2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander presented a bold and distinctive design, characterized by its "Dynamic Shield" grille and lighting concept. This unique styling choice gave the Outlander a striking front appearance, while maintaining a balanced and appealing design from the front wheels to the rear bumper. In Canada, the Outlander was available in several trims, all equipped with all-wheel drive and ranging in price from $31,998 to $42,178. The GT Premium trim, equivalent to the U.S.-spec test vehicle, featured luxurious touches such as premium semi-aniline leather, a head-up display, and a premium sound system, enhancing the overall upscale feel of the vehicle. Despite some interior plastics reminding occupants of its compact crossover SUV status, the Outlander managed to avoid using obviously inexpensive materials.

In contrast, the 2022 Genesis GV70 stood out with its unique styling, diverging from the rest of the Genesis lineup. The GV70 featured the brand's two-line lighting signature, creating an illusion of a contiguous circle around the vehicle. The GV70's design included dark chrome finishes and a cross-hatched matrix pattern on the Sport grades, emphasizing its sporty intent. Genesis offered a wide range of exterior and interior colour combinations, allowing for significant customization. The GV70's cabin was designed with an elliptical theme, inspired by airplane wings, and featured high-quality materials, including genuine carbon fibre inserts on the Sport trims. While some plastic elements were present, they were strategically placed in less noticeable areas, maintaining an overall premium feel.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and Mitsubishi's Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD system. Despite the "super" designation, the S-AWC used a brake-induced torque-vectoring system. The Outlander offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud, but the performance was generally underwhelming, especially at higher speeds. The steering felt vague and disconnected, and the suspension was too firm, resulting in a brittle ride on anything but smooth pavement. The Outlander returned a fuel consumption of 9.4 litres per 100 kilometres, slightly higher than the official rating of 8.9 L/100 km.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two engine options, with the test unit featuring a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine, delivering 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, prioritizing the rear axle. The GV70's Sport Plus grade included an electronic limited-slip differential, enhancing its performance capabilities. The GV70 offered Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes, with Sport+ delivering aggressive throttle response and tenaciously held gears. The electronically controlled suspension system provided a balance between smoothing out rough surfaces and maintaining driver feedback. The GV70's turning radius was notably tight, making it well-suited for urban environments.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander excelled in form and function, with roomy and comfortable front seats, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats. The interior design was clean and uncluttered, with intuitive controls and impressive displays, including a digital instrumentation and a head-up display. However, the centre console had wasted space, resulting in less storage than competitors. The rear seat offered generous room 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, and the maximum capacity was 2,256 litres without the panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 prioritized the driver with a tall centre console and intuitive controls within easy reach. The infotainment system was controlled by a raised dial, and the climate controls were configured under a single pane with haptic feedback. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats available on higher trims. The rear space was enhanced by a panoramic sunroof and manual sunshades, though storage was limited. The GV70 offered 819 litres of cargo space behind the second row, expandable to 1,610 litres with the seats folded. The tonneau cover could be stowed under the rear load floor when not in use.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured notable technology, including a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, a large head-up display, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay. Wireless smartphone charging was standard on higher trims, and the GT Premium trim included a 10-speaker Bose audio system. However, the voice-recognition technology struggled with road noise, affecting its performance while driving.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 impressed with its technology offerings, including a 14.5-inch high-definition LCD infotainment screen with split-screen capability. The premium Sport Plus grade featured a 3D digital instrument cluster and a fingerprint recognition system for keyless start. The GV70 also included a nine-speaker audio system, with an 18-speaker Lexicon surround sound system available on top trims. Two USB ports for both the front and rear rows were standard.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including a driver-assist system similar to Nissan's ProPilot Assist. This Level 2 system required hands-on operation and worked smoothly. The Outlander also included forward collision mitigation, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The IIHS awarded the Outlander a Top Safety Pick+ rating, while the NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came with ten standard safety features, including blind spot collision avoidance, lane departure warning, and forward collision avoidance. The GV70 introduced a rear occupant alert system using radar to detect movement. The Genesis Highway Driving Assist system provided lane centring and automatic lane changing functions. As of publication, safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available for the GV70.