Compare the2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVVS 2025 Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid

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 Rav4 Plug-In 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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Outlander PHEV’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Outlander PHEV’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Outlander PHEV and the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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 available around view monitors.

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 safer than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid:

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 Rav4 Plug-In 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 Toyota covers the Rav4 Plug-In 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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Outlander PHEV’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s (7 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mitsubishi vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mitsubishi above average in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

For better stopping power the Outlander PHEV’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid:

The Outlander PHEV stops much shorter than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid:

For better traction, the Outlander PHEV has larger standard tires than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid (235/60R18 vs. 225/60R18). The Outlander PHEV SE/SEL’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid (255/45R20 vs. 235/55R19).

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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Outlander PHEV SE/SEL has standard 20-inch wheels. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 19-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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Outlander PHEV has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Outlander PHEV’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s (56% to 44%). This gives the Outlander PHEV more stable handling and braking.

The Outlander PHEV SEL Premium handles at .85 G’s, while the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Outlander PHEV has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid can only carry 5.

The Outlander PHEV has 21.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid (122.9 vs. 101.3).

The Outlander PHEV has 2.9 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear legroom and 5.6 inches more rear hip room than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid.

The Outlander PHEV’s cargo area provides more volume than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid.

The Outlander PHEV’s cargo area is larger than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s in almost every dimension:

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Outlander PHEV’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Mitsubishi service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Mitsubishi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 24% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 21st.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat optional at extra cost in the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE, the Outlander PHEV SEL 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’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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’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 Rav4 Plug-In 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 Rav4 Plug-In 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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Outlander PHEV offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid.