Gone is the signature, massive centerpiece splitting a multi-sectioned grille. In its place is an understated, more traditionally shaped opening with the three-diamond trademark floating on thin, horizontal bars. The lower portion of the front bumper opens into a large air intake above a skid plate-looking under panel. Headlight covers blend cleanly into the surrounding fascia and fenders.

The side aspect shows a sleeker, rounder shape. Deeply creased fender blisters outline circular wheel wells. The optional 18-inch wheels look better than the 16-inchers. The side glass tapers toward the back end, playing to the wedge look and ending in a substantial, sharply angular D-pillar. Front and rear bumpers flow seamlessly into their respective quarter panels. Easy-to-grip door handles sit atop full-round indents.

The rear view, in contrast to the collage of the '06, looks all of a single piece, or maybe two. Which it mostly is, in fact, as the liftgate reaches all the way down to the top of the bumper, which functions also as a fold-down tailgate, albeit an abbreviated one; with an eye toward tailgate parties, Mitsubishi says the bumper-cum-tailgate will support up to 440 pounds. A nice feature about the tailgate is that when you open the liftgate your cantelope doesn't coming rolling out onto the ground, something that sometimes happens on SUVs that don't have a tailgate.

The body side panels bend inwards toward the top, adding a distinctively aero-look to an otherwise mostly boxy shape. Many of the seams and lines draw the eye to the Mitsubishi trademark centered in the lift gate. The spoiler topping the backlight extends directly from the roof; there is no gap as there was in the pre-2007 models.

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