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Mitsubishi Outlander vs Nissan X-Trail


In the match race between two stayers in the SUV segment, Craig Duff calls a photo-finish.

value

Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed

$43,490

The Outlander comes in $1000 under the Toyota RAV4 Cruiser and is about $3000 cheaper than a top-spec Mazda CX-5. In Exceed spec there are heated front leather seats, power tailgate, LED headlamps, touchscreen with satnav, dual-zone aircon and auto lamps and wipers. The warranty is five years/100,000km and there are four years of capped price servicing at an annual cost of $375. Service intervals are 12 months/15,000km.

Nissan X-Trail Ti

$45,190

The top-grade Ti picks up the same fruit as the Outlander Exceed, minus the seven seats and auto-braking in a crash. (X-Trail buyers forgo all-wheel drive to get a third row of seats.). Three-year/ 100,000km warranty is backed by capped price servicing for six years or 120,000km. Service intervals are 12 months/10,000km. Average annual cost is $287; two services a year will cost $621.

design

Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed

The "dynamic shield" look is a big improvement on the previous Outlander. The chrome contour around the front lights works well. Front and rear skid plates and alloy roof rails also bring some presence to what is essentially a box on wheels. Inside are better-bolstered seats, updated fabrics and a new steering wheel. In the Mitsubishi's seven-seat layout, the third row is for occasional use. Boot space is 477L.

Nissan X-Trail Ti

A "V-motion" chrome strip around the Nissan logo up front and more contoured surfaces identify the new X-Trail. Inside there's a mix of durable plastics and quality feel fabrics to enhance the family friendliness. It is a classy interior, let down only by the foot-operated parking brake. The adjustable height cargo floor is handy for storing valuables out of sight and boot space is 550L.

technology

Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed

The headline act is Forward Collision Mitigation tech, which — scaring the hell out of the driver — detects when a crash with a car ahead is imminent and auto-brakes if the human fails to react. The 2.4-litre engine is unchanged with 124kW/220Nm and the upgraded CVT is inoffensive without being a standout among the mid-sized SUVs. Claimed fuel use is 7.2L/100km.

Nissan X-Trail Ti

A 2.5-litre four-cylinder transfers 126kW/226Nm via CVT to all wheels as required. Under normal driving it's a no-fuss combination but there will be moans — from drivetrain and occupants — under hard acceleration. Thirst is 8.3L/100km. Software additions include active traction control which brakes the wheels when cornering to avoid understeer.

safety

Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed

Five stars from ANCAP and a rating of 35.58/37 puts the Outlander near the top of the pack in this segment. It loses a point for not having rear seat belt warnings, which makes the result all the more impressive. Seven airbags are standard.

Nissan X-Trail Ti

Another five-star car with solid crash credentials. ANCAP rates it at 35.28/37 — but also bemoans the absence of autonomous emergency braking which can be found on European X-Trail versions. Six airbags cover all passengers here (but don't extend to the third row).

driving

Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed

A bit of mongrel in the Outlander, making it more capable than a purebred. As a seven-seater, it'll pick up a tribe from school; as a soft-roader, it will tackle a decent gravel hill and as a daily drive, it is predictable. It doesn't stand out for handling or acceleration but sits squarely in the middle of the road as a genuine multipurpose vehicle.

Nissan X-Trail Ti

If the Nissan's ride was any more neutral, it wouldn't go into gear. Low-speed ride is soft but tightens up with pace to avoid wallowing on the highway. Body roll is similarly evident at city pace but it doesn't pitch occupants towards nausea on decent drives. The extra outward vision gained by the elevated second row seats comes at the expense of headroom for tall adults.

Verdict

Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed

Nissan X-Trail Ti

The X-Trail is a narrow winner courtesy of its better interior look and feel. Nissan still has no answer to those wanting a seven-seat AWD version though, which is where the Mitsubishi steps up.