2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a nod to the past, with Chevy using styling details to give each trim level its own identity. The exterior was a generic SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. However, the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride offered more personality, while the Mazda CX-9 had a more streamlined appearance. The Traverse's restrained styling emphasized the cosmetic elements of different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The base Traverse L came with 18-inch wheels, with 20-inch wheels available on higher trims. The interior featured a Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof and materials that were decent but not quite up to the $50,000 MSRP.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander, on the other hand, showcased bold front styling with the “Dynamic Shield” grille and lighting concept. The design was balanced and appealing from front to rear. The Outlander was available in ES, SE, SE Launch Edition, SEL, and SEL Launch Edition trims, all featuring handsome 20-inch wheels. Prices ranged from $25,795 to $35,345, with AWD adding $1,800. The test vehicle had SEL trim, AWD, White Diamond paint, and the Touring package, totaling $39,475. The interior boasted premium semi-aniline leather, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, a premium sound system, and a power panoramic sunroof. The minimalist design included black with aluminum accents and gloss black trim, avoiding obviously inexpensive materials.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Despite the specs, the Traverse didn’t feel as powerful as expected but had sufficient power for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well, though it occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners with a quiet cabin, bump-absorbing suspension, and precise steering. However, it lacked agility on twistier roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation and could send torque to individual wheels but didn’t noticeably improve handling. The Traverse had off-road and tow/haul drive modes, with a 5,000-pound towing capacity.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The Outlander’s S-AWC AWD system used a brake-induced torque-vectoring system. Paddle shifters offered manual control over the CVT’s eight stepped ratios but didn’t enhance driving satisfaction. Drivers could choose from Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud modes. The Outlander felt responsive in lower-speed environments but lacked power for confident freeway merging or passing. The steering was vague and disconnected, and the suspension was too firm over minor pavement anomalies. The Outlander returned 24.9 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 26 mpg for AWD models.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. Heated front seats were standard on the RS trim, with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, offering 23.0 cubic feet with all seats in place, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims, with a gesture-activated liftgate on the Premier and High Country models. However, interior storage options were limited.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander excelled in form and function, with roomy and comfortable front seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and heated front seats and steering wheel. The controls were intuitive, and the displays, including the digital instrumentation and HUD, were impressive. However, the center console had wasted space, offering less storage than competitors. The rear seat was generous and comfortable, with the ability to slide for more or less room. The third-row seat was cramped and best suited for children, with limited cargo space of 11.7 cubic feet with the third row in use, 33.5 cubic feet with it folded, and a maximum of 79.7 cubic feet.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The 8-inch screen was user-friendly, with large icons and analog controls for audio and climate. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Each row had 2 USB ports, but wireless phone charging was only standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander stood out with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, a large and detailed HUD, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and a two-year subscription to Mitsubishi Connect. Wireless smartphone charging and a 10-speaker Bose audio system were also included. However, the voice-recognition technology struggled with road noise, affecting its performance while driving.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention. However, it had “Acceptable” and “Poor” headlight ratings and an “Acceptable” rating for LATCH ease of use. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests and five stars in side-impact tests. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist being optional.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured Mi-Pilot Assist, a hands-on Level 2 driver-assist system similar to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist. It included forward collision avoidance, safe reversing, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning. The steering assistance and lane-departure prevention systems were intrusive but manageable with Mi-Pilot Assist active. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.