Mitsubishi Outlander or Nissan X-Trail 2019: Which one to buy?

In a crowded 7-seater SUV market, the Mitsubishi Outlander and the Nissan X-Trail are considered to be among the best out there. Both of them are the only 7-seater products available from their manufacturers in Malaysia and fall in the similar price bracket as well. So, today we are going to find out which one of these would be a better choice for you.

Looks and styling

Mitsubishi has designed the Outlander to have an elegant visual appeal. The front end features what Mitsubishi likes to call as ‘Dynamic Shield’. This includes the chrome front grille as well as the teeth-like chrome treatment on the bumper. The nicely designed LED headlamps and LED DRLs also enhance the overall styling of the car. At the rear, the wide two-piece horizontal tail light clusters have also been done just right.

Unlike the Outlander, the Nissan X-Trail has got a sporty stance. The headlamps are sharp and have LED DRLs. The grille at the front is tiny but somehow manages to add a bit of sportiness to the car. You can further enhance the sporty look of the X-Trail by opting for the additional cosmetic packages available. The roof rails help to make the X-Trail look like a full-size SUV.

Interior

The interior of the Mitsubishi Outlander has got a lot of space to offer and the seats are quite comfortable as well. However, the all-black theme isn’t too welcoming. There isn’t anything wrong with it but it should’ve been much more engaging considering the fact that this is a 7-seater SUV. Anyways, there are some interesting features like the driving video recorder (DVR) which is basically a camera which records everything while you’re driving. Then there is also a new 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay support.

The Nappa Leather seats in the Nissan X-Trail not only provide with a great amount of comfort but they also look great. Being a Nissan, it also comes with the Zero Gravity Inspired tech for its seats that tends to enhance the comfort level. There is a high-quality 5-inch infotainment system with FM, AM, CD, MP3 and AUX & USB connectivity. However, Nissan has not provided with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support.

3rd-row comfort

The Outlander takes the crown here as Mitsubishi has done a great job in utilizing the interior space properly. The 3rd-row of seats have got enough space to accommodate adults. The seats are sufficiently comfortable for long distance journeys too.

On the other hand, the Nissan X-Trail also has 3rd-row seats but they aren’t as spacious and comfortable as those on the Outlander. After adjusting the 2nd-row seats to a normal adult’s seating position, the occupant in the last row will be cramped. It is definitely not going to be a feasible option for long distance journeys. However, kids would find it comfortable in the last row.

Engine and performance

If we look at the Mitsubishi Outlander specs, the SUV for our country has got two engine options - a 2.0-litre engine with 145 PS of power & 196 Nm of peak torque and a 2.4-litre engine that churns out 167 PS of max power and a peak torque of 222 Nm. Both the engines come mated to a CVT unit. One of the biggest advantages of the Outlander over the Nissan X-Trail is that it comes with a 4WD as standard. So, whichever variant you buy, you get a proper 4WD system with 3 driving modes - 4WD Eco, 4WD Auto, and 4WD Lock.

Similar to the Outlander, the Nissan X-Trail specs also show two engine options - a 2.0-litre engine with 144 PS at 6000rpm & 200 Nm of peak torque at 4400rpm and a 2.5-litre unit which pumps out 171 PS and 233 Nm. The XTRONIC CVT with 7-Speed Manual is mated to both the engines. However, unlike the Outlander, only the 2.5-litre engine variant comes with a 4WD system.

Safety features

It is good to know that Mitsubishi has packed a good number of safety features in the Outlander. For starters, there are 7 airbags, then there is Active Stability Control (ASC), Traction Control (TC), Hill-Start Assist (HSA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Rest Reminder, Rear-View Camera, Parking Sensors, and an all-around monitor.

It doesn’t matter which variant of the X-Trail you pick, you ain’t getting no more than 2 airbags. Cars with an even lesser price tag come with more airbags. So, this is a bit of a disappointment here. Other safety features include Intelligent Engine Brake (IEB), Intelligent Ride Control (IRC), Intelligent Trace Control (ITC), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Advanced Hill Descent Control (HDC), Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS), ABS with EBD & BA, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Traction Control System (TCS), and Nissan’s Intelligent Around View Monitor (IAVM).

So, if you’re looking to buy a 7-seater SUV which has better safety features, spacious 3rd-row seat, elegant looks, and a 4WD system, then you gotta go ahead with the Outlander. However, if you are not so keen in enthusiastic driving and don’t need a 24x7 4WD system, plus you can do away with a slightly cramped 3rd-row seat, then the X-Trail should be a good choice.

The Mitsubishi Outlander price here in Malaysia starts at RM 142,888 for the base model with the 2.0-litre engine, whereas the Nissan X-Trail price starts at RM 133,800 for the base model and goes as high as RM 158,300 for the top-end variant.