Compare the2023 Mitsubishi Outlander SportVS 2022 Chevrolet Trax

The Outlander Sport has standard Active Front Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Front Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Trax doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Outlander Sport has standard Forward Collision Mitigation, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Trax doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The Outlander Sport’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The Trax doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

Both the Outlander Sport and the Trax 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is safer than the Chevrolet Trax:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in the IIHS moderate overlap frontal impact, side impact, rear impact, roof-crush crash tests, an “Acceptable” rating in the newer small overlap frontal crash test, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outlander Sport its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2015, a rating granted to only 227 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Trax is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2015.

The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has a better fatality history. The Outlander Sport was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 7.9% lower per vehicle registered than the Trax, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

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

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

The Outlander Sport’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Trax’s (7/100,000 vs. 6/100,000).

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Outlander Sport has a standard 530-amp battery. The Trax’s 525-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The Outlander Sport GT’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 13 more horsepower (168 vs. 155) than the Trax’s 1.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

The Outlander Sport has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Trax (15.8 vs. 14 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Outlander Sport has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Trax doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Rear drums are standard on the Trax. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

For better traction, the Outlander Sport has larger standard tires than the Trax (215/70R16 vs. 205/70R16). The Outlander Sport ES/LE/SE/GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Trax (225/55R18 vs. 215/55R18).

For superior ride and handling, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Chevrolet Trax has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Outlander Sport has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Outlander Sport flat and controlled during cornering. The Trax’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Outlander Sport’s wheelbase is 4.5 inches longer than on the Trax (105.1 inches vs. 100.6 inches).

The Outlander Sport SE 4WD handles at .80 G’s, while the Trax LT AWD pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Outlander Sport’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Trax LS’ (34.8 feet vs. 35.4 feet). The Outlander Sport’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Trax LT’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outlander Sport has a 2.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Trax (8.5 vs. 6.2 inches), allowing the Outlander Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Outlander Sport has 4.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Trax (97.5 vs. 92.8).

The Outlander Sport has .8 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear legroom, .9 inches more rear hip room and 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Trax.

The Outlander Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Trax with its rear seat up (21.7 vs. 18.7 cubic feet). The Outlander Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Trax with its rear seat folded (49.5 vs. 48.4 cubic feet).

The Outlander Sport has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Trax doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Outlander Sport’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 Trax’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Outlander Sport’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Trax LS’ standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen. The Outlander Sport’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Trax’s projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Outlander Sport detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Trax doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

The Outlander Sport’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Chevrolet only offers heated mirrors on the Trax LT.

The Outlander Sport’s standard rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Trax doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

The Outlander Sport’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Trax doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

The Outlander Sport’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Trax’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

With standard voice command, the Outlander Sport LE/SE/GT offers the driver hands free control of the radio and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Trax doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Insurance will cost less for the Outlander Sport owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Outlander Sport with a number “1” insurance rate while the Trax is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

The Outlander Sport will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Outlander Sport will retain 47.78% to 49.36% of its original price after five years, while the Trax only retains 44.34% to 44.74%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Outlander Sport is less expensive to operate than the Trax because typical repairs cost much less on the Outlander Sport than the Trax, including $358 less for a muffler, $7 less for front brake pads and $526 less for a timing belt/chain.