Compare the2023 Jeep CherokeeVS 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

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

Safety

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The Jeep Cherokee 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 Outlander Sport doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Cherokee has standard Parksense with Rear Stop that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Cherokee’s optional Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Cherokee has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Outlander Sport SE/GT offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Cherokee has standard Rear Cross-Path Detection, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Outlander Sport SE/GT offers rear cross-path warning.

The Cherokee has standard SiriusXM Guardian, 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 Cherokee 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, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

The Jeep Cherokee weighs 579 to 997 pounds more than the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Jeep Cherokee is safer than the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport:

	Cherokee	Outlander Sport
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	204	208
Neck Stress	408 lbs.	412 lbs.
Neck Compression	41 lbs.	90 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	166	251
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	37%	43%
Neck Stress	218 lbs.	221 lbs.
Neck Compression	26 lbs.	91 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	241/259 lbs.	394/494 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 Jeep Cherokee is safer than the Outlander Sport:

	Cherokee	Outlander Sport
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	1 cm	1 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Tibia index R/L	.44/.53	.68/.36

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Jeep Cherokee is safer than the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport:

	Cherokee	Outlander Sport
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	64	163
Abdominal Force	133 lbs.	163 lbs.
Hip Force	363 lbs.	518 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	264	349
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	17 inches
HIC	203	365
Hip Force	490 lbs.	807 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, rear impact and roof-crush tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, its “Good” rating in the new passenger-side small overlap crash test, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Cherokee the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2019, a rating granted to only 195 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Outlander Sport was not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2016.

The Jeep Cherokee has a better fatality history. The Cherokee was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 31.5% lower per vehicle registered than the Outlander Sport, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Warranty

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

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cherokee for 3 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance (up to 3 oil changes). Mitsubishi doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Outlander Sport.

There are over 7 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Mitsubishi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Cherokee’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Cherokee has a standard 160-amp alternator (180-amp - Cherokee optional). The Outlander Sport’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Cherokee has a standard 700-amp battery. The Outlander Sport’s 530-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Mitsubishi vehicles. With 27 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Jeep higher than Mitsubishi.

Engine

The Cherokee’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 32 more horsepower (180 vs. 148) and 26 lbs.-ft. more torque (171 vs. 145) than the Outlander Sport’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Cherokee’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 12 more horsepower (180 vs. 168) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (171 vs. 167) than the Outlander Sport GT’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Cherokee Trailhawk’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 102 more horsepower (270 vs. 168) and 128 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 167) than the Outlander Sport GT’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Jeep Cherokee 4 cyl. is faster than the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	Cherokee	Outlander Sport
Zero to 60 MPH	9.5 sec	10.1 sec
Quarter Mile	17.2 sec	17.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	80.5 MPH	78.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Cherokee’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 Cherokee 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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Cherokee	Outlander Sport
Front Rotors	13 inches	11.6 inches

The Cherokee’s brakes have 17% more swept area (the area covered by the brake pads) than the Outlander Sport (494.2 vs. 424 square inches).

The Cherokee stops shorter than the Outlander Sport:

	Cherokee	Outlander Sport
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Cherokee has larger standard tires than the Outlander Sport (225/60R18 vs. 215/70R16). The Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Outlander Sport (245/65R17 vs. 225/55R18).

The Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Outlander Sport S’ standard 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cherokee has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Outlander Sport S.

The Cherokee 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 Outlander Sport doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Cherokee Trailhawk has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Outlander Sport; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Cherokee’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cherokee’s wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the Outlander Sport (106.6 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Cherokee is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Outlander Sport.

The Cherokee’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (57.8% to 42.2%) than the Outlander Sport’s (59% to 41%). This gives the Cherokee more stable handling and braking.

The Cherokee Altitude LUX handles at .80 G’s, while the Outlander Sport 4WD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Cherokee Altitude LUX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Outlander Sport SE 4WD (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 29 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Cherokee Trailhawk has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Outlander Sport (8.7 vs. 8.5 inches), allowing the Cherokee to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Cherokee (except Trailhawk) 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 Sport doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Cherokee uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Cherokee has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Outlander Sport (103.5 vs. 97.5).

The Cherokee has 1.7 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom and 4 inches more rear legroom than the Outlander Sport.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Cherokee’s rear seats recline. The Outlander Sport’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Outlander Sport with its rear seat up (27.6 vs. 21.7 cubic feet). The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Outlander Sport with its rear seat folded (54.7 vs. 49.5 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Cherokee. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Cherokee has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Payload and Towing

The Cherokee has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Outlander Sport has no towing capacity.

The Cherokee 4x4 with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Cherokee can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Outlander Sport can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Cherokee 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 Sport doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Cherokee has a higher standard payload capacity than the Outlander Sport (1000 vs. 827 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

The Cherokee uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Outlander Sport uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Cherokee, the optional memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle and radio stations. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Cherokee’s optional 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 Sport doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Cherokee’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 Cherokee and the Outlander Sport have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Cherokee 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 Cherokee’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 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 Cherokee’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 Cherokee 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 shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Cherokee has standard extendable sun visors. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer extendable visors.

When the Cherokee with available tilt-down mirrors 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 Outlander Sport’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Cherokee keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Cherokee’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Cherokee’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.

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

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Cherokee has a standard 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.

The Cherokee has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Cherokee’s ParkSense Parallel/Perpendicular Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Cherokee is less expensive to operate than the Outlander Sport because it costs $364 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Cherokee than the Outlander Sport, including $109 less for a water pump, $172 less for fuel injection, $19 less for a fuel pump and $637 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Jeep Cherokee outsold the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport by over two to one during 2022.