I thought that the Outlander's fold-down bumper was a stupid gimmick ... until I went to Ikea last night to pick up a giant box (what else does Ikea sell besides cinnamon rolls?). The lowered bumper and low load floor made loading the box a snap, and we then locked it back in the up position to help hold the box in place for the open-liftgate, quarter-mile drive home. The paddle shifters have a nice feel to them, too, even if they operate fake ratios in the CVT. Negatives? The seats felt flat to me, and the styling is pretty uninspired, at least when the car is covered in road salt.