2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek embodied the adage “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” Subaru took its Impreza hatchback and imbued it with the rugged looks, available all-wheel drive (AWD), and tall driving positions that car shoppers were flocking to in crossovers. The Crosstrek was visually differentiated from the Impreza by black body cladding, model-specific 17-inch wheels, and a taller ride height, providing 8.7 inches of ground clearance. These changes allowed the Crosstrek to do a reasonably good impression of an SUV, giving it more character than the base Impreza hatch. The interior, however, remained functional but somewhat plain-looking, with some questionable design choices like the clashing Plasma Yellow Pearl accents in the Sport trim.

In contrast, the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured bold front styling with the automaker’s “Dynamic Shield” grille and lighting concept, presenting a balanced and appealing design from front to rear. The Outlander came in various trim levels, all featuring handsome 20-inch wheels as standard or optional equipment. The SEL trim with AWD and the Touring Package offered a luxurious interior with premium semi-aniline leather, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display (HUD), and a power panoramic glass sunroof. The interior design adhered to minimalism, with black and authentic aluminum accents, though some interior plastics reminded occupants of the Outlander’s place in the SUV pecking order.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered two gasoline powertrain options. The Sport and Limited trims featured a new 2.5-liter boxer-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The base and Premium trims continued with the 2.0-liter boxer-four, generating 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission was standard on Base and Premium trims, while a continuously variable transmission (CVT) was optional. The Sport and Limited trims were CVT-only. All trims came with standard AWD, including torque vectoring and X-Mode for loose surfaces. Despite the SUV-like stance, the Crosstrek maintained predictable handling, though the higher center of gravity resulted in increased body roll. The new 2.5-liter engine provided adequate acceleration but was accompanied by droning from the CVT.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. A CVT powered the front wheels unless the Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD system was chosen. The Outlander offered Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud driving modes, but the engine felt most responsive in lower-speed urban environments. The suspension was taut, transmitting sharper bumps into the cabin. At higher speeds, the Outlander’s steering felt vague and disconnected, and the suspension was too firm over minor pavement anomalies. The Outlander returned 24.9 mpg on the testing route, falling short of the EPA’s 26 mpg rating for AWD models.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered the same front and rear legroom as the Impreza hatchback, with slightly more rear headroom. Cargo space was 20.8 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 55.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This made the Crosstrek competitive in passenger space but not cargo space compared to other small crossovers. CVT-equipped models featured a rear-seat reminder system. Up front, the Crosstrek had a handy cubby hole with USB and auxiliary ports, but rear-seat passengers had no USB ports. Storage space was minimal, but outward visibility was good due to the large side glass and car-like front fascia.

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 rear seat was generous, providing good thigh support and proper seating position, with seat heaters for added comfort. The Outlander also featured a third-row seat, though it was cramped and not ideal for adults. Cargo capacity was 11.7 cubic feet with the third row in use, 33.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 79.7 cubic feet with the second row folded (78.3 cubic feet with the panoramic sunroof).

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek used Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. Premium and Sport trims added WiFi, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a single-disc CD player. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation was standard on the Limited trim and optional on lower trims. The Crosstrek also featured a second screen above the main touchscreen for additional information. The 8-inch touchscreen was easy to navigate, and large analog knobs and buttons controlled vital functions.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL with the Touring Package stood out with its 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, a large and detailed HUD, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay, a free two-year subscription to Mitsubishi Connect Safeguard and Remote service plans, and wireless smartphone charging. The test vehicle also had a 10-speaker Bose premium audio system. However, the voice-recognition technology struggled to understand commands while driving, likely due to road noise and tire slap.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2020 model, virtually identical to the 2021 model, a “Top Safety Pick” rating. The Crosstrek featured standard EyeSight driver-assist technology on CVT-equipped models, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Optional features included automatic high beams, reverse automatic braking, lane-change assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured Mi-Pilot Assist, a hands-on Level 2 driver-assist system similar to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist. Mi-Pilot Assist worked with commendable refinement, smoothness, and accuracy. The Outlander also included 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 for the Outlander were unavailable at the time of review.