2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander presented a bold and distinctive design, characterized by its "Dynamic Shield" grille and lighting concept. This gave the Outlander a striking front appearance, while maintaining a balanced and appealing design from the front wheels to the rear bumper. Available in various trims, the Outlander offered standard or optional 20-inch wheels, with prices ranging from $25,795 to $35,345. The test vehicle, an SEL trim with AWD, featured luxurious touches like premium semi-aniline leather, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof, enhancing its upscale interior ambiance. Despite some interior plastics reminding of its compact crossover segment, the Outlander managed to avoid obviously inexpensive materials, adhering to a minimalist design with authentic aluminum accents.

In contrast, the 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar exuded class and elegance, with a design that announced wealth and taste. Its exterior referenced the big Range Rover's profile, scaled into a sporty package with a long wheelbase, short overhangs, and a trapezoidal roof. The Velar's design included subtle adjustments like a sloping roof and wide shoulder crease, creating a streamlined yet blocky appearance. Special details like taillight lenses with depth illusion and air ducts reminiscent of Bugatti's NACA ducts added to its allure. The interior, though less opulent than previous models, maintained high-quality materials and exemplary fit and finish. The Velar's design choices, however, sometimes compromised practicality, such as the absence of a discrete parking brake control.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), powered the front wheels, with an optional Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD system. Despite the promise of paddle shifters for manual control, the driving experience was less satisfying than expected. The Outlander offered various driving modes, but its performance felt sluggish, especially in Eco mode. The SUV was most responsive in urban environments, but its power deficit became evident on highways and during overtaking 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's rating of 26 mpg for AWD models.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar shared its chassis with the Jaguar F-Pace, offering a lower center of gravity and lighter weight, which improved cornering and braking. The base engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 247 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. While the turbo-four provided average response, the Velar's ride was smoother and more controlled. The optional air suspension with adaptive dampers offered a plush ride and could raise the body for increased clearance. The Velar's Terrain Response system included six driving modes, but its street-focused mission limited off-road capabilities. The optional 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a mild-hybrid system delivered higher performance, making the Velar worth its premium price.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander excelled in form and function, with roomy and comfortable front seats, intuitive controls, and impressive displays. The driver's seat offered eight-way power adjustment, and both front seats and the steering wheel were heated. However, the center console had wasted space, limiting storage. The rear seat provided generous room and comfort, with the ability to slide for more cargo space. A third-row seat was available but cramped, suitable only for children. With the third row in use, cargo capacity was 11.7 cubic feet, expanding to 33.5 cubic feet with it folded, and a maximum of 79.7 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar, while stylish, sacrificed interior space for its design. The exterior reduced headroom and visibility, with cargo space at 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 49 cubic feet with them folded. The Velar's design choices sometimes compromised practicality, such as the absence of a discrete parking brake control. The new Pivi Pro infotainment system improved usability, but the Velar's redesign of critical controls for cost-cutting was frustrating. Despite these issues, the Velar maintained a high-quality interior with standard features like LED headlights, power seats, and a Meridian stereo.

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 with wireless Apple CarPlay. The system included a two-year subscription to Mitsubishi Connect services and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. However, the voice-recognition technology struggled with road noise, affecting its performance while driving.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's Pivi Pro infotainment system was expected to have issues but performed well during testing. It simplified the layout with logical arrangements and customizable features. The system included a voice assistant, air quality monitoring, and advanced navigation features. The instrument panel offered various display layouts, but the driving assist display lacked detail. Standard features included adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, and a Meridian stereo. Despite improvements, the Velar's redesign of critical controls for cost-cutting was frustrating.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured the Mi-Pilot Assist driver-assist system, similar to Nissan's ProPilot Assist, offering smooth and accurate performance. It required hands-on operation, with steering assistance and lane-departure prevention systems working well with Mi-Pilot Assist active. The Outlander included common driver-assist technologies like forward collision avoidance and blind-spot warning. However, crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar scored well in the European NCAP, with a five-star rating and a 93-percent score for impact tests. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control with steering assist. However, U.S. crash-test ratings were unavailable, and the Euro NCAP results didn't directly translate to U.S. standards.