Mitsubishi Outlander vs Lexus NX Hybrid

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander, available in six trims in Canada, featured Mitsubishi’s Super All-wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel drive system as standard across all trims. Its exterior design was bold and distinctive, with a unique lighting arrangement that included a thin upper eyebrow functioning as a daytime running light and a large, square headlight beneath it. Despite subtle changes to the front end, such as a smoother upper grille and minor diffuser modifications, the Outlander maintained its polarizing appearance. Inside, the top 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 upscale feel.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid, particularly the NX 350h F Sport 3 model, was characterized by its over-stylized design, featuring a large, intricately patterned spindle grille and squinting LED headlights. Its sporty profile was complemented by dark trim elements and 20-inch wheels, while the fastback roof shape echoed coupe-like crossovers. Inside, the NX Hybrid combined a sporty look with modern technology, including a digital instrument cluster and a large touchscreen angled toward the driver. The F Sport 3 model boasted dark graphite aluminum trim, metal pedals, and optional two-tone Circuit Red synthetic leather upholstery, enhancing its sporty appeal. The interior was adorned with soft-touch surfaces, contributing to an upscale feel.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. While its S-AWC AWD system, developed from rally racing, provided stability on curvy roads, the Outlander’s acceleration was lacklustre, and the CVT exhibited a droning rubber-band feeling. Despite its eight-step division, the transmission struggled under duress. The Outlander’s fuel economy was rated at 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres combined, falling short of competitors like the non-hybrid Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 with AWD. However, the plug-in hybrid variant offered 248 horsepower, 332 pound-feet of torque, and a fuel rating of 3.6 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres, with 61 kilometres of all-electric range.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid, specifically the NX 350h F Sport 3, featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and three electric motors, delivering 240 horsepower. Despite its adaptive dampers and firmer suspension, the NX Hybrid wasn’t particularly sporty, with handling described as controlled rather than agile. The ride was firm yet comfortable, even on broken surfaces. The hybrid powertrain provided a 7.2-second 0 to 96 km/h time, but power delivery felt slushy, and the engine droned under hard acceleration. The NX 450h plug-in hybrid offered a more powerful option with 340 horsepower.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander included a third row of seating, though it was cramped with only 475 millimetres of legroom, making it suitable for small children or occasional use. With the third row in place, cargo space was limited to less than 308 litres, but folding it down expanded storage to 866 litres. The driver’s seat featured easy-to-reach physical controls for the HVAC system, and the top-line tester included heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. However, the cup holders were shallow, causing issues with larger bottles during turns.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid’s F Sport 3 model offered well-bolstered front seats with ample room for tall adults, along with power seat and steering wheel adjustments for comfort. Heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control were standard. The rear seat accommodated average-sized adults, though legroom was limited at 917 millimetres. The NX’s cargo space was relatively low for its class, with 643 litres behind the rear seats and 1,328 litres with them folded. The coupe-like roof shape contributed to this limitation, but the cargo hold remained practical for everyday use.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander’s standout feature was its Yamaha premium sound system, available with up to 12 speakers and customizable sound modes. The infotainment system included a 12.3-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a physical volume knob and camera system button. Upper trims offered a digital gauge cluster, rear camera mirror, and head-up display. Mitsubishi Connect provided remote services, including vehicle start and status alerts, with a subscription required after the trial period.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid came standard with a 9.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch touchscreen, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was optional. The Remote Connect subscription allowed remote starting and vehicle status alerts. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a volume dial and embedded temperature controls for convenience. An energy flow monitor could be displayed in the instrument cluster and on the touchscreen.

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 hadn’t rated the 2025 model, but the 2024 version received favourable ratings. The IIHS gave the 2025 Outlander a “Good” rating for headlights, with previous models receiving similar ratings for crashworthiness.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid excelled in safety, earning the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. It came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, including blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included automatic parking and a surround-view camera system. The NX performed well in crash tests, with high ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.