2018 Mitsubishi Outlander vs Mazda CX-5

What's the difference?

The 2WD Outlander is a tidy package that’s a long way from the most impressive among its peers, but also the one that doesn’t really do anything wrong. It’s good looking without being over the top, has reasonable internal space that’s quite versatile, plus is comfortable to drive in most situations. 

This is certainly not the SUV for long-distance outback adventures (and neither is the AWD version, really), but it’s more than capable of getting out into the real Australia and exploring its back roads and campsites, even with a small family on board. 

What do you think of the 2WD Outlander? Tell us in the comments section below.

The CX-5 GT is a triumph of style and substance. The range is generally a tremendous value-for-money line-up and this upper-echelon offering is no different because a GT buyer will want for nothing – except perhaps Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and if we can live without those, you can too. More of a city-friendly SUV than a rough-and-ready off-roader, the GT is still capable of getting you to where you want to go, as long as you have a realistic notion of AWD-suitable terrain: think formed trails, well-maintained National Parks tracks and perhaps even, at a stretch, very firm sand.

Is the CX-5 a legitimate Adventure vehicle, or should it stay in the suburbs? Tell us what you think the comments below.