2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs. Honda CR-V: Can it upset the leader?

Yep, Mitsubishi is alive and kicking and it has just released the next generation Outlander, the compact SUV that's going to do battle with the big boys. So let's see how it stacks up against the popular Honda CRV Shall we? Remember this is just a by the numbers comparison I haven't driven the new Outlander so I can't comment on how it handles but from the spec sheet, it looks to be a big step up. First off, let's look at the power plants. The 2022 Outlander is only available with the 2.5 liter inline four cylinder engine. Yep, that old 2.4 liter is out, and so is the 3 liter that used to be on the top trim. The plugin hybrid will continue to be sold as a 2021 model. It'll get a few tweaks, but it will be sold alongside this new 2022 Outlander, just without any of the styling or technology upgrades. Meanwhile, Honda's CRV is available with a 1.5 liter turbocharged inline 4 cylinder engine as well as a hybrid option. The Mitsu puts out 181 horses compared to the Honda's 190, while torque specs come in at 181 pound feet of twist in the Outlander, 179 in the CRV. Now I'm gonna call those numbers pretty even, but the fact that the latest CRV is available with a hybrid good for 212 horsepower and 232 pound feet of torque, really pushes it over the top here. We know that we will, get a plug-in hybrid option on this next generation, Outlander. We just don't know when. Plus when you look at efficiency, the Outlander gets a combined rating of 27 miles per gallon in front-wheel drive, 26 miles per gallon, combined in all wheel drive. The CR-V however, fares much better, with 30 miles per gallon combined in front wheel drive, 29 miles per gallon combined when power goes down to all four wheels, yeah point to the Honda here. Next let's look at size the Outlander is a bit bigger than the CRV it's longer overall by three inches and its wheelbase is nearly two inches longer that you are well matched in with the Outlander is 73.3 inches wide. CRV 73 inches. However the Outlander is a bit taller at 68.8 inches compared to the 66.5 inches of the CRV. But how does that translate to interior capacities? the Outlander comes with a third row. Yeah, a compact SUV with a third row. What are they going to fit back there Barbie dolls. The Honda CRV has a more traditional cabin with room for five. So when you break down that interior space with a sunroof the Outlander has 38.8 inches of headroom in the front seat, the CRV again with a sunroof it's a bit shorter at 38 inches. Both have the same amount of second row headroom 39.1 inches. However only the Outlander has a third row with 34.5 inches in that tiny **** remote seat. Leg room is a bit more evenly matched with the Outlander coming in at 41.7 inches in the front. The CRV close behind at 41.3 inches. The Mitsubishi gets 39.9 inches of leg room in the second row the CRV coming in better with 40.4 inches. And just to show you what small really is the third row of the Outlander has a mere 18.7 inches of length Yeah, no thanks. [MUSIC] . The Outlander has 11.7 cubic feet of space behind the third row and 33.5 cubes behind the second, the CRB goes much bigger here with 39.2 cubic feet of space behind the second row. However, because it is larger overall, the Outlander beats, the CR-V with 79.7 cubic feet of space, with its second and third Rosaline flat, compared to 75.8 cubes in the CR-V. That it's really tough to make a call here. I mean, i don't think anyone is ever going to use that third row in the Outlander, but instead they'll just opt to keep them folded. So they're kind of like a throwaway feature. One SUV gets more head room, the other gets more leg room. One's got more cargo space overall. The other one's got more behind the second row where your family usually sits. So I'm gonna call it a draw on this one. [MUSIC] Now, neither of these SUVs are really build to tow, but you can hitch a small load to both vehicles, and I think it's worth mentioning The Mitsubishi can tow up to 2,000 pounds, which is pretty decent for the class. And it also has a trailer stability assist to help out if and when that lightweight trailer begins to sway. Meanwhile, the Honda can only eke out towing 1,500 pounds and there's no kind of trailer technology like in the Outlander. So Pointed the Mitsubishi here and we're even at one each with one category at a draw. [MUSIC] Alright, now let's look at infotainment. The Mitsubishi gets into available nine inch screen running its technology with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also offers a 12.3 inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.8 inch head up display. Lay, you're not gonna find any of that in the Honda. Instead, you'll just get a seven inch screen that incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. I mean, heck, it's even got a five inch screen with no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in the base model. There's also no digital gauge cluster and no head up display. I can't speak to which is easier to use since I haven't used the Outlander system. But I've got to give a point here to the Mitsubishi for having a bigger interface, a more robust gauge cluster and that head up display and Great googly moogly. The Outlander has just pulled ahead two to one. Alright, bye Finally, let's check out price. Yes, the Outlander starts at $26,990 after a $1,195 Destination charge. The Honda matches that pretty well at $26,525, including $1,175 for Destination now, technically the Honda is less expensive and since we're evaluating category by category here. Gotta give price to the CRV even if it's just by 465 bucks, which means folks that based purely on these categories we're at a tie, the Outlander winds towing and infotainment specs. The CRV takes engine in price and they both tie in terms of interior space. Frankly, the fact that the CRB didn't just walk away with a spec comparison is surprising considering the state of the old Outlander. It just goes to show you how well defined the segments formula really is, especially in terms of footprint and power trains. Of course, each buyer is going to weight each category differently and the real test will be in the driving of these two models back to back. That said, gentlemen, purely by the numbers, the 2022. Mitsubishi Outlander looks to be a proper contender in the compact SUV space.