2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 presented a traditional SUV aesthetic, characterized by its tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, aligning with Volvo's signature design elements like the “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and a simple oval grille. Gasoline models offered a retro touch with a white contrasting roof. The XC40 Recharge differentiated itself with a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and unique alloy wheels, alongside a gloss black roof and mirror caps. It also featured a model-exclusive Sage Green Metallic colour and a charging port in place of the fuel filler. Built on Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, the XC40 was designed to accommodate both gasoline and electric powertrains, ensuring a seamless integration of its electric components. Inside, the XC40 boasted a minimalist design with high-quality materials, including real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery, creating a cohesive and premium interior experience.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander showcased a bold front styling with its “Dynamic Shield” grille and lighting concept, offering a balanced and appealing design from front to rear. Available in various trims, the Outlander featured 18-inch alloy wheels on lower grades and 20-inch wheels on higher trims, with prices ranging from $31,998 to $42,178 in Canada. The GT Premium trim, equivalent to the U.S.-spec test vehicle, was luxuriously appointed with premium semi-aniline leather, a head-up display, and a premium sound system. The interior adhered to minimalist principles, with black and aluminum accents, though some plastics reminded of its segment positioning. Despite this, Mitsubishi avoided using obviously inexpensive materials, maintaining a sense of quality throughout the cabin.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge model at the top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T4 variant produced 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the T5 variant delivered 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge model shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring dual electric motors for all-wheel drive and a combined output of 402 hp and 486 lb-ft, powered by a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The Recharge accelerated from zero to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, while the T5 and T4 took 6.4 and 8.5 seconds, respectively. All versions were electronically limited to 180 km/h. The XC40 Recharge emphasized luxury and comfort, offering excellent ride quality and one-pedal driving capability, with a towing capacity of 900 kilograms.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system. Despite the “super” designation, the S-AWC used a brake-induced torque-vectoring system. The Outlander offered Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud driving modes, with Eco mode feeling sluggish and Tarmac mode holding engine revs higher. The Outlander felt most responsive in urban environments, but its power deficit was evident on highways and during overtaking. The steering felt vague and disconnected, and the suspension was firm, leading to a brittle ride on imperfect roads. The Outlander returned 9.4 litres per 100 kilometres, slightly above the official rating of 8.9 L/100 km.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered no difference in passenger or cargo space between the Recharge and gasoline models, though it was less spacious than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive against rivals such as the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo compensated for the lack of space with clever storage solutions, including a removable trash bin in the centre console and a bag hook in the glovebox door. The Harman Kardon audio system's speakers were moved to the dashboard, allowing for larger door bins. A wireless charging pad was optional, with a single USB-C port standard, though second-row occupants lacked charging options.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander excelled in form and function, with roomy and comfortable front seats, deeply padded armrests, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat in the GT and GT Premium trims. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard on most grades. The interior design was clean and uncluttered, with intuitive controls and impressive displays. However, the centre console had wasted space, and the shift-by-wire transmission design did not enhance storage. The rear seat offered generous space and comfort, with a sliding mechanism for adjustable legroom. The third-row seat was cramped and best suited for children, with limited cargo space when in use. Folding the third row increased cargo capacity to 948 litres, with a maximum of 2,256 litres available.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, integrating Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Bluetooth, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge model offered OTA update capability, though Volvo was vague on future plans. The Recharge lacked a start button, using a key fob for ignition, and a Digital Key feature was anticipated but not confirmed.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander GT and GT Premium stood out with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, a large HUD, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The system included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wired Android Auto, with wireless smartphone charging standard on higher trims. The GT Premium featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system. Voice-recognition technology had room for improvement, struggling with road noise during driving.

The gasoline 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge received a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA. The electric XC40 Recharge was expected to perform well in crash tests due to its safety cage and redesigned front crash structure. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Recharge model featured Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future driver aids.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured a driver-assist system similar to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, offering smooth and accurate performance. The system required hands-on operation, with steering assistance and lane-departure prevention systems adding complexity. The Outlander included common safety features like forward collision mitigation and blind-spot warning. The IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ rating, though early models had Poor-rated headlights. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating, with four stars for frontal crash and rollover performance.