At a glance, both Mitsubishi Outlander and the Nissan X-Trail are two great crossover Sports Utility Vehicles that can take you to places you can only imagine. You might be thinking of buying a Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) and of the many choices that are there, you have arrived at a point that you have to choose between these two. On this Mitsubishi Outlander vs Nissan X-Trail review, we’ll walk you through the nitty-gritty of the two to help you arrive at an informed decision on which of these two great cars will suit you best.
Nissan X-Trail vs Mitsubishi Outlander Side-by-Side Comparison
(*Prices are reflective of average BE FORWARD pricings as of September 2020.)
Nissan X-Trail Mitsubishi Outlander
Generations 3 (T30, T31, and T32) 3 (CU, CW, and GF)
Production Year 2000 to Present 2001 to Present
Engine Performance 140 HP - 177 HP 125 HP - 217 HP
Fuel Consumption 10.6 KM/L - 13.7 KM/L 10.2 KM/L - 17.9 KM/L
Drive Train FWD and 4WD FWD and 4WD
Key Features Alloy wheels, power window, ABS, power steering, Radio Alloy wheels, rear spoiler, airbags, AC, Radio
Seating Capacity 5 or 7 Passengers 5 or 7 Passengers
BE FORWARD Price US $1240 - US $ 35580 US $ 1440 - US $ 23220
Exterior/Interior Comparison
Nissan X-Trail
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Interior
The X-Trail has a high-quality interior depending on the trim. You can choose from plain cloth seats to heated leather seats, the driver’s position is high with electric seat adjustment for both the driver and the front passenger. The base model of the X-Trail comes with a 4 speaker radio with a 5-inch screen (the high-end model comes with an 8-speaker Bose audio system and a 7-inch screen) which doubles as the navigation screen as well. The car has a lovely steering wheel and soft-touch dashboard and door tops. Storage is good, with two large cup holders, a large and deep central bin between the front seats, a good size tray in front of the gear shifter, and a USB port plus a 12v socket above it and small bottle holders on the doors. The rear seats offer lots of space with enough toe, head, and legroom, a foldable armrest with cup holders, and rear air vents between the front seats. At the rear, the X-Trail has enough luggage space of up to 565 liters (expandable to 945 liters with rear seats folded flat) and a kick to open (motion-activated electric tailgate) tailgate on the latest models.
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Exterior
The front fascia of the X-Trail features a v-shaped grill and reflector headlights with LED DRL’s on each side, a pronounced shoulder line, and a wheel arch on the sides giving the car some rugged muscular looks. At the rear, the LED tail-lights give it an outstanding look in traffic and the rear and side privacy glass makes the appeal get better.
Safety
Lane departure warning, airbags, seatbelts, blind-spot monitoring, AEB with pedestrian protection, and rear cross-traffic alert are some of the state of the art safety features fitted on the X-Trail.
Mitsubishi Outlander
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Interior
The Outlander has a soft, warm, accommodating, simple but functional interior with fittings such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever, a low-placed straight forward instrument panel, a 7.0-inch touchscreen with USB port, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Outlander features three rows of seats that can accommodate 7 passengers. The front and mid-row seats have enough room to accommodate adults while the rearmost seats are more suitable for kids. You can choose to go for either cloth or leather upholstery seat covers, with front seats that are power-adjustable with heating as an option.
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Exterior
At the front, the Outlander features a grille with twin-blades with a black mesh insert and some silver trim and a neatly designed front bumper beneath it. The presence of LED daytime running lights adds some appeal as well. On the sides, the Outlander is fitted with heated side-view mirrors, 18-inch wheels, while at the rear there is also a nicely designed bumper and a power remote liftgate.
Safety
Some of the latest safety features on the current Outlanders include but are not limited to automatic emergency braking, lane change assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alerts, pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning system, and surround-view camera system.
Engine and Fuel Efficiency Comparison
Nissan X-Trail
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Through its generations, the Nissan X-Trail has offered several engine choices to choose from. The earlier X-Trails came with three optional engines, from the 4-cylinder QR20DE (2.0-liter) that produces 140 HP and average fuel consumption of 12.9 KM/L to the 4-cylinder QR25DE (2.5 liter) that produces 178 HP and average fuel consumption of 12.5 KM/L, and the YD22DDT (2.0-liter) diesel that produces 108 HP and average fuel consumption of 13.7 KM/L.
The models that followed came with new engines, the new 4-cylinder MR20DE (2.0-liter) that produces 137 HP and average fuel consumption of 11.5 KM/L and the 4-cylinder M9R (2.0-liter) diesel that produces 148 HP and average fuel consumption of 14 KM/L.
These engines were mated with either a 4-speed automatic, 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual or automatic, and CVT transmission. Also, there was an option for 7-speed automatic CVT or 7-speed automatic DCT in some markets. All these engines have enough power to take you places and offer a great driving experience.
Mitsubishi Outlander
BROWSE LOW COST MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER MODELS
The Mitsubishi Outlander is powered by a wide range of engine options, from 4-cylinder engines to 6-cylinder engines, and hybrid (PHEV).
Outlander’s 4-cylinder 4B12 (2.4-liter MIVEC) with a power output of 170 HP, and average fuel consumption of 12.8 KM/L, while the other 4-cylinder 4J12 (2.4-liter S-MIVEC) MPI Petrol, produces a maximum power of 166 HP and consumption of 14 KM/L.
Outlander’s other engine options include the 4-cylinder 4N14 (2.2-liter DiD Turbo Diesel) that produces 147 HP and an average consumption of 18 KM/L and the 6-cylinder 6B31 (3.0-liter SOHC MIVEC V6) that produces a maximum power of 217 HP and an average consumption of 10.2 KM/L.
There is also a hybrid PHEV Outlander that features some innovative technologies with incredible efficiency, comfort, and a quiet smooth ride. The PHEV Outlander utilizes three drive modes from its twin electric motors (one in the rear and one in front) coupled with a highly efficient petrol engine with an average consumption of 17.8 KM/L.
These engines transfer power to the wheels via a 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual INVECS-III CVT, 6-speed automatic, and 6-speed twin-clutch SST automatic transmission that helps to achieve maximum efficiency and an exhilarating driving experience.
The Verdict
After going through the nitty-gritty of the Nissan X-Trail and the Mitsubishi Outlander, we can all agree that these two are great Crossover Sports Utility Vehicles.
As seen in this article, these two are great choices and perform well on different categories of car testing. After going through it, we hope it leads you to your final decision.
If you are interested in in-depth individual details of these two cars, you can refer to our other articles from the links below.
The Robust and Reliable Mitsubishi Outlander
ALL MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER FOR SALE
I am a Telecom & ICT specialist with a career spanning over 15 years in the demanding Tanzanian telecom industry.
I am also an avid DIYer with a good knack for everything technical and a wealth of vocational skills, with automotive being the top, and here I am writing about cars.
In 2017 a guy created a WhatsApp group called MyCar for the sole purpose of members helping each other with all matters regarding cars. I joined this group in 2018, and with my enormous wealth of knowledge regarding cars, and my readiness to share the knowledge with others, I became a top contributor, and that didn’t go unnoticed, as one member thought I was a potential writer and had contacts with Be Forward Japan who were looking for writers then. Fast forward to January 2020, I began writing for the Be Forward blog with 2024 being my fourth year.
As far as I can remember, I love cars, and growing up in the farming and tourist city of Arusha Tanzania in the ’80s and ’90s, I ended up being drawn to the Ranger Rover Classic for leisure and Land Cruiser 70 pickup as a workhorse. These were tough cars then, cars that could take you anywhere any time no matter the weather.
