Mitsubishi Outlander vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander was available in Canada in six trims: ES, SE, LE, SEL, GT, and GT Premium, all featuring Mitsubishi’s Super All-wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD 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 luxurious experience with quilted leather seats and soft-touch surfaces, complemented by Yamaha speaker faces inspired by traditional Japanese patterns. However, some plastic elements detracted from the overall upscale feel.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, particularly in its Platinum Hybrid Max trim, presented a more conservative and familiar design, reminiscent of the popular RAV4 but on a larger scale. This approach resulted in a spacious vehicle with seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior prioritized function, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim, though some hard plastic surfaces were evident. The climate system was user-friendly, featuring large knobs for temperature adjustments, while the infotainment interface had room for improvement with its small volume knob and lack of a tuning knob. Overall, the Grand Highlander’s design was practical and family-friendly, with a focus on comfort and usability.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander was powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. While the S-AWC AWD system, developed from Mitsubishi’s rally racing heritage, provided stability and poise on curvy roads, the engine’s performance left something to be desired. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) exhibited the typical droning characteristic, and acceleration was sluggish, making highway merging and city driving less enjoyable. Despite the retuned suspension for 2025, which improved comfort and reduced body roll, the Outlander’s fuel economy of 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres combined was less competitive compared to non-hybrid rivals like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The plug-in hybrid variant offered a more powerful alternative with 248 horsepower and a fuel rating of 3.6 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max emphasized performance with its turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, delivering 362 net horsepower. This setup allowed the Grand Highlander to accelerate swiftly, aided by a traditional six-speed automatic transmission that avoided the droning of CVTs. While the Hybrid Max’s fuel economy was rated at 8.8 L/100 km combined, it offered impressive towing capacity of up to 2,268 kilograms. During testing, the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max averaged 9.1 L/100 km on a balanced city and highway route. The powertrain’s acceleration was smooth and confident, with electric motors mitigating turbo lag. The ride quality was soft and isolating, though handling was secure only up to a modest point, with early tire scrub and squeal during spirited driving.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander featured 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 offered easy access to 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 driving.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid excelled in interior space, offering comfortable seating across all three rows and a maximum cargo capacity of over 2,700 litres. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with a mix of leather and artificial suede upholstery, providing a premium feel. The second-row captain’s chairs with a removable centre console allowed for easy access to the third row. While the rear doors were long and required ample space to open, the third-row seats were reasonably comfortable for adults and tall teens. Cargo space behind the third row was 586 litres, expandable to 1,640 litres with the third row folded, and up to 2,761 litres with the second row down.

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, complemented by a physical volume knob and camera system button. Upper trims offered a digital gauge cluster, rear camera mirror, and head-up display. Mitsubishi Connect and Remote Services were available with trial periods, offering features like remote start and live traffic information.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and access to music services. The system was user-friendly, though it lacked the ability to display multiple main-menu screens simultaneously. The digital voice assistant responded accurately to commands, enhancing the user experience. The Platinum trim included a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and surround-view camera system. The JBL premium audio system provided impressive sound quality, rounding out the Grand Highlander’s tech offerings.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander offered a basic suite of safety features, 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 Outlander received mixed safety ratings, with a four-star rollover rating from NHTSA and a “Good” rating for headlights from IIHS. However, its front crash prevention was rated “Poor,” highlighting areas for improvement.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive array of safety features, including lane keep assist and Proactive Driving Assist. While the safety tech generally operated well, some features like the PDA system were found to be intrusive. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA but fell short of IIHS’s Top Safety Pick due to “Acceptable” ratings for headlights and frontal-impact protection.