Compare the2022 Honda CR-V HybridVS 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-V Hybrid deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The CR-V Hybrid’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Outlander PHEV’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The CR-V Hybrid’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Compared to metal, the CR-V Hybrid’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has a metal gas tank.

The CR-V Hybrid has standard HondaLink Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a GPS response system, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the CR-V Hybrid and the Outlander PHEV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available rear parking sensors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the general design of front seat head restraints for their ability to protect front seat occupants from whiplash injuries. The IIHS also performs a dynamic test on those seats with “good” or “acceptable” geometry. In these ratings, the CR-V Hybrid is safer than the Outlander PHEV:

(Lower numerical results are better in all tests.)

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 “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CR-V Hybrid the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 137 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Outlander PHEV is not a “Top Pick.”

The CR-V Hybrid’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Outlander PHEV’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 3 times as many Honda dealers as there are Mitsubishi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CR-V Hybrid’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the CR-V Hybrid’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Outlander PHEV’s camshafts. If the Outlander PHEV’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Mitsubishi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 15 places higher in reliability than Mitsubishi.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda CR-V Hybrid is faster than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV:

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the Outlander PHEV running its gasoline engine (40 city/35 hwy vs. 26 city/26 hwy).

The CR-V Hybrid has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Outlander PHEV (14 vs. 11.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the CR-V Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Outlander PHEV:

The CR-V Hybrid stops much shorter than the Outlander PHEV:

For better traction, the CR-V Hybrid has larger tires than the Outlander PHEV (235/60R18 vs. 225/55R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CR-V Hybrid Touring has standard 19-inch wheels. The Outlander PHEV’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CR-V Hybrid is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Outlander PHEV.

The CR-V Hybrid Touring handles at .81 G’s, while the Outlander PHEV GT pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the CR-V Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Outlander PHEV (8.2 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the CR-V Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 550 pounds less than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

The front grille of the CR-V Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The CR-V Hybrid uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The CR-V Hybrid has .4 inches more front legroom, 2.5 inches more front hip room, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom and 2.5 inches more rear legroom than the Outlander PHEV.

The CR-V Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Outlander PHEV with its rear seat up (33.2 vs. 30.4 cubic feet). The CR-V Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Outlander PHEV with its rear seat folded (68.7 vs. 66.6 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CR-V Hybrid’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

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

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the CR-V Hybrid Touring’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

When two different drivers share the CR-V Hybrid, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer memory seats.

The CR-V Hybrid EX-L/Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

If the windows are left open on the CR-V Hybrid the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Outlander PHEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CR-V Hybrid has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Outlander PHEV only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The CR-V Hybrid’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Outlander PHEV’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the CR-V Hybrid has standard extendable sun visors. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is standard on the CR-V Hybrid Touring. The CR-V Hybrid’s navigation system also has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a navigation system.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda CR-V Hybrid Touring has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Insurance will cost less for the CR-V Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CR-V Hybrid will cost $565 less than the Outlander PHEV over a five-year period.

The CR-V Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the CR-V Hybrid will retain 55.97% to 56.86% of its original price after five years, while the Outlander PHEV only retains 42.57% to 42.58%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda CR-V Hybrid will be $10718 to $12030 less than for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda CR-V Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The CR-V was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 20 years. The Outlander PHEV has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

Motor Trend selected the CR-V as their 2018 Sport Utility of the Year. The Outlander PHEV has never been chosen.

The Honda CR-V outsold the Mitsubishi Outlander by over 14 to one during the 2021 model year.