Compare the2026 Subaru ForesterVS 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Forester has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Outlander doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Subaru Forester achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Mitsubishi Outlander has not been tested.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Forester. But it costs extra on the Outlander.

The Subaru Forester’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Mitsubishi Outlander does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Forester and the Outlander have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Forester is much safer than the Outlander:

	Forester	Outlander
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	MARGINAL

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Subaru Forester is safer than the Outlander:

	Forester	Outlander
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	103	171
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.02 in	1.46 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	892 lbs.	1071 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	580 lbs.	647 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Subaru Forester (Vehicles built after April 2025) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Outlander is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

The Forester’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Outlander’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Mitsubishi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Forester’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Forester has a standard 130-amp alternator. The Outlander’s 120-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Subaru Forester’s reliability 28 points higher than the Outlander.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Mitsubishi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mitsubishi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Mitsubishi With 44 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Mitsubishi.

Engine

The Forester’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 6 more horsepower (180 vs. 174) than the Outlander’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Forester’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 20 more horsepower (194 vs. 174) than the Outlander’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Forester lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Outlander doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Forester gets better mileage than the Outlander:

			MPG
Forester
	AWD	2.5 flat-4 Hybrid	35 city/34 hwy
		2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/33 hwy
		Sport/Touring 2.5 DOHC flat-4	25 city/32 hwy
Outlander
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	26 city/31 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	26 city/30 hwy

The Forester has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Outlander (16.6 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Tires and Wheels

The Forester has a standard space-saver spare (not available on Hybrid) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Outlander; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Forester Wilderness’ turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the Outlander’s (34.5 feet vs. 36.7 feet). The Forester’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Outlander’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Forester has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Outlander ES/Trail (8.7 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Forester to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Forester Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is .9 inch higher than on the Outlander SE/SEL (9.3 vs. 8.4 inches).

Chassis

The Subaru Forester may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 250 pounds less than the Mitsubishi Outlander.

Passenger Space

The Forester has .6 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more rear headroom, .4 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Outlander.

Cargo Capacity

The Forester has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Outlander with its rear seat up (29.6 vs. 10.9 cubic feet). The Forester has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Outlander with its rear seat folded (74.4 vs. 64.3 cubic feet).

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Mitsubishi Outlander is limited to 2000 pounds. The Forester offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Forester is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Outlander. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Mitsubishi. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 31% lower rating, Mitsubishi is ranked 19th.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Wilderness/Touring’s exterior PIN entry system. The Outlander doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Mitsubishi Connect can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Forester’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Outlander’s power window, power lock and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Forester has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Outlander doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Forester’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Outlander has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Subaru Forester retains 62.8% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 48.85% resale value of the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander after five years, which can save the Subaru’s owner up to $4006 in depreciation.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Forester as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Forester outsold the Mitsubishi Outlander by over four to one during 2025.

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