2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was anything but boring. It stood out among midsize SUVs with its distinctive design, featuring wide headlights, a long hood, and an assertive trapezoidal grille. The character line along its side, reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and Lexus-like taillights added to its unique appearance. The Highlander XSE trim, with its aggressive front end and 20-inch wheels, aimed to blend sportiness with practicality, although it leaned more towards luxury, especially in the Limited trim with its upscale interior and near-flawless fit and finish.

In contrast, the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander showcased a bold front styling with its “Dynamic Shield” grille and lighting concept. The design was balanced and appealing from front to rear. The Outlander SEL trim, equipped with premium semi-aniline leather, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof, offered a luxurious interior. The minimalist design with authentic aluminum accents and gloss black trim added to its upscale feel, although some interior plastics reminded drivers of its compact crossover segment.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options. While not designed for drag races, the Highlander provided smooth and predictable operation, making it reliable for family use. The XSE trim added sportier suspension tuning, but the Highlander remained more comfortable than sporty. It compared well with competitors like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride in terms of horsepower and torque.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system was available for those seeking AWD. Despite various driving modes, the Outlander felt sluggish in Eco mode and lacked the power needed for confident highway merging or passing. The steering was vague and disconnected, and the suspension was too firm, making the ride uncomfortable on anything but smooth pavement. The Outlander returned 24.9 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 26 mpg for AWD models.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in interior space and functionality. It featured large shelves ahead of the front seats for storage, and second-row seats that moved to maximize space. However, the third row was cramped for adults. Cargo space was limited to 16 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.3 cubic feet with both rows down.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander offered roomy and comfortable front seats with an eight-way power adjustment for the driver. The rear seats provided ample space and comfort, but the third row was too cramped for adults and not ideal for children due to its proximity to the tailgate. 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 79.7 cubic feet with both rows down, slightly less with the panoramic sunroof.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, with a 12.3-inch option on the Limited trim and standard on the Platinum trim. The system was user-friendly, but navigation struggled with points of interest. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard. The JBL audio system was decent, but the 12.3-inch screen's limited app display raised questions about its value.

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 with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. The system included a two-year subscription to Mitsubishi Connect Safeguard and Remote service plans. The 10-speaker Bose audio system provided good sound quality, but the voice-recognition technology struggled with road noise.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support, road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. It received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured Mi-Pilot Assist, similar to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, offering smooth and accurate driver assistance. It included forward collision avoidance, safe reversing, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning. However, the steering assistance and lane-departure prevention systems were intrusive. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.