2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2021 Subaru Outback

The 2021 Subaru Outback, which had been redesigned for the 2020 model year, carried on its legacy in a familiar fashion. Despite the updates, it retained a comfortingly recognizable aesthetic akin to its predecessors. The analog gauges, steering wheel spokes, and seat designs all retained their traditional layouts, though with some modern tweaks. The base trim came with two 7-inch touchscreens set within matte plastic, split by a row of buttons—an aesthetic that paled compared to the available 11.6-inch portrait display in higher trims. This larger display, along with polished black plastic, chrome trim, and leatherette wrapping in upper trims, added a touch of sophistication to the car’s interior.

The quality of materials in the Outback had seen significant improvements compared to pre-2015 models. This was evident in the feel of the window switches, dash padding, and other surface materials. High trims like the Limited and Touring with their two-tone leather upholstery and contrast stitching nearly mimicked luxury vehicles. The Onyx Edition XT replaced leather with gray and black StarTex, a durable and soft synthetic material enhanced with lime green stitching.

Externally, the Outback sported gray cladding on its wheel arches, sills, and bumpers, making it practical for off-road ventures. Its smooth, plain styling with subtle chrome touches and LED running lights maintained a balanced and stable look. It had a new brown paint option—Brilliant Bronze Metallic—and standard adaptive LED headlights for 2021. But the essence of the Outback remained the same—a lifted wagon, as practical and robust as ever.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander, with its distinctive front styling and “Dynamic Shield” grille, stood out boldly in contrast. It was a tastefully balanced design from the front wheels to the rear bumper. Mitsubishi sold the Outlander in various trims: ES, SE, SE Launch Edition, SEL, and SEL Launch Edition, each flaunting handsome 20-inch wheels.

Our test vehicle, an SEL trim with AWD, boasted a White Diamond paint finish and the Touring option package, among other accessories, bringing the total price to $39,475. The Touring Package provided a luxurious touch with premium semi-aniline leather in black and Saddle Tan, along with other features like a head-up display (HUD), a premium sound system, and a power panoramic sunroof.

Minimalism defined the interior design, highlighted by black with aluminum accents and gloss black trim. However, certain interior plastics reminded us of its spot in the compact crossover SUV hierarchy. Yet, Mitsubishi did well to avoid noticeably cheap materials, maintaining an overall upscale feel.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's base model featured a 2.5-liter flat-four engine, barely improved in power output since the 1990s. This engine provided 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, competent for lighter loads but struggling when the vehicle was fully loaded and weighed around 4,500 pounds. This made the Outback sluggish and noisy on highway drives, inclines, and under regular driving conditions.

The XT versions remedied this with a 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four engine, delivering a robust 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque at just 2,000 rpm. This turbo engine could keep pace with traffic comfortably and run quieter than the base engine, even surpassing the old 3.6-liter flat-six in power and refinement. Fuel efficiency for the turbo XT was slightly lower at an EPA-estimated 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway compared to the 2.5 engine’s 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway.

The Outback was designed more for comfort than speed, excelling in long-distance cruising. It rode smoothly on various terrains due to its long-travel springs and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, excelling in off-road conditions. Subaru’s AWD system was proactive, driving all four wheels consistently and adjusting torque as needed, making the Outback highly capable on tough roads.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and torque of the same measure at 3,600 rpm. This engine, paired with a CVT, powered the front wheels unless the AWD variant with Mitsubishi’s “Super All-Wheel Control” was chosen. Despite the labels, the Outlander lacked the mechanical torque-vectoring found in some AWD systems, depending instead on brake-induced torque vectoring.

Driving modes included Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud, although these didn’t significantly enhance the driving experience. The Outlander felt more responsive in lower-speed urban environments, but the engine's lack of power was evident during freeway merging, overtaking, and ascending ramps.

The steering felt vague and disconnected, and the suspension was firm, leading to an uncomfortable ride over typical road imperfections. Though the SUV handled well over speed humps and smoother roads, it felt brittle and almost fragile elsewhere. Fuel economy during testing returned 24.9 mpg, which fell short of the EPA’s 26 mpg rating for AWD models.

The Subaru Outback shined with its generous interior space, offering 76 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the rear seats down, and 33 cubic feet with them up. The cargo area was user-friendly, with no intrusive wheel arches or awkward cutouts. Headroom and legroom were ample in all four primary seats, with excellent visibility due to thin pillars and a low shoulder height.

Storage solutions were practical, with large map pockets, bottle holders, extra pockets beside the front center console, and a passenger-side dash shelf for quick access items. Rear climate vents and push-button start were limited to higher trims, while the hands-free power tailgate was available from the Premium trim upward. The Onyx Edition XT uniquely offered a full-size spare tire.

Subaru's standard roof rails with integrated crossbars were a standout feature, allowing easy storage for additional cargo. The 11.6-inch touchscreen, though somewhat complicating the climate controls, was otherwise functional and responsive.

The Mitsubishi Outlander offered roomy and comfortable front seats with deep padding and heated options, especially in the SEL trim with its eight-way power driver’s seat. Despite its minimalist interior design, there was unutilized space around the center console.

The rear seat provided ample room and comfort for taller passengers, with adjustable tracks for better space management. A third-row seat was included but wasn’t practical for adults due to limited head and legroom and safety concerns. With the third row in use, cargo space was confined to 11.7 cubic feet, expanding to 33.5 cubic feet with the third row folded and a maximum of 78.3 cubic feet without the sunroof (79.7 without).

Subaru’s infotainment system in the Outback felt outdated, with graphics reminiscent of the Nintendo Wii. Despite this, the central technology performed well with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. The available 11.6-inch touchscreen was more useful and cohesive than the dual-screen setup in the base model. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, making navigation and smartphone integration easier.

Mitsubishi’s Outlander excelled in technology with a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, a large and detailed HUD, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system which included wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. Additionally, it provided a two-year free subscription to Mitsubishi Connect services. However, the voice-recognition technology struggled with comprehension during driving, possibly due to road noise and tire slap.

The 2021 Subaru Outback had a strong and stiff chassis with multiple airbags, including driver and passenger knee airbags. It provided additional driver-assist features in higher trims. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear emergency braking were available from the Premium trim up. It earned top safety recognition from both IIHS (Top Safety Pick+) and NHTSA (five-star overall rating).

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured Mi-Pilot Assist, similar to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, offering smooth and refined hands-on Level 2 semi-autonomous driving. Its driver-assist technology included forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping, and blind-spot monitoring. Though comprehensive, the steering assistance felt intrusive unless used with Mi-Pilot Assist. At the time of review, crash-test results were pending.