Compare the2023 Fiat 500XVS 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the 500X. But it costs extra on the Outlander Sport.

The 500X offers optional ParkSense to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or, optionally, in front of the vehicle. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The 500X Sport’s optional 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 Sport doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The 500X Sport offers optional Uconnect Access, 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 Sport doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the 500X and the Outlander Sport 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Fiat 500X is safer than the Outlander Sport:

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the 500X the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 227 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Outlander Sport was not even a “Top Safety Pick” for 2016.

The 500X’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Outlander Sport’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 10 percent more Fiat dealers than there are Mitsubishi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 500X’s warranty.

The engine in the 500X has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the Outlander Sport have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the 500X has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Outlander Sport’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

The 500X’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 29 more horsepower (177 vs. 148) and 65 lbs.-ft. more torque (210 vs. 145) than the Outlander Sport’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The 500X’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (177 vs. 168) and 43 lbs.-ft. more torque (210 vs. 167) than the Outlander Sport GT’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the 500X gets better mileage than the Outlander Sport:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 500X’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The 500X 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 Sport doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Fiat 500X higher (6 out of 10) than the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport (5). This means the 500X produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Outlander Sport every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the 500X’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Outlander Sport:

The 500X’s brakes have 13% more swept area (the area covered by the brake pads) than the Outlander Sport (481 vs. 424 square inches), so the 500X has more braking power available.

The 500X stops much shorter than the Outlander Sport:

The 500X AWD’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Outlander Sport S’ standard 70 series tires. The 500X Sport’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Outlander Sport ES/LE/SE/GT’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 500X AWD has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Outlander Sport S. The 500X Sport’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Outlander Sport ES/LE/SE/GT.

The 500X Pop handles at .79 G’s, while the Outlander Sport 4WD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The 500X Pop executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Outlander Sport SE 4WD (28 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

The 500X is 4.7 inches shorter than the Outlander Sport, making the 500X easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The 500X has 1.2 inches more front hip room and .6 inches more rear hip room than the Outlander Sport.

The 500X has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Outlander Sport has no towing capacity.

The 500X’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Outlander Sport has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The power windows standard on both the 500X and the Outlander Sport have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the 500X is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Outlander Sport prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The 500X’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its front windows also automatically close, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Outlander Sport’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

The Outlander Sport’s standard power locks don’t automatically lock the doors. The 500X’s standard doors lock when a certain speed is reached. 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 500X has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Outlander Sport only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 500X Sport has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the 500X has standard extendable sun visors. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The 500X Sport’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the 500X Sport offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Insurance will cost less for the 500X owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the 500X will cost $1170 to $3130 less than the Outlander Sport over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 500X is less expensive to operate than the Outlander Sport because it costs $164 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the 500X than the Outlander Sport, including $73 less for a water pump, $142 less for a muffler, $5 less for front brake pads, $211 less for a starter, $121 less for a fuel pump, $178 less for front struts, $158 less for a timing belt/chain and $472 less for a power steering pump.