2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2023 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander displayed a bold design choice, capturing attention with its "Dynamic Shield" grille and innovative lighting concept. Despite its aggressive front styling, the Outlander balanced tasteful design elements from the front wheels to the rear bumper, making it appealing to various consumers. Trims available included the ES, SE, SE Launch Edition, SEL, and SEL Launch Edition, each sporting stylish 20-inch wheels. The test model, with SEL trim and AWD, came enhanced with premium features such as semi-aniline leather, quilting, and advanced tech options like a head-up display (HUD) and a panoramic sunroof, pricing out at $39,475.

In contrast, the 2023 Cadillac Escalade towered with a commanding presence, standing nearly six-and-a-half feet tall and stretching up to 19 feet long. This giant SUV, especially in the ESV variant, which was 15 inches longer, was more about luxury and showmanship. The Escalade's design included thin LED lights that cleverly masked its bulk and sport trims that darkened the chrome elements. Cadillac offered six trims with 22-inch wheels standard, integrating a refined aesthetic and a range of grille designs. The interior featured a luxury-focused array of screens and wooden inlays, up to seven choices of leather combinations, and a thick, wool-like fabric in certain trims. However, some parts resembled those in cheaper GM vehicles, detracting from the luxury atmosphere in the back rows.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. It utilized a CVT to power the front wheels, with an option for Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD. The Outlander offered driving modes like Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud. Despite decent power at lower speeds, the engine struggled during highway acceleration and passing maneuvers, lacking the confidence required for swift overtaking. Its 24.9 mpg average during testing fell short of the EPA’s 26 mpg rating for AWD models.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Cadillac Escalade brought a more robust performance with its standard 6.2-liter gasoline V8, delivering 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. However, this powertrain felt heavy during acceleration, though it cruised comfortably with a combined 16 mpg. For those seeking more power, the Escalade-V provided a supercharged Corvette V8 with 682 horsepower and 653 lb-ft of torque, making it a formidable performer. Cadillac also offered a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6, favored for its smooth torque delivery and better fuel economy at 22 mpg. The Escalade featured magnetic dampers and an air suspension option on higher trims, leading to a predominantly smooth ride with precise steering, though wind noise was notable at higher speeds.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander's interior excelled in comfort and use. The front seats were spacious and comfortable, with deeply padded armrests. The driver's seat offered eight-way power adjustment, and both front seats and the steering wheel were heated. While controls were intuitive, the center console presented wasted space, limiting storage. The SUV provided generous rear seat space and a third-row seat, suitable only for children. Cargo capacity included 11.7 cubic feet behind the third row, 33.5 cubic feet without it, and a maximum of 78.3 cubic feet with the panoramic sunroof.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade, noted for its space efficiency, offered 25 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row, 73 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 121 cubic feet with both rows folded down. The Escalade ESV provided even more space with 143 cubic feet in total. The spacious interior comfortably accommodated six adults, with simple and smart controls, an optional front-console refrigerator, and power-retractable side steps for ease of access. The second-row seats, however, lacked power adjustment, unlike the third-row seats.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL with the Touring Package included impressive technology, such as a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, an advanced and readable HUD, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay. The 10-speaker Bose audio system provided quality sound, though the voice-recognition technology needed improvement, particularly during driving due to road noise.

In comparison, the 2023 Cadillac Escalade led in tech innovations. Its OLED screens were among the industry’s sharpest, displaying a high-res front camera feed across the instrument panel. Super Cruise, a top-tier hands-free driving system, allowed for nearly autonomous highway driving, enhanced by infrared eye-tracking cameras. The vehicle also offered night vision, a sophisticated 36-speaker AKG audio system, various massage functions for the front seats, a rear-seat entertainment system, and exceptionally bright LED headlights.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured Mi-Pilot Assist, a Level 2 hands-on driver-assist system similar to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, delivering smooth and accurate functioning. Additional safety tech included forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, and safe reversing mechanisms. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of the review.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade earned mixed safety ratings, with a four-star overall score from NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking, a Safety Alert seat, rear parking sensors, and a rear seat reminder. Optional features comprised reverse emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Super Cruise. Despite some erroneous activations in reverse emergency braking, the safety suite provided comprehensive coverage.