2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2022 Subaru Outback

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander presented a striking and unique visual appearance. Mitsubishi designers crafted what some might describe as outlandish front styling, highlighted by the automaker's "Dynamic Shield" grille and lighting concept. This gave the Outlander a bold face while maintaining a balanced and appealing design from the front wheels to the rear bumper.

Mitsubishi offered the 2022 Outlander in several trims: ES, SE, SE Launch Edition, SEL, and SEL Launch Edition. These trims featured handsome 20-inch wheels as standard or optional equipment, and prices ranged from $25,795 to $35,345. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, while the all-wheel-drive (AWD) came as an additional $1,800 option. The destination charge to ship the Outlander from its Japanese factory stood at $1,195. The SEL trim with AWD featured appealing White Diamond extra-cost paint, the Touring package, and several accessory upgrades, bringing the total price to $39,475.

The Touring Package in the Outlander SEL fitted the interior with luxurious features such as premium semi-aniline leather in black and Saddle Tan with quilting and contrast stitching, simulated leather door panel inserts, and upscale amenities like a heated steering wheel, head-up display (HUD), premium sound system, and rear-window sunshades. The spacious and comfortable interior added a power panoramic glass sunroof, elevating the interior ambiance. The minimalist design adhered to black finishes with authentic aluminum accents and glossy black trim. Although some interior plastics were evident, Mitsubishi managed to avoid cheap-looking materials, ensuring the Outlander felt more premium than its price might suggest.

In contrast, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness resembled less of a station wagon and more of a rugged Jeep with its heightened stance. The Wilderness model stood 9.5 inches off the ground, a 0.8-inch increase over standard Outbacks, with aggressive all-terrain tires under oversized fender trim and improved approach and departure angles provided by its revised bumpers.

Unique design elements set the Outback Wilderness apart, such as a distinct grille design, black 17-inch wheels, blacked-out exterior trim with Anodized Copper accents, and a matte black hood decal to reduce glare. The new roof rack and rail system could support a 700-pound static load, ideal for rooftop camping. Additionally, the exclusive Geyser Blue paint hue distinguished it further.

Inside, the 2022 Outback Wilderness featured dark gray and black interior themes with StarTex water-repellant upholstery, which looked and felt like leather. However, the absence of ventilated seats made the interior less comfortable in warmer weather despite the inclusion of heated front seats. A black headliner, Gunmetal Gray trim, Anodized Copper stitching and accents, brushed aluminum pedals, and standard all-weather floor mats completed the interior design. The back seats, also covered in StarTex, were similarly criticized for their lack of breathability but included features such as heated seats, adequate legroom, headroom, knee room for rear passengers, and USB chargers.

Externally, the Outback Wilderness enhanced its off-road prowess with improved approach, breakover, and departure angles (20 degrees, 21.2 degrees, and 23.6 degrees, respectively), made possible by a higher ground clearance and skid plates, establishing it as the most capable Outback model ever.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander came 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. This powertrain was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), driving the front wheels unless AWD was chosen. Despite Mitsubishi branding its AWD system as "Super All-Wheel Control" (S-AWC), the system used a brake-induced torque-vectoring system rather than a mechanical one. Paddle shifters offered manual control over the CVT's eight stepped ratios, though they did not significantly enhance driving satisfaction.

The Outlander offered different driving modes: Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud. The Eco mode made the vehicle feel sluggish, while Tarmac mode held engine revs higher but did not noticeably improve the driving experience. With torque available at relatively low rpm and the CVT optimizing available power, the Outlander felt most responsive in urban and suburban traffic, though it struggled with sharper bumps and freeway acceleration. Its vague steering feel and firm suspension did not match expectations for a comfortable and controlled ride. Ultimately, the Outlander's performance did not live up to its bold styling. Fuel economy during testing returned 24.9 mpg, slightly below the EPA's 26 mpg rating for AWD models.

In comparison, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. This robust engine provided ample power for the midsize SUV and gave it a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The Outback achieved an EPA-rated 24 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing averaged 21.3 mpg on a mountainous route with significant elevation gain.

