Mitsubishi Vs. Toyota Vs. Kia: Which SUV Is Better?

Are Mitsubishi cars better than Toyota or Kia?

If you compare Mitsubishi with Toyota or Kia, you will see the core differences in their philosophies. To define the best car from these brands, we’ll start with their main characteristics. 

The Mitsubishi Outlander is a compact SUV that accommodates up to seven passengers. For 2022, it underwent a significant redesign, enhancing its interior quality, refinement, and overall execution, although the engine performance remains only adequate. The Outlander was available in three main variants:

• the Outlander Sport, a smaller two-row model;
• the standard Outlander, a larger three-row version; 
• and the Outlander PHEV, a plug-in hybrid option. 

The earlier versions of the Outlander and Outlander Sport debuted in 2011, while the Outlander PHEV was launched in 2014. Currently, new Mitsubishi Outlander models are priced at an average of $32,039, with three-year-old models averaging around $18,676, according to iseecars.com. 

The next participant in our brand comparison, the Toyota RAV4 was among the first car-based crossover SUVs to hit the market. In its fifth generation, it ranks as one of the top-selling vehicles in the U.S. The latest RAV4 features compact dimensions and accommodates up to five passengers. It is equipped with a four-cylinder engine and provides options for front-wheel or all-wheel drive, along with available hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

The Kia Sorento is a versatile crossover SUV available in two- or three-row configurations, and it has been on the market since 2015 in its current generation. Manufactured in West Point, Georgia, the Sorento received a complete redesign for 2021, making it a compelling option for Toyota and Mitsubishi SUVs in the midsize segment.

Interior comfort: Are Kias better than Toyotas and Mitsubishis?

The Japanese Toyota RAV4 is a real ascetic, especially in the interior. Laconic forms, hard plastic, and only the lower tier of the front panel are covered with artificial leather. Despite the design simplicity, the seats have the widest range of adjustments, and the sitting position is lowest compared to Kia and Mitsubishi.

Unlike the easy entry into the Toyota RAV 4 and Mitsubishi, getting into the Kia feels like climbing into a real SUV. And the seating position in the Sorento is the most imposing. The chair profile is not very pleasing: the back is flat, and although the lumbar support is adjustable, its bolster is too low.

The Outlander's interior may not have designer delights, but it looks rich: only the Mitsubishi SUV can boast soft plastic on the dashboard. But even supporters of a relaxed fit complained that the back of the driver's seat could not be adjusted closer to the vertical position. There is no adjustment of the lumbar support in the Mitsubishi at all, and to turn off the electric seat heating on the move, the hand must have extraordinary flexibility since it has to bend around the armrest.

Kia is better suited for traveling with a large group. The interior is wider than that of Mitsubishi and Toyota, so the three adults in the back seat almost do not touch each other's shoulders. However, because of the optional glass roof, the Kia's headroom is slightly less than that of Toyota and Mitsubishi. The gap in front of the knees is also smaller, and the backs of the front seats are hard.

The RAV4 and Outlander are similar in the back seats: two people are fine, but three are already cramped. The Kia Sorento is also more spacious for luggage. In general, the Japanese are on par in small details: the RAV4 pleases with convenient hooks for bags and a net for light things, and the Mitsubishi Outlander has an underground compartment, including a niche for a roll-up curtain.

Driving characteristics

Calmness and confidence are the characteristics consumers choose crossovers for. Excellent brakes of Toyota and Kia hundred percent meet these criteria, but you can't say the same about the brakes of Mitsubishi. Braking on mixed roads did not add confidence either. Despite the clatter of the ABS, the Outlander too zealously rushes towards a more tenacious surface, forcing the driver to steer actively. The RAV4 invariably wins in starts from traffic lights. The least powerful but also the lightest Mitsubishi lags slightly behind. The heavyweight Kia is an outsider.

However, the Toyota SUV manages to convert better power-to-weight ratio into total dynamic superiority only in Sport mode, when the responses to the accelerator become razor-sharp, and the six-speed automatic gets rid of the urge to go to higher gears with the slightest release of gas. A usual Drive mode, not to mention ECO with its sleepy responses, is not the best fit for bustling Indianapolis - the delays are too long. They are also noticeable in the Mitsubishi Outlander CVT. A sports-automatic mode is just begging to be here, but it is not there.

The Kia Sorento does not have it either. But when stroking the pedal, the Sorento accelerates confidently and smoothly and does not pull for a more dynamic ride, so you quickly begin to value the softness of gear changes more than the timeliness of switching.

The Toyota's suspension is tight and sometimes uncomfortable in the city. Short waves of asphalt are especially acutely perceived. Outside the city, and especially off the asphalt, the suspension pleases with energy intensity - bumps are worked out tightly but without hard jolts.

On slopes, the Sorento feels a little more confident. It has the longest-travel suspension, and the electronics imitate the work of interwheel locks well. The Mitsubishi has another trump card - the largest ground clearance, 8.5 inches versus 7.3 inches for Kia and 6.1 inches for Toyota.

RAV4 pleases with an energy-intensive suspension: you can take godforsaken places brazenly on the move. And only Toyota has a system for assisting in descending from a mountain.

Safety: Why is no one buying Mitsubishi?

The Mitsubishi Outlander has the most modest safety features: two airbags, front seat belt pretensioners, ABS, and Isofix mounts. Only all-wheel drive versions have a stabilization system, and side airbags, curtains, and a driver's knee airbag are available for an extra charge. The Kia Sorento already comes with six airbags, but you have to pay extra for the stabilization system. Even the basic Toyota RAV4 has ESP and seven airbags, while the most expensive versions have lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring systems as a privilege.

Compare Kia vs. Toyota vs. Mitsubishi SUVs in Indianapolis

1. Summing up consumer qualities, the Kia wins vs. Mitsubishi and Toyota.  The Sorento excels in comfort, and inside, it is the most spacious. In terms of the number of options, the Sorento is also ahead.
2. The RAV4, besides the Toyota quality, can offer three engines (including a diesel), three gearboxes, and front or all-wheel drive. The manufacturer has done work on the mistakes of the previous generation.
3. The Mitsubishi Outlander is the most economical option. In addition, it can boast the highest ground clearance for off-road adventures.

If you want to compare Mitsubishi vs. Kia vs. Toyota in Indianapolis, visit Indy Auto Man. On our car lot, you will find plenty of options for a test drive, which will help you define your winner and buy the best SUV at an attractive price.