2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander showcased a bold and unique front styling, thanks to its “Dynamic Shield” grille and lighting concept. Despite its daring front, the design from the front wheels to the rear bumper was balanced and appealing. The Outlander was available in ES, SE, SE Launch Edition, SEL, and SEL Launch Edition trims, all featuring handsome 20-inch wheels. Prices ranged from $25,795 to $35,345, with an additional $1,800 for AWD and a $1,195 destination charge. The test vehicle, an SEL trim with AWD, White Diamond paint, and the Touring package, totaled $39,475. The Touring Package added premium semi-aniline leather, a heated steering wheel, a HUD, a premium sound system, and a power panoramic glass sunroof. The interior design adhered to minimalism with black and aluminum accents, though some plastics reminded of its compact crossover segment.

The 2022 Lexus RX, available in base 350, F Sport, and L trims, along with the hybrid RX 450h, continued its modern and sporty design from the 2020 facelift. Competing with the Audi Q5, BMW X5, Genesis GV80, and Mercedes-Benz GLE, the RX stood out with its aggressive styling. The character lines were razor-sharp, and the angular features were eye-catching without being excessive. The RX 350 F Sport test vehicle in Nebula Gray Pearl highlighted the seven paint options available. The F Sport trim, the most athletic in appearance, featured 20-inch wheels, black-housing mirrors, dark window trimming, and unique front and rear fascias. The interior of the RX maintained luxury appeal, with F Sport models adding sporty elements like Scored Aluminum trim and NuLuxe synthetic leather. Despite the high-quality feel, the center stack felt dated, and the NuLuxe seats lacked comfort and lumbar support.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. A CVT powered the front wheels, with Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD system as an option. The S-AWC used a brake-induced torque-vectoring system, and paddle shifters offered manual control over the CVT’s eight stepped ratios. Drivers could choose from Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud driving modes. The Outlander felt most responsive in lower-speed urban environments, but its power deficit was evident on freeways and during passing maneuvers. The steering felt vague and disconnected, and the suspension was too firm over minor pavement anomalies. The Outlander returned 24.9 mpg on the testing route, falling short of the EPA’s 26 mpg rating for AWD models.

The Lexus RX 350 featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid RX 450h combined the V6 with two electric motors for 308 hp. All RX models had an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard on the RX 350 and AWD available. The hybrid RX had AWD as the only option. Despite the F Sport designation, the RX lacked sporty performance. The engine note was more of a hum than a growl, and acceleration was unimpressive. The F Sport Handling package added adaptive variable suspension, a sound generator, sport steering, and a VDIM system, but the drive modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, Sport+) didn’t significantly change the driving experience. The RX excelled in driving comfort and cabin quietness, absorbing rough patches and isolating road noise. The RX 350 returned 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 combined, with the hybrid RX 450h achieving 30 mpg combined.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander excelled in form and function, with roomy and comfortable front seats, deeply padded armrests, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. 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, suitable only for children. The Outlander offered 11.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row in use, 33.5 cubic feet with it folded, and a maximum of 79.7 cubic feet (78.3 with the panoramic sunroof).

The standard two-row Lexus RX had 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, comfortably fitting four adults. The three-row L models had a tight squeeze for anything but groceries. The RX 350L had a 2/3/2 seating configuration, with captain’s chairs as an option. The standard RX offered 16.0 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, 32.6 cubic feet with the second row folded, and up to 58.48 cubic feet with both back rows down. The rear seats didn’t fold completely flat, and the load-in height was high. The RX had thoughtful interior features like a smartphone slot, adjustable-height cup holder, and a flat-bottomed cargo net.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL with the Touring Package featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, a large and detailed HUD, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and a two-year subscription to Mitsubishi Connect. 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 Lexus RX came with an 8-inch touchscreen display, with a 12.3-inch version available. The touchscreens were moved closer to the driver but still had access issues due to the design. The alternatives were voice commands and a touchpad, the latter being frustrating to use. The RX offered quality tech features like six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa compatibility, a WiFi hotspot, premium audio systems, navigation, heated and ventilated seats, and more. The Lexus App allowed for remote engine start, vehicle settings, and service scheduling.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured Mi-Pilot Assist, a hands-on Level 2 driver-assist system similar to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist. It included forward collision avoidance, safe reversing, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning. The steering assistance and lane-departure prevention systems were intrusive but manageable with Mi-Pilot Assist active. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.

The Lexus Safety System 2.0+ was standard on the 2022 Lexus RX, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, lane-keeping assist, a pre-collision system, and intelligent high beams. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a HUD, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect. The RX was a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS with optional triple-beam LED headlights and scored four stars overall from the NHTSA.