Mitsubishi Outlander vs Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander was available in six trims in Canada: ES, SE, LE, SEL, GT, and GT Premium, all featuring Mitsubishi’s Super All-wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel drive system as standard. The Outlander’s exterior design was distinctive, with a bold front face that seemed to be the result of two designers with differing visions. The thin upper eyebrow served as a daytime running light, while the large, square headlight below was highlighted by a chrome bezel. Despite subtle changes to the grille and diffuser for 2025, the Outlander retained its unique, albeit polarizing, appearance. Inside, the GT Premium trim offered a more refined experience with quilted leather seats, soft-touch surfaces, and Yamaha speaker faces inspired by traditional Japanese patterns. However, some plastic elements detracted from the overall luxury feel.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid was offered in two trims in Canada: Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy, integrating seamlessly into the existing gas-only Palisade lineup. The Palisade Hybrid was noted for its stylish presence across all trims, with the base Luxury trim featuring 20-inch alloy wheels and a massive grille framed by LED projector headlights. The Palisade’s profile was enhanced by body-colour, heated side mirrors, and acoustic side glass on all trims. The rear view was equally impressive, with wide-spaced letters spelling the vehicle’s name and stacks of LED taillights. Inside, the Palisade Hybrid boasted a well-crafted interior with H-Tex synthetic leatherette upholstery, power-adjustable seats, and a range of luxurious features in higher trims, such as Nappa leather upholstery and integrated driver’s seat memory settings. The interior design was praised for its organic shapes and thoughtful storage solutions, offering a richer feel compared to other non-luxury crossovers.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander featured Mitsubishi’s S-AWC AWD system, developed from years of rally racing success. Although the test drive didn’t include low-traction surfaces, the Outlander demonstrated stability on curvy roads. The suspension was retuned for 2025, providing more comfort and less body roll, with modes for Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud. The 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine produced 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, comparable to competitors like the Mazda CX-50 and Honda CR-V. However, the Outlander’s acceleration was lacklustre, and the CVT suffered from a droning rubber-band feeling. The fuel economy was rated at 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres combined, falling short of some competitors. The plug-in hybrid version offered more power and better fuel efficiency, with 248 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, and a fuel rating of 3.6 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid defied the stereotype of slow hybrids, offering a fun-to-drive experience with its 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery. The engine alone produced 258 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, with a total output of 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque when combined with the electric motors. The Palisade Hybrid’s performance was enhanced by an advanced eight-speed automatic transmission and next-generation hybrid system, which optimized power distribution and improved fuel efficiency. The cabin was notably quiet, with noise-absorbing carpet and acoustic glass, although engine noise was noticeable under hard acceleration. The steering was sharp, providing a responsive driving experience, while the pedals felt slightly squishy, creating a slight disconnect between steering and pedal inputs.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander offered a third row of seating, but with only 475 millimetres of legroom, it was suitable only for small children or adults in a pinch. The third row reduced cargo space to less than 308 litres, but folding it down increased storage to 866 litres. The driver’s seat featured easy-to-reach physical controls for the HVAC system, and the top-line trim included heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. However, the cup holders were shallow, causing issues with securing drinks during turns.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid provided 2,455 litres of total cargo capacity, trailing some competitors but offering more than others like the Ford Explorer and Mazda CX-90. The battery’s position under the front passenger seat slightly reduced second-row legroom, but the third row offered 815 millimetres of legroom, trailing some competitors. The Palisade Hybrid’s cabin was comfortable, with dual-zone climate control, seven USB-C power outlets, and a second-row bench seat standard, with captain’s chairs available on higher trims. The interior was filled with convenient storage solutions, including a centre console with a rubberized cargo space and a small shelf ahead of the front passenger seat.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander featured a new Yamaha premium sound system, with eight speakers standard and a 12-speaker, 1,650-watt system on upper trims. The system offered customizable sound modes and volume adjustments based on speed and ambient noise. The Outlander came with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a physical volume knob, and SiriusXM 360L. Upper trims included a digital gauge cluster, rear camera mirror, and head-up display. Mitsubishi Connect and Remote Services were available with a trial period, offering features like remote start and live traffic information.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid was equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster, supporting HD and Sirius XM satellite radio, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The Driver Talk intercom system facilitated communication between rows. Most trims included a 14-speaker Bose stereo, and a 15-watt wireless charging pad was standard. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured a built-in dashcam, recording front and rear views. The Palisade Hybrid introduced “Stay Mode,” allowing the climate control and infotainment system to run while the gas engine was off, provided the hybrid battery had sufficient charge.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander offered a limited suite of ADAS features as standard, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and traffic sign recognition. The NHTSA had not rated the 2025 model, but the 2024 model received four out of five stars in frontal crashes and an overall rating. The IIHS gave the 2025 Outlander a “Good” rating for headlights, with previous models receiving “Good” ratings in crashworthiness and front crash prevention with pedestrians.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came standard with a comprehensive suite of ADAS features, including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection. The blind-view monitor was standard on higher trims, and the rear doors featured a safe-exit alert indicator. The Palisade’s ADAS tech performed flawlessly during testing. At the time of writing, the 2026 model had not been crash-tested, but the 2025 Palisade received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.