2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that offered practicality and style for families. Its design featured sliding side doors, which made loading children into car seats a breeze, and a spacious third-row seat that comfortably accommodated adults. The Odyssey's interior was designed with quality materials and an open-concept layout, providing ample storage and easy access to controls. Despite its classic minivan proportions, the Odyssey managed to incorporate stylish elements, such as kinked sliding doors and dark gray aluminum wheels on the Elite trim. The Odyssey's lineup included various trims, with prices ranging from $33,040 to $48,770, offering leather upholstery and a range of features that exuded quality.

In contrast, the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander presented a bold and appealing design with its "Dynamic Shield" grille and balanced proportions. The Outlander was available in several trims, all featuring handsome 20-inch wheels. The SEL trim, equipped with AWD and the Touring Package, offered a luxurious interior with premium leather, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof. The Outlander's minimalist interior design included authentic aluminum accents and gloss black trim, though some interior plastics reminded drivers of its place in the SUV hierarchy. Despite this, the Outlander provided a comfortable and stylish driving experience.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It offered a front-wheel-drive configuration and an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. While it lacked the hybrid options of some competitors, the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with responsive handling and quick acceleration. However, its brakes were prone to heating up during downhill driving, leading to pedal vibration and audible grumbling. Despite this, the Odyssey maintained its composure on various road types, making it a delightful vehicle for daily driving.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Outlander offered a choice between front-wheel drive and Mitsubishi's Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system. While the Outlander excelled in urban environments, it struggled with acceleration on highways and lacked the power needed for confident passing. The steering felt vague and disconnected, and the suspension was firm, leading to a brittle ride on imperfect roads. The Outlander returned 24.9 mpg during testing, slightly below its EPA rating of 26 mpg for AWD models.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey provided easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather, supportive front seats with power adjustments, and a tri-zone climate control system. The minivan offered impressive storage options, including a center console tray and numerous compartments. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible configurations, enhancing passenger safety and convenience. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey offered 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind it. Folding the third-row seat expanded the cargo area to 88.8 cubic feet, and removing the second-row seats provided a massive 144.9 cubic feet of space.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander excelled in form and function, with roomy and comfortable front seats, intuitive controls, and impressive digital displays. The rear seat offered generous space and comfort, with the ability to slide for additional cargo room. However, the third-row seat was cramped and best suited for children. With the third-row seat in use, the Outlander provided 11.7 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 33.5 cubic feet with the seat folded. Maximum cargo capacity was 79.7 cubic feet, slightly reduced with the panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with a range of technology features, though its infotainment system lagged behind competitors. Starting with the EX trim, the Odyssey offered an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring and Elite trims added navigation, CabinWatch, and CabinTalk systems, along with a rear-seat entertainment system. However, the infotainment system's small screen and lack of a tuning knob were drawbacks. The Odyssey's voice recognition system was limited, making smartphone integration a better option for navigation.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL with the Touring Package featured standout technology, including a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, a large and detailed HUD, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Outlander offered wireless Apple CarPlay, a two-year subscription to Mitsubishi Connect services, and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. While the voice-recognition technology struggled with road noise, the Outlander's technology package was impressive for its class.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was well-equipped with safety features, including the Honda Sensing suite, which offered adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. However, the system lacked refinement, occasionally issuing false warnings or responding abruptly. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured the Mi-Pilot Assist system, similar to Nissan's ProPilot Assist, providing smooth and accurate driver assistance. The Outlander included standard safety features like forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning. While the steering assistance could be intrusive, the system worked well with Mi-Pilot Assist active. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.