Compare the2024 Volkswagen TaosVS 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Taos deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Taos’ side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Outlander Sport’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Taos has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Taos SEL has standard Maneuver Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Taos’ standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

The Taos has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the Outlander Sport SE/GT offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Taos has standard Rear Traffic Alert and automatically engage the brakes. Only the Outlander Sport SE/GT offers Rear Cross Traffic Alert and the Outlander Sport’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

The Taos has standard Car-Net, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to 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 Taos and the Outlander Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and rear parking sensors.

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

	Taos	Outlander Sport
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Compression	28 lbs.	90 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	103/74 lbs.	334/511 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	224	251
Neck Stress	135 lbs.	221 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 Volkswagen Taos is safer than the Outlander Sport:

	Taos	Outlander Sport
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
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	.55/.36	.68/.36
Tibia forces R/L	1.8/.9 kN	1.9/1.9 kN

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 Volkswagen Taos is safer than the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport:

	Taos	Outlander Sport
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	111	163
Abdominal Force	115 lbs.	163 lbs.
Hip Force	394 lbs.	518 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	673 lbs.	794 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	17 inches
HIC	338	365

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Taos is 1.7% to 2.2% less likely to roll over than the Outlander Sport.

Warranty

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Taos for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mitsubishi doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Outlander Sport.

There are almost 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Mitsubishi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Taos’ warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Taos has a standard 640-amp battery. The Outlander Sport’s 530-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (158 vs. 148) and 39 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 145) than the Outlander Sport’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 167) than the Outlander Sport GT’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen Taos is faster than the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	Taos	Outlander Sport
Zero to 60 MPH	7.4 sec	9.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	21.5 sec	32 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.4 sec	10.2 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	17.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87 MPH	79 MPH
Top Speed	130 MPH	113 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Taos
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/36 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/32 hwy
Outlander Sport
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
		2.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/28 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Taos’ 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.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Taos higher (7 out of 10) than the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport (5). This means the Taos produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Outlander Sport every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Taos	Outlander Sport
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	11.6 inches

The Taos stops shorter than the Outlander Sport:

	Taos	Outlander Sport
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Taos S’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Outlander Sport S’ standard 70 series tires. The Taos 4Motion’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 Taos S has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Outlander Sport S. The Taos 4Motion’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Outlander Sport ES/LE/SE/GT.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Taos is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 0 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Outlander Sport.

The Taos SEL 4Motion handles at .85 G’s, while the Outlander Sport SE 4WD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Taos SEL executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Outlander Sport SE 4WD (28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 29 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Taos has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom and 1.6 inches more rear legroom than the Outlander Sport.

Cargo Capacity

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Outlander Sport with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 21.7 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Outlander Sport with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 49.5 cubic feet).

Payload

The Taos has a higher standard payload capacity than the Outlander Sport (948 vs. 827 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Taos’ 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 Taos and the Outlander Sport have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Taos 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 Taos’ 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.

On a hot day the Taos’ driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Outlander Sport can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Outlander Sport’s standard power locks don’t automatically lock the doors. The Taos’ 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. (The power lock’s automatic feature may have to be activated by your dealer.)

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Taos to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Taos SE Black/SEL has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Taos SE Black/SEL also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To shield the driver’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side window, the Taos has a standard extendable sun visor. The Outlander Sport doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Taos SEL AWD 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 Taos’ 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 Taos SE/SEL’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 Taos and the Outlander Sport offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Taos offers optional 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 Taos 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.

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

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Taos outsold the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport by almost four to one during 2022.