Despite the strong engine, the CVT's performance in the Outback Wilderness was a point of contention. With its eight programmed ratios and paddle shifters, it lacked the responsiveness and enjoyment of a dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). While standard AWD provided a solid foundation, the Wilderness model's enhanced off-road capabilities came from its tall stance, 9.5 inches of ground clearance, 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, and advanced X-Mode traction system. Revised drive ratios and added skid plates further improved its trail capabilities.

The Outback Wilderness shone in off-road conditions, delivering a confident and capable performance on challenging trails, steep hills, and rugged terrains, thanks to its traction system and improved approach and departure angles. However, its all-terrain tires limited on-pavement agility, emphasizing that this model's strengths lay in off-the-road adventures rather than sharp cornering on asphalt.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander emphasized form and function harmoniously. Front seats were spacious and comfortable, augmented by deeply padded armrests and a driver's seat with eight-way power adjustment. Both front seats and the steering wheel were heated, enhancing cold-weather comfort. Large displays, intuitive controls, and a stylish electronic transmission shifter added to user-friendliness. However, the center console design failed to maximize storage space due to the underutilized shift-by-wire design.

Rear seat space in the Outlander was generous, offering plenty of room for taller passengers and comfortable seating. The rear seat could slide to adjust legroom as needed. The third-row seat was less practical for adults but suitable for children, albeit not the safest option given its proximity to the tailgate. Cargo space was also somewhat limited with the third-row seat in use, providing only 11.7 cubic feet. Folding the third-row expanded this to 33.5 cubic feet, with a maximum capacity of 79.7 cubic feet (78.3 cubic feet with the panoramic sunroof).

In contrast, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness offered practical space with added ruggedness. Front seats covered in StarTex upholstery were water-repellant but did not comfort warm weather conditions, causing discomfort during hot days. Effective dual-zone climate control helped mitigate this issue to some extent. The front seats featured power adjustments providing good customization and comfort levels.

The rear seats in the Outback Wilderness were similarly spacious, accommodating two adults or three children comfortably. Rear seat heating and USB charging ports were conveniences not forgotten. Storage was adequate in the rear, with 32.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the seats and up to 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Waterproof materials covered the seatbacks and cargo tray, and LED lighting facilitated night-time loading. The enhanced roof rack supported a 220-pound dynamic load and a remarkable 700-pound static load, ideal for camping.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander stood out with three significant pieces of technology. The 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display was a pleasant surprise for the price bracket, providing clear and configurable information. The HUD was another highlight, being large, detailed, and fully visible even with polarized sunglasses—superior to those in more expensive models. Further enhancing the tech appeal was the 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and a two-year subscription to Mitsubishi Connect services. The wireless smartphone charging and a 10-speaker Bose premium audio system added to the high-tech experience. However, voice-recognition technology struggled with accuracy, likely due to road noise.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen dominating the center console. While it provided essential physical knobs and buttons for basic controls, much of the functionality relied on the touchscreen, which required learning specific voice commands for effective use. The integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto helped mitigate some usability issues. Despite Subaru targeting a higher-income, educated, adventure-oriented demographic for the Wilderness, the absence of a premium sound system like the Harman Kardon available in other trims was puzzling. The PIN code entry system was a thoughtful addition, allowing secure, keyless vehicle access.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander came equipped with Mi-Pilot Assist, comparable to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, providing refined Level 2 driving assistance. This system helped manage steering assistance and lane-departure prevention with relative smoothness and accuracy. The suite of driver-assist technologies extended to forward collision avoidance, safe reversing, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning. However, crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.

In the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness, the EyeSight system powered by dual cameras offered comprehensive driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and driver monitoring. The Outback Wilderness also featured steering-responsive headlights and a blind-spot warning system. While the Wilderness didn't include Subaru's DriverFocus technology, the EyeSight system proved effective, especially on longer highway treks. Similar to the Outlander, crash-test results were not available, but standard Outbacks had earned a "Top Safety Pick+" from IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from NHTSA for 2021.