2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2021 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Ford Explorer presented a classic yet modern SUV aesthetic, reminiscent of Ford's historical approach to vehicle design. Its exterior was marked by a sporty, raked beltline and distinctive squinting visages, making it easily recognizable among other brands. The Explorer offered a variety of trim levels, each with unique grille designs ranging from black to full chrome, catering to different consumer preferences. Inside, the Explorer provided a standard three-row seating arrangement, with the base model featuring cloth upholstery. The interior was designed with practicality in mind, featuring a clean dashboard, an 8-inch LCD touchscreen, and a spacious center console with a rotary gearshift, enhancing storage options. The XLT trim was particularly popular, offering upgraded features like a power front passenger seat and a 6.5-inch instrument panel screen, while higher trims provided leather upholstery and additional luxury touches.

In contrast, the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander embraced a bold and unique design, particularly with its "Dynamic Shield" grille and lighting concept. The Outlander was available in several trims, all featuring stylish 20-inch wheels. The SEL trim, especially with the Touring Package, offered a luxurious interior with premium semi-aniline leather, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic glass sunroof. The interior design followed a minimalist approach, with black and aluminum accents, although some plastics reminded occupants of its compact crossover status. Despite this, Mitsubishi avoided using obviously cheap materials, maintaining an upscale feel. The Outlander’s interior was spacious, with comfortable front seats and a sliding rear seat for added flexibility. However, the third-row seat was cramped, suitable only for children, and limited cargo space when in use.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, at its lightest, weighed 4,345 pounds and was powered by a base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering an impressive 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This engine outperformed competitors like the Kia Telluride's V6, despite the Explorer's heavier weight. All trims featured a 10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift capability. The Limited Hybrid trim offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque, while higher trims boasted a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, producing 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. The sport-oriented ST trim delivered 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, providing the most engaging driving experience among the Explorer lineup. The Explorer excelled in towing capacity, capable of towing between 5,000 and 5,600 pounds, depending on the configuration.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and offered Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD system. Despite the "super" designation, the S-AWC used a brake-induced torque-vectoring system. The Outlander provided various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud, but performance remained underwhelming, especially at higher speeds or during acceleration. The steering felt vague and disconnected, and the suspension was firm, transmitting road imperfections into the cabin. The Outlander returned 24.9 mpg during testing, slightly below the EPA's rating of 26 mpg for AWD models.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven in the base model, with captain’s chairs in higher trims reducing capacity to six. It provided 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers, surpassing some competitors but falling short of others like the Kia Telluride. The Explorer boasted 21 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row in use, but total cargo volume with seats folded was 81 cubic feet, comparable to smaller SUVs.

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 interior design was clean and intuitive, though the center console lacked storage space. The rear seat was spacious and comfortable, with sliding capability for added flexibility. The third-row seat was cramped, suitable only for children, and limited cargo space to 11.7 cubic feet when in use. Folding the third row increased cargo capacity to 33.5 cubic feet, with a maximum of 79.7 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof.

The 2021 Ford Explorer came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, offering AM/FM radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, and Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system. Higher trims featured a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and an optional 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Explorer provided multiple USB ports and power points, with a wireless charging pad available from the Limited trim upwards.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL with the Touring Package featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, a large and detailed HUD, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay. The system included a two-year subscription to Mitsubishi Connect services and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. However, voice-recognition technology struggled with road noise, affecting its performance.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, achieving top scores in crash tests. It offered the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features as standard, including blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims added features like adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured the Mi-Pilot Assist driver-assist system, similar to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, providing Level 2 hands-on assistance. It included common driver-assist technologies like forward collision avoidance and blind-spot warning. However, crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.