2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander presented a bold and distinctive front styling, characterized by its "Dynamic Shield" grille and lighting concept. This design choice gave the Outlander a unique identity, with a balanced and appealing aesthetic from the front wheels to the rear bumper. Available in various trims, the Outlander featured handsome 20-inch wheels, with prices ranging from $25,795 to $35,345. The SEL trim, equipped with AWD and the Touring option package, offered a luxurious interior with premium semi-aniline leather, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof, enhancing the overall ambiance. Despite some interior plastics reminding of its compact crossover segment, the Outlander maintained a minimalist design with authentic aluminum accents.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus GX boasted a commanding presence with its massive spindle grille and 8.1 inches of ground clearance. The GX's design leaned towards a sleeker aesthetic compared to Toyota's blocky designs, with big, flared fenders adding to its chunky motif. Despite its luxury badge, the interior featured a disappointing amount of plastic, reflecting its low sales and the need for cost-effective manufacturing. However, the GX still offered luxury touches like heated and cooled front seats and impressive leather upholstery. The GX's design, while not updated for 14 years, continued to improve in driving dynamics, offering a predictable and controllable ride.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a CVT, powered the front wheels, with an optional Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD system. Despite the "super" label, the S-AWC used a brake-induced torque-vectoring system, which didn't significantly enhance driving satisfaction. The Outlander offered various driving modes, but its performance felt sluggish, especially in Eco mode. The SUV struggled with acceleration on freeways and passing on two-lane roads, lacking the confidence and power needed for such maneuvers. The steering felt vague and disconnected, and the suspension was too firm, resulting in a brittle ride on anything but smooth pavement. The Outlander returned 24.9 mpg, slightly below the EPA's rating of 26 mpg for AWD models.

The 2023 Lexus GX featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine, delivering 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission. While not the most powerful on paper, the V8 provided a satisfying linear power delivery and a distinctive sound. The GX had a 6,500-pound towing capacity, but its fuel economy was a downside, with EPA estimates of 15 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. The GX's weight contributed to its rolling through corners, but the ride remained predictable and controllable. The Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential and 4WD system enhanced its off-road capabilities, making it user-friendly in various conditions.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander excelled in form and function, offering roomy and comfortable front seats with heated features and an eight-way power adjustment for the driver's seat. The interior design was clean and intuitive, with impressive digital instrumentation and a HUD. However, the center console lacked storage space, and the third-row seat was cramped, suitable only for children. The Outlander provided 11.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row in use, expanding to 33.5 cubic feet with it folded, and a maximum of 78.3 cubic feet with the panoramic sunroof.

The 2023 Lexus GX offered ample cubby space, with a deep center console bin and convenient cupholders. The decision to use hard buttons instead of haptic-touch interfaces was a practical choice, though the abundance of buttons required familiarization. The second row was comfortable, with captain's chairs and good legroom, but the third row was too tight for regular use. The GX's side-hinged trunk door was not power-operated, and the cargo space was limited, with 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.7 cubic feet with it folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with both rows down.

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 and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. However, the voice-recognition technology struggled with road noise, affecting its performance.

The 2023 Lexus GX's infotainment system, updated in 2022, already felt dated. The 10.3-inch touchscreen was an improvement, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface was unnecessary due to the touchscreen. The GX included a 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo and a CD player, but the system lagged behind newer Lexus models. The GX excelled in off-road technology, with a 4WD system, downhill assist, and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, enhancing its capabilities.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured the Mi-Pilot Assist driver-assist system, similar to Nissan's ProPilot Assist, offering smooth and accurate performance. It included forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning. However, the steering assistance was intrusive, and crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.

The 2023 Lexus GX, despite its older engineering, included advanced driver assistance systems like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, and adaptive cruise control. While lacking some top-end features, the GX's safety technology was commendable, though crash-test ratings were not available.