Mitsubishi Outlander vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander was available in ES, SE, and SEL trims, offering both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options. Its exterior design was distinctive, featuring a unique lighting arrangement with a thin upper eyebrow functioning as a daytime running light and a large, square headlight beneath it, highlighted by a chrome bezel. Despite subtle changes to the front end, such as a smoother grille and modified diffuser, the Outlander retained its bold and somewhat polarizing appearance. Inside, the top SEL trim offered a more refined experience with quilted leather seats, soft-touch surfaces, and Yamaha speaker faces inspired by traditional Japanese patterns. However, some plastic elements detracted from the overall upscale feel.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid pursued a more conservative design, drawing inspiration from the previous-generation RAV4. This approach resulted in a familiar yet grander appearance, accommodating up to eight passengers and offering substantial cargo space. The interior of the Platinum trim exuded a sense of luxury with a mix of leather and artificial suede upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, and a focus on functionality. While the Grand Highlander emphasized practicality, it also featured some drawbacks, such as unlined storage spaces and sharp rear door angles. Nevertheless, it provided a comfortable and spacious environment for passengers, making it a strong contender in the three-row SUV segment.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander featured an AWD system developed from Mitsubishi's rally racing heritage, providing stability and poise on curvy roads. Its suspension was retuned for 2025, offering improved comfort and reduced body roll. The Outlander was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. While it offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud, the vehicle struggled with acceleration, particularly due to its continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Outlander's fuel economy was rated at 26 mpg combined, falling short of some competitors. However, the plug-in hybrid variant offered a more powerful 248 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, with a fuel rating of 64 MPGe and 38 miles of all-electric range.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered a choice between a thrifty hybrid powertrain and the more powerful Hybrid Max configuration. The Hybrid Max combined a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with electronic full-time AWD and two electric motors, delivering 362 net horsepower. This setup provided impressive acceleration and towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. While the Hybrid Max sacrificed some fuel efficiency, achieving 27 mpg compared to the standard hybrid's 36 mpg, it excelled in performance. The Grand Highlander's ride quality was soft and isolating, though it exhibited some vertical bounding and lateral rocking on uneven surfaces. Overall, the Hybrid Max powertrain offered a satisfying balance of power and efficiency.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander featured a third row of seating, though it was best suited for small children due to its limited 18.7 inches of legroom. With the third row in place, cargo space was restricted to less than 11 cubic feet, but folding it down expanded storage to 30 cubic feet. The driver's seat offered convenient access to physical controls for the HVAC system, and the top-line trim included heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. However, the cup holders were shallow, causing issues with larger bottles during braking.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid provided comfortable seating across all three rows, with nearly 100 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, and supportive cushions. While the rear doors were long and required ample space to open, the second-row captain's chairs offered flexibility with a removable center console. The Grand Highlander's third-row seats were reasonably comfortable for adults and tall teens, and the vehicle offered 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 97.5 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander boasted a Yamaha premium sound system with eight speakers, expandable to a 12-speaker, 1,650-watt system in upper trims. The system offered customizable sound modes and volume adjustments based on driving conditions. The Outlander featured a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with physical controls for volume and camera activation. Upper trims included a digital gauge cluster, rear camera mirror, and head-up display. Mitsubishi Connect and Remote Services were available, offering features like remote start and live traffic information.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. The system was user-friendly, though it lacked the ability to display multiple main-menu screens simultaneously. The Platinum trim included a color head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and surround-view camera system. The JBL premium audio system delivered impressive sound quality, and the digital voice assistant responded accurately to various commands.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander offered a limited suite of standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and traffic sign recognition. The Outlander received mixed safety ratings, with a four-star rollover rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating for headlights from the IIHS. However, its front crash prevention received a "Poor" rating.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive array of safety features and driver-assistance technologies. While the Proactive Driving Assist system was found to be irritating, the overall safety tech operated with accuracy and refinement. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick due to "Acceptable" ratings for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection.