2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

 Mitsubishi has spruced up the Outlander for 2022 with a seemingly never-ending list of features, and we must say, the SE trim is extremely well-equipped. This trim adds a ton of comfort and convenience features such as a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, a hands-free power tailgate, synthetic leather upholstery, LED fog lamps and the list goes on. As before, Mitsubishi Outlander SUV comes with an impressive powertrain warranty that lasts for 10 years for 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

The Outlander’s robust feature set and lengthy warranty give it excellent value- The Car Connection

The all-new 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander comes in a long trim lineup comprising 7 choices, namely ES, SE, Black Edition, SE Launch Edition (limited availability), SEL, SEL Launch Edition (limited availability), and top-range SEL Touring. The 2022 Outlander starts at an MSRP of $26,095 for the entry-level ES with FWD. That same Outlander ES with all-wheel drive (AWD), what Mitsubishi calls Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC), starts at $27,895. Mitsubishi also offers the base ES with the Convenience Package that adds 20-inch alloy wheels and the Mitsubishi Connect safety services at an extra cost of $1,000.

Mistubishi has packed their new Outlander with a lot of features but, you still get access to some noteworthy packages. The $2,700 Touring package equips the Outlander SEL with a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, a 10-speaker Bose stereo, a head-up display, and rear sunshades. The $2,300 Tech package on the SE adds a panoramic sunroof, a 10-speaker Bose stereo, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. 

Compared with a mechanically identical Nissan Rogue, the 2022 Outlander has lower fuel-economy ratings- CarAndDriver

In terms of fuel economy, the Mitsubishi Outlander cannot beat the segment leader but it is still fair. In the city, the Outlander returns 24 MPG while the highway estimate is 31 MPG with a combined mileage of 27 MPG. The combined mileage drops down by 1 MPG if you opt for the AWD system. 

The Outlander is a large vehicle but it gets a small 14.5-gallon fuel tank. When the regular gas is filled at the tank's capacity, the Outlander is able to deliver 348 miles in the city and 450 miles on a highway, which equates to 392 miles combined. AWD variants bring down the range to 377 miles. 

*2021MY data used for reference

The Honda CR-V outshines in this field with an impressive mileage of 30 MPG combined. The Toyota RAV4's fuel economy is very similar to the CR-V but it delivers a better range, owing to its slightly larger fuel tank. The Volkswagen Tiguan ranks below the Outlander in terms of fuel efficiency. 

Slide inside and about five seconds is all it takes to realize this is a whole new breed of Mitsubishi, and it's seriously nice- Cnet

The interior of the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is beautifully laid out and it surprisingly looks elegant and subtle. Since this is a new generation, there have been ample changes. The color schemes, materials, design flow, and technologies used have all changed drastically. The overall build of the interior is very classy and at the same time very sleek and flowy. You will not find anything out of place anywhere. The dashboard is very well laid out with minimal use of hard plastics and a proper button layout.

The new 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is 0.6 inches longer than the previous model, with a wheelbase that has increased by 1.4 inches. This, together with an extra couple of inches of width, makes the new cabin roomier with an extra inch of legroom front and rear. The Outlander continues to be sold as a 3-row crossover SUV with seven seats. Its seats are treated with cloth, leatherette, and genuine leather upholsteries depending on the trim level. The headroom has increased, courtesy of the increase in height of the vehicle. The first two rows of seats are spacious and can easily accommodate grown adults. However, the third row is practically unusable and super-cramped.

On the technology front, you get a standard 8-inch touchscreen while a 9-inch display is available on other trims. Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported but the wireless connectivity of the latter is available on higher trims. The system is simple to use and quite snappy. You can fit this vehicle with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.8-inch head-up display. The buttons and controls offered on the dash are very easy to access and have simple operations.

*2021MY data used for reference

The Outlander offers a cargo capacity of 11.7 cu-ft. behind the third row. Since the third row is non-usable for adults, it is better to leave it stowed, which gets you 33.5 cu-ft. For maximum cargo space, fold the second-row seats using the cargo levers and you get a remarkable 79.7 cu-ft., which beats all other competitors in this segment. If you get an Outlander with a panoramic sunroof, the maximum cargo space is limited to 78.3 cu-ft. Highlights of the Outlander's interior are:

• 8-way power driver's seat
• 4-way power passenger's seat
• Heated front seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Multi-function leather steering wheel
• Proximity keyless entry
• Ambient lighting
• Panoramic sunroof
• 8 & 9-inch touchscreen w/ smartphone integration
• 6 & 10-speaker stereo
• Wireless charging

 Mitsubishi sought to give this compact 7-seat SUV a powerful presence and functionality- Kelly Blue Book

The exterior styling of the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is new from the ground and it looks way more attractive than the previous generation. Upfront, you get a three-element lighting approach. The LED DRLs and turn signals are at the top, the fog lamps are on the bottom and the headlights are housed on the Outlander's chubby cheeks. The hood design has also changed from a curvier circular-looking hood opening to a sharper, quadrilateral type opening. The dynamic shield grille is a little overdone but the rest of the front-end design is beautifully executed.

Mitsubishi has definitely added SUV styling cues without turning this crossover into a caricature of itself. From the side view, the black windshield pillars give the Outlander a flatting roof appearance. The shoulder line helps inject character into the profile view. The Outlander gets 18-inch wheels as standard but 20-inch wheels are standard on other trims. Dimension-wise, the new Outlander is a bit wider and taller than the outgoing model. Its high ground clearance is essential for tackling off-roads. The design at the rear is kept simple and clean. 

*2021MY data used for reference

The Volkswagen Tiguan boasts the longest wheelbase which translates into the only usable third row of seating in the competition. The low curb weight of the Honda CR-V aids in quicker acceleration than its rivals. The Toyota RAV4 is the shortest vehicle with its length measuring 180.9 inches. Therefore, maneuvering it at tight turns wouldn't be an issue. Other exterior highlights include:

• LED auto high-beam headlights
• LED fog lamps
• LED DRLs
• LED taillights
• Power-folding, heated exterior mirrors
• Silver roof rails
• Black grille with chrome accents
• 18 & 20-inch alloy wheels
• Black fender lip moldings
• Chrome window trim

The Outlander comes with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving aids- Edmunds

Only IIHS paid attention to the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander. It gave the highest Top Safety Pick+ award as it performed extremely well in all crash tests. On the flip side, NHTSA didn't rate the new Outlander and we are not considering the outgoing model's ratings as the 2022 model is now in its fourth generation. 

Mitsubishi has gone a long way when it comes to safety technologies. The new 2022 Outlander has significantly more advanced driver-assist technology as a part of Mi-Pilot Assist, standard on the SE and above. The Mi-Pilot Assist suite of technologies includes active cruise control with stop and go, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering, and traffic-sign recognition. This semi-autonomous system helps to reduce driver stress on long highway road trips. Few other driver aids are available on higher trims includes:

• Blind-spot assist 
• Front & rear automatic emergency braking 
• Forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection
• Lane keep assist 
• Lane departure prevention 
• Traffic sign recognition 
• Adaptive cruise control with stop & go
• Rear cross-traffic alert 
• Driver attention alert
• Rear parking sensors
• Rear seat alert
• Head-up display
• Lane change assist

2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

Although the Volkswagen Tiguan is facelifted for 2022, the Outlander's exterior is sturdier. Both are similarly powered but the Tiguan suffers from lazy acceleration. The interior on the Tiguan looks premium but lacks appeal. On the other hand, the Outlander's interior is rich in features and tech but its third row is crampy. The Outlander wins more points with better fuel efficiency, cargo space, and more standard driver aids. 

2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2022 Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V has been leading all the charts for a pretty long period now and is a very dominating car in terms of its engine, reliability, and practicality. The CR-V has offers excellent gas mileage and better acceleration than the Outlander and does not feel sluggish. Unlike the Outlander, the CR-V is a 5-seater but it is spacious. Its main weaknesses are irritating infotainment controls. few standard features and standard safety techs. 

2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2022 Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 is viewed as a rather promising vehicle but it falls behind in some areas when compared to the new Outlander. Its acceleration is certainly better and it feels much engaging to drive. It also is ahead of the Outlander with better fuel economy and obviously, outstanding reliability. The cargo space in the Outlander is excellent and its interior styling beats the RAV4 in all aspects. Still, the RAV4 seems a better option. 

After looking at all the points it can be inferred that Mitsubishi has put a significant amount of time, effort, brain, and money into the development of the new Outlander. This clearly shows that the company wants to stand up to the mark and deliver products with bespoke quality and engineering. There is no doubt in the fact that the new Outlander is better than the older generation by a thousand times, and it is now set to tackle fiercer opponents and even emerge victoriously. Apart from the sluggish engine, the CVT gearbox, and the non-usable third row, there are no faults in the vehicle that can be pinpointed. Rugged and sharp design, elegant interior, superb handling, good road presence, and a competitive price bracket make it a very competitive product in the market. Mitsubishi is definitely going to see a rainbow at the end of the road now!