Compare the2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVVS 2023 Ford Explorer

The Outlander PHEV has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Explorer doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outlander PHEV. But it costs extra on the Explorer.

Both the Outlander PHEV and the Explorer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outlander PHEV its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 137 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Explorer is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

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 Explorer’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 Ford covers the Explorer. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Explorer ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mitsubishi vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mitsubishi above average in long-term dependability. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

The Outlander PHEV’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 310) than the Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder. The Outlander PHEV’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 322) than the Explorer’s optional 3.3 DOHC V6 hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Outlander PHEV running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Explorer:

The Outlander PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 38 miles. The Explorer has to start its internal combustion engine after only 3 miles.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Explorer ST/Platinum/King Ranch/Timberline requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

For better stopping power the Outlander PHEV’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Explorer:

The Outlander PHEV’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 Explorer’s standard 65 series tires.

The Outlander PHEV has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Explorer doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Outlander PHEV SEL Premium handles at .85 G’s, while the Explorer XLT 4WD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Outlander PHEV’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Explorer’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Outlander PHEV is 1 foot, 1.4 inches shorter than the Explorer, making the Outlander PHEV easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Outlander PHEV is 5.7 inches narrower than the Explorer, making the Outlander PHEV easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Outlander PHEV’s middle and third row seats recline. The Explorer’s third row seats don’t recline.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Explorer (except Base/XLT/ST-Line), the Outlander PHEV has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Outlander PHEV SEL offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Explorer doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Outlander PHEV SE/SEL’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Explorer’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 Outlander PHEV’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Explorer’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Outlander PHEV has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Explorer doesn’t offer headlight washers.

When the Outlander PHEV SEL is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Explorer’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.