Compare the2023 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In HybridVS 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited has standard Reverse Collision-Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Tucson Plug-In 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.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a standard Blue Link, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or 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 Tucson Plug-In 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 around view monitors.

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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid with leather seats is safer than the Outlander PHEV:

	Tucson Plug-In Hybrid	Outlander PHEV
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Restraint Design	GOOD	GOOD
Distance from Back of Head	18 mm	48 mm
Distance Below Top of Head	-8 mm	2 mm
Dynamic Test Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Seat Design	Pass	Fail
Neck Force Rating	Low	Low
Max Neck Shearing Force	14	47
Max Neck Tension	347	488

(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 standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 106 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Outlander PHEV is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick.”

Warranty

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s 7 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Outlander PHEV runs out after 100,000 miles.

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mitsubishi doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Outlander PHEV.

There are almost 3 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Mitsubishi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Tucson Plug-In 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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Mitsubishi vehicles. With 41 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Hyundai higher than Mitsubishi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mitsubishi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mitsubishi is ranked 14th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mitsubishi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 14 places higher in reliability than Mitsubishi.

Engine

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 40 more horsepower (261 vs. 221) than the Outlander PHEV’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the Outlander PHEV running on electricity (87 city/74 hwy vs. 77 city/71 hwy MPGe).

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

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 33 miles. The Outlander PHEV has to start its internal combustion engine after only 24 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Outlander PHEV:

	Tucson Plug-In Hybrid	Outlander PHEV
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	12 inches	11.9 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has larger tires than the Outlander PHEV (235/55R19 vs. 225/55R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the Outlander PHEV.

Suspension and Handling

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Outlander PHEV’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the Outlander PHEV (108.5 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid is 3 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Outlander PHEV.

Chassis

The front grille of the Tucson Plug-In 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.

Passenger Space

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has 3.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Outlander PHEV (105.9 vs. 102.1).

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has .5 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom and 2 inches more rear hip room than the Outlander PHEV.

Cargo Capacity

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume than the Outlander PHEV with its rear seat up (31.9 vs. 30.4 cubic feet).

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

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind 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.

Towing

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Outlander PHEV’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited, 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited’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.

The power windows standard on both the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid and the Outlander PHEV have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Outlander PHEV prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Outlander PHEV’s standard power locks don’t automatically lock the doors. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s standard doors lock when the transmission is engaged. This is an important feature for occupant safety. Locked doors are proven to open less often in collisions, and they are also effective in preventing crime at traffic lights.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Tucson Plug-In 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Outlander PHEV’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has standard extendable sun visors. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid and the Outlander PHEV have standard heated front seats. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Outlander PHEV.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is standard on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited. The Tucson Plug-In 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 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid will be $2715 to $4898 less than for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid third among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Outlander PHEV isn’t in the top three.

The Hyundai Tucson outsold the Mitsubishi Outlander by almost four to one during the 2022 model year.