2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander was available in ES, SE, and SEL trims, offering both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options. Its distinctive front design, featuring a thin upper eyebrow as a daytime running light and a large square headlight below, was a standout feature. Despite subtle changes to the grille and diffuser, the Outlander maintained its unique, albeit polarizing, appearance. Inside, the top SEL trim offered quilted leather seats and soft-touch surfaces, with physical controls for the HVAC system. The Yamaha speaker faces, inspired by traditional Japanese patterns, added a touch of elegance, although some plastic elements detracted from the overall premium feel.

In contrast, the 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer underwent a refresh, retaining its upright stance and large windows while introducing a modern illuminated grille inspired by the all-electric Wagoneer S. The new Upland trim added front recovery hooks, enhancing utility without compromising elegance. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer boasted a clean design with strong horizontal lines. While the 12-inch infotainment screen seemed small for such a large vehicle, redundant HVAC and audio controls were appreciated. The seats, though plain in appearance, offered exceptional comfort and adjustability, making long drives enjoyable. Premium materials, such as Nappa and Palermo leather, were available in upper trims, contributing to the vehicle's overall high-quality fit and finish.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. While the AWD system, developed from Mitsubishi's rally racing heritage, provided stability on curvy roads, the vehicle's acceleration was lackluster, and the CVT exhibited a droney, rubber-band feeling. The Outlander's fuel economy was rated at 26 miles per gallon combined, falling short of competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. However, the plug-in hybrid variant offered a more powerful 248 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, with a fuel rating of 64 MPGe and 38 miles of all-electric range.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came standard with a 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine, delivering 420 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided smooth and effortless power, even in a vehicle weighing around 6,000 pounds. Although the high-output Hurricane engine was no longer available, the standard engine still offered impressive performance. Additionally, the Grand Wagoneer was set to receive a range-extended electric powertrain, delivering an estimated 647 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque, with a total range of over 500 miles. Despite its large size, the Grand Wagoneer was surprisingly agile and absorbed road imperfections well, offering a quiet and comfortable ride.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander included a third row of seating, though it was only suitable for small children due to its limited 18.7 inches of legroom. With the third row in place, cargo space was restricted to less than 11 cubic feet, but folding the seats increased storage to 30 cubic feet. The driver's seat offered easy access to physical controls for the HVAC system, and the top-line model featured heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. However, the cup holders were shallow, causing issues with larger bottles during braking.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer excelled as a people mover, offering ample leg and hip room across its three rows. The optional second-row bench seat allowed for seating up to eight passengers comfortably, including in the third row. While using the third row reduced cargo space to 27.9 cubic feet, the long-wheelbase version nearly doubled this capacity to 42.6 cubic feet. The Grand Wagoneer could also tow up to 10,000 pounds when properly equipped. Features like three-zone automatic climate controls, heated-and-ventilated front seats, and Quadra-Lift air suspension added to its appeal, especially for those planning light off-roading.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander featured a new Yamaha premium sound system, with upper trims offering a 12-speaker, 1,650-watt system. The system allowed for sound customization and volume adjustment based on speed and ambient noise. Every Outlander came with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a physical volume knob. Upper trims included a digital gauge cluster, rear camera mirror, and head-up display. Mitsubishi Connect offered a five-year trial, with Remote Services available for an additional fee after the first year.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-inch touchscreen display, a 10.25-inch digital cluster, and a wireless phone charger. However, the charger had issues with overheating. The infotainment screen, while functional, seemed small for the vehicle's size. Higher trims offered a 23-speaker McIntosh premium sound system, a digital rearview mirror, and four-zone climate controls. The 2026 model no longer included adjustable pedals, a feature previously standard.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander offered basic safety features like blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and traffic sign recognition. The NHTSA had not rated the 2025 model, but the 2024 model received four out of five stars overall. The IIHS rated the headlights as "Good," but front crash prevention was rated "Poor."

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer included lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional features like automated parking assist and a surround-view camera system were available. The NHTSA gave it a four-star safety rating, while the IIHS provided a mix of "Good" and "Marginal" scores, with lower ratings in the updated moderate front overlap test.