Compare the2026 Mitsubishi OutlanderVS 2026 Jeep Cherokee

The Mitsubishi Outlander has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 Cherokee doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 Cherokee doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Outlander and the Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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.

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

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

Mitsubishi pays for scheduled maintenance on the Outlander for 2 years and 30,000 miles. Mitsubishi will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 3 visits). Jeep doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Cherokee.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Outlander has a standard 720-amp battery. The Cherokee’s 550-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mitsubishi vehicles are more reliable than Jeep With 19 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mitsubishi higher than Jeep.

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

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 Cherokee are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Outlander has larger standard tires than the Cherokee (235/60R18 vs. 225/65R17). The Outlander SE/SEL’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cherokee (255/45R20 vs. 235/50R20).

The Outlander ES/Trail’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cherokee’s standard 65 series tires. The Outlander SE/SEL’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Cherokee Overland’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Outlander ES/Trail has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Cherokee.

For better maneuverability, the Outlander’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the Cherokee’s (36.7 feet vs. 40.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outlander ES/Trail has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Cherokee (8.3 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Outlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outlander SE/SEL’s minimum ground clearance is .4 inch higher than on the Cherokee (8.4 vs. 8 inches).

The Mitsubishi Outlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 550 pounds less than the Jeep Cherokee.

The Outlander has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Cherokee can only carry 5.

The Outlander has 18.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cherokee (125.5 vs. 107.4).

The Outlander has .4 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more front shoulder room than the Cherokee.

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

The Outlander SEL offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction, infotainment and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Outlander SE/SEL/Trail’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 Cherokee’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 Cherokee doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Outlander to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Cherokee doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Outlander 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 Cherokee’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Mitsubishi Outlander and Jeep Cherokee offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Outlander 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 Cherokee’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 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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