Compare the2025 Mitsubishi OutlanderVS 2025 Honda Pilot

The Outlander 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.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mitsubishi Outlander achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Honda Pilot has not been tested.

Both the Outlander 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, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and 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 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 120 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Pilot has not been fully tested, yet.

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

Mitsubishi pays for scheduled maintenance (up to 3 visits) on the Outlander for 1 year and 18000 miles longer than Honda pays for maintenance for the Pilot (2/30,000 vs. 1/12000).

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Outlander’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Pilot’s camshafts. If the Pilot’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Outlander has a standard 720-amp battery. The Pilot’s 650-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Outlander’s reliability 11 points higher than the Pilot.

On the EPA test cycle the Outlander gets better mileage than the Pilot:

The Outlander has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Pilot doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Outlander’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Pilot are solid, not vented.

The Outlander stops much shorter than the Pilot:

The Outlander SE/SEL/Platinum’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/Black Edition’s 50 series tires.

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

The Outlander SEL AWC handles at .85 G’s, while the Pilot Elite pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Outlander SEL AWC executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Pilot TrailSport (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Outlander’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Pilot TrailSport’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.7 feet). The Outlander’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 ES has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Pilot (8.3 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Outlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outlander SE/SEL/Platinum’s minimum ground clearance is .1 inch higher than on the Pilot TrailSport (8.4 vs. 8.3 inches).

The Mitsubishi Outlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 800 pounds less than the Honda Pilot.

The Outlander is 1 foot, 2.1 inches shorter than the Pilot, making the Outlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

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

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Mitsubishi service is better than Honda. J.D. Power ranks Mitsubishi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 12% lower rating, Honda is ranked 12th.

The Outlander ES’ 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 S-AWC has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Pilot doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mitsubishi Outlander and the Honda Pilot, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Outlander second among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Pilot isn’t in the top three in its category.