Compare the2022 Kia TellurideVS 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

Both the Telluride and Outlander have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Telluride has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Outlander’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Both the Telluride and the Outlander have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Telluride the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 120 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Outlander has not been tested, yet.

There are over 2 times as many Kia dealers as there are Mitsubishi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Telluride’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mitsubishi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mitsubishi is ranked 6th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mitsubishi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mitsubishi is ranked 13th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mitsubishi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 5 places higher in reliability than Mitsubishi.

The Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 110 more horsepower (291 vs. 181) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 181) than the Outlander’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Kia Telluride is faster than the Mitsubishi Outlander:

The Telluride has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Outlander (18.8 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Telluride stops much shorter than the Outlander:

For better traction, the Telluride has larger tires than the Outlander (245/60R18 vs. 235/60R18).

The Telluride has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Outlander; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Telluride has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Outlander doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Telluride’s wheelbase is 7.7 inches longer than on the Outlander (114.2 inches vs. 106.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Telluride is 4.5 inches wider in the front and 4.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Outlander.

The Telluride’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55.7% to 44.3%) than the Outlander’s (57% to 43%). This gives the Telluride more stable handling and braking.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Telluride has standard flush composite headlights. The Outlander has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The Telluride has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Outlander can only carry 7.

The Telluride has 29.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Outlander (155 vs. 125.5).

The Telluride has .3 inches more front headroom, 4.9 inches more front hip room, 3.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom, 4.7 inches more rear hip room, 5.3 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.6 inches more third row headroom, 12.7 inches more third row legroom, 1.6 inches more third row hip room and 4.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the Outlander.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Telluride’s middle and third row seats recline. The Outlander’s middle and third row seats don’t recline.

The Telluride’s cargo area provides more volume than the Outlander.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Telluride. The Outlander doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Telluride’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Outlander’s (5000 vs. 2000 pounds).

The Telluride’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Outlander’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

The Telluride’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mitsubishi only offers heated mirrors on the Outlander SE/SEL.

The Telluride EX/SX has standard front air conditioned seats and the Telluride SX offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Outlander doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Telluride SX offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Outlander doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® chose the Kia Telluride as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Telluride was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2 of the last 2 years. The Outlander has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

Motor Trend selected the Telluride as their 2020 Sport Utility of the Year. The Outlander has never been chosen.