2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander showcased a bold and unique front styling, featuring the automaker’s “Dynamic Shield” grille and lighting concept. This design gave the Outlander a distinctive face, while maintaining a balanced and appealing look from the front wheels to the rear bumper. Available in ES, SE, SE Launch Edition, SEL, and SEL Launch Edition trims, the Outlander came standard or optionally equipped with handsome 20-inch wheels. Prices ranged from $25,795 to $35,345, with an additional $1,800 for all-wheel drive (AWD) and a $1,195 destination charge.

The test vehicle, an SEL trim with AWD, sported White Diamond extra-cost paint and the Touring option package, bringing the total price to $39,475. The Touring Package added premium semi-aniline leather in black and Saddle Tan with quilting and contrast stitching, simulated leather door panel inserts, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display (HUD), a premium sound system, and rear-window sunshades. A power panoramic glass sunroof enhanced the interior ambiance. The interior design adhered to minimalism, featuring black with authentic aluminum accents and gloss black trim. While some interior plastics reminded of its compact crossover SUV segment, Mitsubishi avoided using obviously inexpensive materials.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received subtle styling updates, including gloss black trim on the front bumper and a more squared-off rear bumper design to improve aerodynamics. New wheel designs and colors, along with a rear VW logo that lit up, were also introduced. The ID.4, based on VW’s MEB platform designed specifically for EVs, lacked the upright profile and added ground clearance of traditional SUVs, which might have been a drawback for some buyers. However, this was a common trait among many current electric vehicles.

The ID.4’s interior carried over the best qualities from recent VW gasoline-car interiors, featuring a minimalist design and an overall feeling of quality. The base ID.4 Standard model, aside from a manual driver’s seat, did not feel like a significant downgrade from the higher-level ID.4 Pro S. Leatherette upholstery with seat and door-panel inserts made partly from recycled fibers were standard for 2023.

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 continuously variable transmission (CVT) powered the front wheels, with Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD system available. Despite the name, S-AWC used a brake-induced torque-vectoring system rather than a mechanical one. Paddle shifters offered manual control over the CVT’s eight stepped ratios, but they did not significantly enhance driving satisfaction.

Drivers could choose from Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud driving modes. Eco mode made the Outlander feel sluggish, while Tarmac mode held engine revs higher without improving driving enjoyment. The Outlander felt most responsive in lower-speed urban and suburban environments, but struggled with sharper bumps and cracks in the pavement. Accelerating onto freeways or passing on two-lane roads revealed the Outlander’s power deficit, and its steering felt vague and disconnected. The suspension was too firm and unyielding over minor pavement anomalies, making the ride brittle and almost fragile. The Outlander returned 24.9 mpg on the testing route, falling short of the EPA’s 26 mpg rating for AWD models.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base Standard and S models with rear-wheel drive (RWD), while the Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus retained the 82-kWh pack with RWD or AWD options. Single-motor RWD models produced 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while dual-motor AWD models delivered 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, improving acceleration and handling. The 62-kWh ID.4 Standard felt spritely during a short drive, but more seat time was needed for a proper comparison with the larger-battery RWD version.

With AWD, the ID.4 had acceleration comparable to hot hatchbacks like VW’s Golf GTI and Golf R, but lacked the handling prowess. The ID.4 allowed too much body roll to be truly entertaining on twisty roads, though it was comfortable and refined for long drives. The regenerative braking system did not support one-pedal driving, providing a more familiar experience for EV first-timers.

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 front chairs and thick-rimmed steering wheel were heated. Controls were intuitive, and the displays, including the digital instrumentation and HUD, were impressive. However, the center console had wasted space, offering less storage than competitors.

The rear seat provided generous room and comfort, with good thigh support and proper seating position. The seat could slide forward and back to adjust cargo space. The third-row seat was cramped, suitable only for children, and reduced cargo capacity to 11.7 cubic feet. Folding the third row increased cargo space to 33.5 cubic feet, with a maximum of 79.7 cubic feet (78.3 cubic feet with the panoramic sunroof).

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more interior space than other affordable EVs, with more front-seat and rear-seat legroom than the Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf, and more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV. It provided 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While it fell short of gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 in interior space, it was the most practical among affordable EVs.

The ID.4 also offered towing capability, with a quoted capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models. Small interior changes for 2023 included a conventional lid for the center console, a better spot for a phone, and three-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

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 and wired Android Auto. The system included stereo volume and tuning knobs, a free two-year subscription to Mitsubishi Connect Safeguard and Remote service plans, and wireless smartphone charging. The 10-speaker Bose premium audio system delivered good sound quality. However, the voice-recognition technology struggled to understand commands while driving, likely due to road noise and tire slap.

For 2023, the Volkswagen ID.4 made the formerly optional 12.0-inch touchscreen standard on all models, replacing the 10.0-inch screen on lower trims. The infotainment system received software updates for improved responsiveness, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard. The ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster also remained standard. Despite the updates, the infotainment system’s user experience still included sharp graphics and natural-language voice recognition. However, the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel were distracting and lacked physical feedback, making voice recognition a more practical option.

The ID.4 also featured ID.Light, an ambient lighting system that indicated navigation directions and drive mode changes. While clever, it was easily overlooked during normal driving.

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

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. The 2022 model received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating, with top scores in all crash tests and front crash prevention ratings. The only blemish was an “Average” score for the standard headlights.

The ID.4 came with a good complement of standard driver-assist features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear park distance control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and VW’s Travel Assist 2.0. Emergency Assist 3.0, Park Assist Plus automated parking, an automated lane-change feature for Travel Assist, and a 360-degree camera system were also standard for 2023.