Compare the2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVVS 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The Outlander PHEV SE/SEL has a standard Multi View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Crosstrek Hybrid only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

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

Both the Outlander PHEV and the Crosstrek Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 driver alert monitors.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV weighs 890 pounds more than the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is much safer than the Crosstrek Hybrid:

	Outlander PHEV	Crosstrek Hybrid
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	203	245
Head Peak Forces	no contact	55 G’s
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	.83 in	1.89 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	357 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.61 in	2.01 in
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	1071 lbs.	1116 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	125	231
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	89 lbs.
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	.31 in	2.09 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.75 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	3 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	469 lbs.	825 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outlander PHEV the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 55 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Crosstrek Hybrid last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Warranty

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

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

Reliability

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 Subaru 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, Subaru is rated below average.

Engine

The Outlander PHEV’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 100 more horsepower (248 vs. 148) than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Outlander PHEV can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 38 miles. The Crosstrek Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 17 miles.

The Outlander PHEV has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Crosstrek Hybrid (14.8 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Outlander PHEV	Crosstrek Hybrid
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	11.2 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Outlander PHEV has larger standard tires than the Crosstrek Hybrid (235/60R18 vs. 225/55R18). The Outlander PHEV SE/SEL’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Crosstrek Hybrid (255/45R20 vs. 225/55R18).

The Outlander PHEV SE/SEL’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Outlander PHEV SE/SEL has standard 20-inch wheels. The Crosstrek Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Outlander PHEV’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the Crosstrek Hybrid (106.5 inches vs. 104.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Outlander PHEV is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Crosstrek Hybrid.

Passenger Space

The Outlander PHEV has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Crosstrek Hybrid can only carry 5.

The Outlander PHEV has 24.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Crosstrek Hybrid (125.5 vs. 100.8).

The Outlander PHEV has .8 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Crosstrek Hybrid.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Outlander PHEV’s cargo area provides more volume than the Crosstrek Hybrid.

	Outlander PHEV	Crosstrek Hybrid
Third Seat Folded	33.5 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	15.9 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	64.7 cubic feet	43.1 cubic feet

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

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Outlander PHEV SE/SEL’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The Outlander PHEV’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s (1500 vs. 1000 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Outlander PHEV uses the Active 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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Outlander PHEV SEL, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver and front passenger’s seat positions and outside mirror angle. The Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Outlander PHEV SEL’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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Outlander PHEV’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Crosstrek Hybrid 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 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 Crosstrek Hybrid’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Outlander PHEV’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Crosstrek Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Outlander PHEV SE/SEL’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Outlander PHEV to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

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 Crosstrek Hybrid’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Outlander PHEV and the Crosstrek Hybrid offer available heated front seats. The Outlander PHEV SEL also offers optional heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Crosstrek Hybrid.

The Outlander PHEV SEL offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Crosstrek Hybrid.

The Outlander PHEV’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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Outlander PHEV and the Crosstrek Hybrid offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Outlander PHEV has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SE/SEL has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Outlander PHEV SEL has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.