Mitsubishi Outlander vs Jeep Grand Wagoneer

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander presented a bold and distinctive front styling, characterized by the automaker’s “Dynamic Shield” grille and lighting concept. Despite its daring front, the Outlander maintained a balanced and appealing design from the front wheels to the rear bumper. In Canada, the Outlander was available in several trims, including ES, SE, LE, LE Premium, SEL, GT, and GT Premium, with 18-inch alloy wheels on the lower trims and 20-inch wheels standard on the higher trims. The pricing ranged from $31,998 to $42,178, with AWD standard across all trims. The GT Premium trim, equivalent to the U.S.-spec test vehicle, featured luxurious semi-aniline leather, a head-up display, and a premium sound system, enhancing the interior ambiance with a power panoramic glass sunroof.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, offering traditional SUV styling with a tall hood, broad shoulders, and an upright profile. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille, featuring laser-etched knurling in the grille slots. It boasted a new body-on-frame architecture with independent front and rear suspension, and weight-saving materials like an aluminum hood and doors. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer offered high-end features such as 24-way power front seats with memory and massage functions, Nappa leather upholstery, and optional Palermo leather, along with aluminum and American Walnut wood trim. The interior also featured seat controls placed high on the doors and a “Grand Wagoneer” inscription on the dashboard.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. It utilized a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to power Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD system. Despite the promise of manual control through paddle shifters, the driving experience was less satisfying than anticipated. The Outlander offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud, but the performance remained underwhelming, especially in higher-speed scenarios. The steering felt vague and disconnected, and the suspension was too firm, leading to a brittle ride on imperfect roads. The Outlander returned 9.4 litres per 100 kilometres, slightly missing the official fuel consumption rating of 8.9 L/100 km.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, on the other hand, was powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It featured cylinder deactivation for improved fuel efficiency and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Wagoneer accelerated from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in approximately six seconds. It came standard with a Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive system, including a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system was also standard, offering adjustable height for various driving conditions. Despite its powerful engine, the Grand Wagoneer was best driven at a leisurely pace, as the ride became bouncy at higher speeds, and the steering was imprecise. The Grand Wagoneer’s off-road capabilities were impressive, although its size could be a limiting factor on trails.

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 trims. The controls were intuitive, and the displays, including the digital instrumentation and HUD, were impressive. However, the centre console had wasted space, limiting storage options. The rear seat offered generous room and comfort, with the ability to slide forward and back for additional cargo space. The third-row seat was cramped, suitable only for children, and limited cargo capacity to 331 litres. Folding the third row increased cargo space to 948 litres, with a maximum capacity of 2,256 litres without the panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. However, space in the front was more limited compared to these rivals. The Grand Wagoneer offered 775 litres of cargo space with all seats in place and 2,007 litres with the third row stowed. Folding all rear seats provided 2,667 litres of cargo space, slightly less than some competitors. The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. It featured a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins, although forward visibility was somewhat limited.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander GT and GT Premium stood out with three key technology features. The 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display was a pleasant surprise, offering luxury-level technology. The HUD on the GT Premium was large and detailed, remaining visible even with polarized sunglasses. The 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard on LE and up, included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wired Android Auto. Wireless smartphone charging was standard on higher trims, and the GT Premium featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system. However, the voice-recognition technology struggled with road noise, affecting its performance while driving.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a comprehensive infotainment system with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous pairing for two Bluetooth-enabled phones and offered a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch touchscreen for climate control, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer’s Uconnect 5 system, based on Android, offered OTA updates but was occasionally slow to respond. The instrument cluster’s graphics were plain, but the HUD was clear and legible.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured a driver-assist system similar to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, offering Level 2 hands-on assistance. It 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, although headlights on units built before July 2021 received a Poor rating. The NHTSA gave the Outlander a five-star overall rating, with four-star ratings for frontal crash and rollover performance.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. It came standard with a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centring, with a hands-free version planned for future release.