2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE had a mixed reception regarding its exterior design. While it featured an aggressive nose and a sloping, low hood, the design seemed to lose its appeal past the A-pillar, making it almost indistinguishable from its predecessors. The flat taillights and contoured rear helped mitigate its minivan-like tendencies, but it still lacked the pitch-perfect proportions seen in competitors like BMW, Audi, and Jaguar. The AMG trim added a sporty touch, but it still couldn't compete in looks with rivals like the BMW X5 M or Porsche Cayenne Turbo. However, the interior was a different story. The 2021 GLE's cabin was a masterpiece of quality, layout, colors, and textures, featuring luxurious materials like wood, metal, leather, and suede. The red and black interior of the tested model was particularly striking, offering a sense of opulence that outshone even some Porsche and Audi models.

In contrast, the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander aimed for a unique identity with its bold "Dynamic Shield" grille and balanced design from front to rear. The Outlander was available in multiple trims, all featuring handsome 20-inch wheels. The test vehicle, an SEL trim with AWD and the Touring Package, was luxuriously outfitted with premium semi-aniline leather, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display (HUD), and a premium sound system. The interior design adhered to minimalism, with black and aluminum accents, although some interior plastics reminded occupants of its place in the compact crossover segment. Despite this, Mitsubishi avoided using obviously inexpensive materials, making the Outlander’s interior feel more upscale than expected.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE excelled as a multi-purpose vehicle, offering a range of complex suspension and engine setups. The base GLE 350 featured a 255-hp engine with 273 lb-ft of torque, while the GLE 450 upgraded to a 3.0-liter inline-six with 362 hp and 369 lb-ft. The AMG GLE 53 took this further with 429 hp and 384 lb-ft, thanks to an electric supercharger. The GLE 580 boasted a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with 483 hp and 516 lb-ft, and the AMG GLE 63 S topped the range with 603 hp and 627 lb-ft. Most GLE models were hybrids, featuring a 48-volt battery system that provided additional horsepower and torque, improved auto stop-start functionality, and powered various accessories. The GLE's air suspension systems, including AIRMATIC and E-Active Body Control, offered exceptional ride quality and handling, making the vehicle feel agile despite its size. However, fuel efficiency was not its strong suit, with the AMG GLE 53 averaging 16 mpg and the GLE 450 achieving 21/26/23 mpg.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Outlander offered multiple driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud. However, the engine's performance was underwhelming, especially during highway acceleration and passing maneuvers. The steering felt vague and disconnected, and the suspension was too firm, making the ride uncomfortable over minor pavement anomalies. Despite these shortcomings, the Outlander demonstrated good composure over speed humps and lumpy rural roads. The vehicle returned 24.9 mpg during testing, slightly below the EPA rating of 26 mpg for AWD models.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a spacious interior, with most models featuring two rows of seats and an optional third row for seven-passenger seating. The second-row seats had power controls for recline and fore-aft adjustments, and the third row was accessible via a button that folded the second-row seats. The GLE Coupe, however, was limited to five passengers and had less cargo space due to its sloping roofline. Cargo capacity for the standard GLE was 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 75 cubic feet with all rows folded. The Coupe offered 23 and 61 cubic feet, respectively. The new MBUX infotainment system improved usability with a single touchpad and a simplified interface, although some controls required getting used to.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander excelled in form and function, offering roomy and comfortable front seats with an eight-way power adjustment for the driver. The rear seats were also spacious and comfortable, with the ability to slide forward and back. However, the third-row seat was cramped and only suitable for children. Cargo capacity was limited to 11.7 cubic feet with the third row in use, expanding to 33.5 cubic feet with it folded, and a maximum of 79.7 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof. The interior design was clean and uncluttered, but there was wasted space on and under the center console, reducing storage options.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured a 12-inch touchscreen with Interior Assistant, which could read hand gestures for various functions. The system included a touchpad and thumbpad controls, making it easier to use over time. The AMG models had a Track Pace app for virtual pit crew functions and GPS lap timing. The GLE also offered advanced features like Seat Kinetics, a head-up display with multiple layouts, ambient lighting with 64 colors, and a navigation system with augmented reality. The vehicle was equipped with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a natural voice assistant that responded to the command "Mercedes." The semi-automated functionality included lane changes and speed adjustments for curves.

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, wired Android Auto, and a two-year subscription to Mitsubishi Connect Safeguard and Remote service plans. The test vehicle also featured a 10-speaker Bose premium audio system. However, the voice-recognition technology struggled to understand commands while driving, likely due to road noise and tire slap.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE earned the Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, scoring top marks in six crash tests, for headlights, and for its standard forward emergency braking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had not rated the GLE. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and a driver attention monitor. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, evasive steering assist, front cross-traffic braking, and semi-automated control. The GLE also featured Pre-Safe Sound and Pre-Safe Impulse Side for additional protection in a crash.

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 standard driver-assist technologies like forward collision avoidance, safe reversing, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning. However, the steering assistance and lane-departure prevention systems could be intrusive. Crash-test results were not available at the time of review.