2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2021 Lincoln Navigator

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator was a significant departure from its predecessors, which closely resembled the Ford Expedition. While it shared some structural elements with the Expedition, the Navigator distinguished itself with unique design features, including a distinctive turn signal stalk. The Navigator Reserve, priced at $92,000, exuded luxury and elegance, impressing even those accustomed to high-end brands like Mercedes and Range Rover. Its exterior design featured simple rectilinear shapes, a body-color grille, and tasteful chrome accents, making it a standout in its class. The Pristine White model with black wheels and an illuminated Lincoln logo was particularly striking during winter tests in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Inside, the Navigator's interior was a testament to refined taste, offering seven color palettes, including the sophisticated Slate Gray. The wood trim, push-button gear selector, floating center console, and minimalist digital instrument panel all contributed to a modern and muted aesthetic. The materials used were of high quality, with tight panel gaps, and the Black Label trims elevated the luxury experience further. The Perfect Position seats, with their 30-way adjustability, provided unparalleled comfort, making the Navigator one of the most luxurious large SUVs available, rivaling even the more expensive Range Rover.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander, on the other hand, featured bold front styling with the automaker’s “Dynamic Shield” grille and lighting concept. The design was balanced and appealing, with handsome 20-inch wheels available across its various trim levels, which ranged in price from $25,795 to $35,345. The test vehicle, an SEL trim with AWD, White Diamond paint, and the Touring option package, was priced at $39,475. The Touring Package added premium semi-aniline leather, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display (HUD), a premium sound system, and rear-window sunshades, enhancing the overall luxury feel.

The Outlander's interior design adhered to minimalism, with black and authentic aluminum accents. While some interior plastics reminded occupants of the Outlander's place in the compact crossover SUV segment, Mitsubishi avoided using obviously inexpensive materials. The interior was comfortable and functional, with the front seats offering ample room and comfort, and the rear seats providing generous space for taller adults. However, the third-row seat was cramped and best suited for children, with limited cargo space when in use. The Outlander offered 11.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row up, 33.5 cubic feet with it folded, and a maximum of 79.7 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a twin-turbo V6 engine, borrowed from the Ford Raptor, producing an impressive 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, provided the Navigator with a sprightly performance despite its size. The Navigator offered both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) options, with a towing capacity of 8,300 pounds for 4WD models and 8,700 pounds for RWD models. However, its fuel economy was poor, averaging in the teens, consistent with the EPA-estimated 17-mpg combined rating.

The Navigator's adaptive dampers were standard, but the suspension felt rudimentary compared to competitors like the Cadillac Escalade. The ride quality over bad pavement was less supple, and the steering and brakes lacked the precision and control found in the Escalade. Despite these shortcomings, the Navigator's low-end thrust and quiet cabin made it a refined and powerful vehicle for highway driving. The paddle shifters added a touch of sportiness with their quick reaction time and rev-matched downshifts.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), powered the front wheels, with Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD system available as an option. The Outlander offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud, but the performance was underwhelming, especially in higher-speed scenarios.

The Outlander felt most responsive in lower-speed urban and suburban environments, but its acceleration was lacking on freeway on-ramps and during passing maneuvers. The steering was vague and disconnected, and the suspension was too firm, resulting in a brittle ride over anything but smooth pavement. The Outlander returned 24.9 mpg during testing, falling short of the EPA’s official rating of 26 mpg for AWD models.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator offered ample interior space, with the capacity to comfortably seat six adults. The third row's middle seat was best suited for children, and the second row featured manually-reclining and tilting captain's chairs, with an optional bench for a total of eight passengers. The Navigator's boxy shape provided generous cargo space, with 19 cubic feet behind the third row, 57 cubic feet behind the second row, and 103 cubic feet in total. The long-wheelbase Navigator L offered even more cargo space. The rear glass opened separately from the tailgate, adding convenience.

The Navigator Reserve featured heated rear second-row seats and a three-zone climate control system. The front seats were highly adjustable and comfortable, with numerous settings for optimal support. The large windows and high driving position provided excellent visibility, though parking was challenging due to the vehicle's size. The 360-degree cameras were helpful but not the best in terms of resolution.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander excelled in form and function, with roomy and comfortable front seats, deeply padded armrests, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The controls were intuitive, and the displays, including the digital instrumentation and HUD, were impressive. However, the center console had wasted space, and the storage was less than some competitors.

The rear seats were spacious and comfortable, with good thigh support and seat heaters. The third-row seat was cramped and best suited for children, with limited cargo space when in use. The Outlander offered 11.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row up, 33.5 cubic feet with it folded, and a maximum of 79.7 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator featured a 10-inch touchscreen, which felt small compared to newer models like the Cadillac Escalade. The instrument panel lacked full-screen maps and different designs, and the cameras were low-resolution. The infotainment system did not support wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. However, the software was intuitive, with a unique Lincoln interface, fast voice recognition, and onboard 4G WiFi. The rear entertainment system included Roku media streaming and various connections.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander stood out with its 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, a large and detailed HUD, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay, a two-year subscription to Mitsubishi Connect Safeguard and Remote service plans, and wireless smartphone charging. The 10-speaker Bose premium audio system delivered good sound quality. However, the voice-recognition technology struggled with road noise and tire slap.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received five stars overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with five stars in every test except for rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety had not rated the Navigator. The Navigator lacked knee airbags but offered optional inflatable rear seat belts for the second row. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and auto high beams. Adaptive cruise control was optional but did not offer advanced self-steering capabilities.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured the Mi-Pilot Assist driver-assist system, similar to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist. This Level 2 system required hands-on steering but worked smoothly and accurately. The Outlander also included common driver-assist technologies, such as forward collision avoidance, safe reversing, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning. However, the steering assistance and lane-departure prevention systems were intrusive and required deactivation through the touchscreen. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.