Compare the2022 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVVS 2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid

The Outlander PHEV has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Rav4 Hybrid’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Outlander PHEV has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Rav4 Hybrid.

Both the Outlander PHEV and the Rav4 Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV weighs 464 to 554 pounds more than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Outlander PHEV comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Rav4 Hybrid’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Mitsubishi’s powertrain warranty covers the Outlander PHEV 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Rav4 Hybrid. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Rav4 Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Outlander PHEV’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Rav4 Hybrid’s (7 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mitsubishi vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mitsubishi third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 13th.

On the EPA test cycle the Outlander PHEV running on electricity gets better mileage than the Rav4 Hybrid (77 city/71 hwy MPGe vs. 41 city/38 hwy).

The Outlander PHEV’s maximum driving range in pure electric mode is 24 miles, 15 times as far as the Rav4 Hybrid’s 1.6 mile range.

The Outlander PHEV stops much shorter than the Rav4 Hybrid:

The Outlander PHEV’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Rav4 Hybrid LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The Outlander PHEV’s tires are lower profile than the Rav4 Hybrid XSE/Limited’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Outlander PHEV has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Rav4 Hybrid LE/XLE.

The Outlander PHEV’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54% to 46%) than the Rav4 Hybrid’s (56% to 44%). This gives the Outlander PHEV more stable handling and braking.

The Outlander PHEV GT handles at .76 G’s, while the Rav4 Hybrid XSE pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Outlander PHEV GT executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Rav4 Hybrid XSE (28 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

The Outlander PHEV has 3.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Rav4 Hybrid (102.1 vs. 98.9).

The Outlander PHEV has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more rear legroom and 4.2 inches more rear hip room than the Rav4 Hybrid.

The Outlander PHEV’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Rav4 Hybrid LE’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

The Outlander PHEV has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Rav4 Hybrid has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the XLE/XSE/Limited.

The Outlander PHEV’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Toyota charges extra for heated mirrors on the Rav4 Hybrid.

The Outlander PHEV GT has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.