and service, not so much!

Regards,

Mac