2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander showcased a bold front styling with its “Dynamic Shield” grille and lighting concept, giving it a unique identity. Despite its daring front, the design from the front wheels to the rear bumper was balanced and appealing. The Outlander was available in several trims, all featuring handsome 20-inch wheels. The test vehicle, an SEL trim with AWD, White Diamond paint, and the Touring option package, was luxuriously outfitted with premium semi-aniline leather, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, and a premium sound system. The interior design adhered to minimalism, with black and aluminum accents, though some plastics reminded of its compact crossover segment.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood, visually tying it to the original version. The modern design included rounded corners for better aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights. The Defender was larger than its predecessor, offering more interior space and ergonomics. The interior design emphasized rugged character with bare metal and exposed screws, mixed with leather and suede upholstery. The Defender 90 V8 test car had a mix of materials that seemed durable for off-road use, unlike the more delicate interiors of luxury SUVs.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD system was optional. The Outlander offered various driving modes, but the engine felt most responsive in lower-speed environments. However, it struggled with acceleration on freeways and passing maneuvers. The steering felt vague and disconnected, and the suspension was too firm over minor pavement anomalies. The Outlander returned 24.9 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 26 mpg for AWD models.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 296 horsepower, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid with 395 horsepower, and a new 5.0-liter V8 with 518 horsepower. The V8 could accelerate the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. All models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. The V8 model had sportier handling but felt less poised than the six-cylinder model. The Defender was comfortable on pavement, absorbing bumps well and handling crosswinds better than a Jeep Wrangler. It also had impressive off-road capabilities, with a 4WD system, good approach and departure angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance. The Defender could tow up to 8,201 pounds.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander excelled in form and function, with roomy and comfortable front seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and heated front chairs and steering wheel. The controls were intuitive, and the displays, including the digital instrumentation and HUD, were impressive. However, the center console had wasted space, and the third-row seat was cramped and unsafe for adults. The Outlander offered 11.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row in use, 33.5 cubic feet with it folded, and up to 79.7 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were comfortable but challenging to access in the two-door Defender 90. The four-door Defender 110 offered more cargo space, with up to 70.4 cubic feet in the three-row model and 51.7 cubic feet in the two-row version. The interior design emphasized functionality, with easy-to-reach controls and a large center-console storage bin. Optional features included a basket-style roof rack and cargo boxes for additional storage.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL with the Touring Package featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, a large HUD, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. The test vehicle also had a 10-speaker Bose premium audio system. However, the voice-recognition technology struggled with road noise and tire slap.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with a standard Pivi Pro infotainment system, including a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on all trims except the base model. An 11.4-inch touchscreen was newly available for 2022. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera system, which was useful for off-roading.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander included Mi-Pilot Assist, a hands-on Level 2 driver-assist system, along with forward collision avoidance, safe reversing, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning. The crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender had standard driver-assist features like lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. Safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available.