2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out with its distinctive design, avoiding the common trend of emulating competitors' styles. It carried forward the successful design language of the Navigator, resulting in a sharp-looking vehicle with crisp lines and tasteful chrome accents. Inside, the Aviator offered a luxurious cabin that was hard to associate with its Ford Explorer platform. The interior was defined by comfort and warmth, featuring soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen that elegantly dominated the dash. Unique elements like the piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the Aviator's air of class and luxury.

In contrast, the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander embraced a bold front styling with its "Dynamic Shield" grille and lighting concept, presenting a balanced and appealing design. The Outlander was available in several trims, all featuring handsome 20-inch wheels. The SEL trim, equipped with the Touring Package, offered a luxurious interior with premium semi-aniline leather, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof. The interior design adhered to minimalism, with authentic aluminum accents and gloss black trim, though some interior plastics reminded occupants of its place in the SUV hierarchy.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered a robust performance with its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This power was managed through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with options for rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The Grand Touring trims featured a plug-in hybrid configuration, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, with an electric-only range of 21 miles. The Aviator excelled in highway driving but struggled with city maneuverability due to its size and weight.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. It used a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with front-wheel drive, or optional Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD. The Outlander offered various driving modes, but its performance was underwhelming, especially at higher speeds or during acceleration. The steering felt vague, and the suspension was firm, leading to a less comfortable ride on imperfect roads. The Outlander returned 24.9 mpg in testing, slightly below its EPA rating.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a total of 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second row was particularly comfortable, featuring captain's chairs and a digital control panel. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery failed.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander excelled in form and function, with roomy and comfortable front seats, intuitive controls, and a stylish electronic transmission shifter. The rear seat offered generous space and comfort, with the ability to slide for more cargo room. The third-row seat was cramped and best suited for children, with limited cargo space of 11.7 cubic feet when in use. Folding the third row increased capacity to 33.5 cubic feet, with a maximum of 79.7 cubic feet available.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with the Sync 3 infotainment system, offering a user-friendly interface and seamless integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The digital instrument panel and optional head-up display (HUD) provided clear and easy-to-read information.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander stood out with its 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, a detailed HUD, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay. The test vehicle included a 10-speaker Bose audio system, though the voice-recognition technology struggled with road noise.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came equipped with the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, offering features like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added reverse automatic braking and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator received top safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.

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