Compare the2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVVS 2023 Honda Pilot

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 Pilot 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 Pilot.

Both the Outlander PHEV and the Pilot 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 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 Pilot has not been tested, yet.

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

The Outlander PHEV’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Pilot’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 Honda 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, Honda is rated below average.

The Outlander PHEV’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is faster than the Honda Pilot:

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

The Outlander PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 38 miles. The Pilot can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Outlander PHEV’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Pilot doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Outlander PHEV stops much shorter than the Pilot:

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 Pilot Sport/Touring/Elite’s 50 series tires.

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

For better maneuverability, the Outlander PHEV’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Pilot’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outlander PHEV has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Pilot (7.8 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Outlander PHEV to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Outlander PHEV is 1 foot, 2.5 inches shorter than the Pilot, making the Outlander PHEV easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Outlander PHEV is 5.3 inches narrower than the Pilot, making the Outlander PHEV easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Outlander PHEV has .1 inches more front headroom and .7 inches more front legroom than the Pilot.

The Outlander PHEV has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly, without having to lift, carry or store heavy seats, like in the Pilot.

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

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite, 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’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 Pilot’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Pilot doesn’t offer headlight washers.

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 Pilot.