2019 Subaru Forester vs. Mitsubishi Outlander - Which one should you buy?

Despite being delayed by a bit, the all-new 2019 Subaru Forester managed to leave quite a good first impression when it finally arrived in Malaysia recently in August this year. On the other hand, the outgoing iteration of the Mitsubishi Outlander has now been with us since late 2017, making it the older car amongst the two.

Competing inside the same arena of the Compact Crossover SUV, the Subaru Forester and Mitsubishi Outlander share quite a few similarities - they are also aimed at the same segment of buyers. Over the past few years, demand for practical seven-seater family crossover SUVs has seen a tremendous rise. These cars often tend to be priced competitively and therefore, attract folks from almost all walks of life.

So, if you have between RM 137,888 to RM 159,788 lying around and are in need for a decent mode of transportation (crossover, of course), which of these two cars should you be going for? Read on, and you will find the answers. We list out some of the most basic yet important aspects of the 2019 Forester and the new Outlander that you ought to know before signing on the dotted line.

Basic dimensions:

Measurements	2019 Subaru Forester	2019 Mitsubishi Outlander	Differences
Length	4,625 mm	4,695 mm	70 mm (Outlander is longer)
Width	1,815 mm	1,810 mm	5 mm (Forester is wider)
Height	1,730 mm	1,680 mm	50 mm (Forester is taller)
Wheelbase	2,670 mm	2,670 mm	No difference
Boot Capacity	520 litres	519 litres	1 litre (Forester boot is slightly bigger)

Between the two, the Mitsubishi Outlander is longer than its Subaru rival by a noticeable margin. However, the new Forester is both wider and taller than the Mitsubishi - with the former’s overall height being visually very apparent. It is clear that both cars offer the exact same wheelbase. While the usable boot volume of the Outlander and Forester are almost identical -- the latter boasts a litre of space more than the Mitsubishi Outlander -- a slight gain which wouldn’t really matter much in the real world.

A quick look at the exterior and interior design

When it comes to the design aspect of the two crossovers, it soon becomes apparent that the new 2019 Subaru Forester is liked by those buyers who want their crossovers to sport an old-school, boxy styling. On the other hand, the new Mitsubishi Outlander’s snazzier styling is in with the brand’s new design language which goes well with the ‘Dynamic Shield’ front fascia.

Overall, the Outlander does look more modern by some counts, and its longer profile does catch one’s attention. At the end of the day, it’s important to note that neither of these crossover SUVs are going to stop people dead in their tracks. Their designs aren’t the most visually dramatic, though neither of them looks dull or lifeless in that regard.

On the inside, the new Mitsubishi Outlander looks pretty subdued and straightforward as there are no flashy lines or heavy design elements to be found here. The low-set dashboard allows for a good view out and gets a centre console that’s angled towards the driver for easier ergonomics while driving.

Mitsubishi has also incorporated some faux wood along with a generous sprinkling of piano black trim on the dashboard, centre console, doors, steering wheel, and central pedestal to bring out some character to an otherwise boring (but well-built) interior.

In contrast, the interior of the 2019 Subaru Forester seems more interesting. The large head unit for the multimedia system seems modern and is accompanied by a smaller, secondary information display mounted on top of the dashboard. Also, the meaty steering wheel and aluminium pedals add a sense of class and sportiness. Meanwhile, the new Forester specs also feature a stitched effect on the doors, dashboard, seats, armrests, etc. -- all of which help in uplifting the ambience along with adding some visual spice.

Engine and transmission:

	2019 Subaru Forester	2019 Mitsubishi Outlander
Engine	2.0-litre, naturally-aspirated, 4-cylinder with DOHC and direct injection	2.0-litre/2.4-litre, naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder with DOHC and electronic fuel injection
Transmission	Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)	Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Power	154 hp at 6,200 rpm	143 hp at 6,000 rpm/ 165 hp at 6,000 rpm
Torque	196 Nm at 4,200 rpm	196 Nm at 4,200 rpm/ 222 Nm at 4,100 rpm
Claimed Fuel Economy	13.5 kmpl	13.7 kmpl/12.8 kmpl

• The Subaru Forester is only available in Malaysia with a 2.0-litre engine, whilst the Mitsubishi Outlander can be equipped with either a 2.0-litre or 2.4-litre powerplant
•  The Forester’s 2.0-litre engine produces more power than the similarly-sized unit under the bonnet of the Outlander. However, the Outlander’s larger 2.4-litre engine makes 11 hp and 26 Nm of torque more than the Forester’s 2.0-litre unit
•  The Forester boasts Subaru’s trademark boxer configuration for the cylinder layout, while the Outlander comes with the industry-standard inline-four configuration
•  The Mitsubishi Outlander’s 2.0-litre engine is more economical than the Subaru Forester’s unit, though the higher-output motor of the Outlander is obviously thirstier
•  Both cars are fitted with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

For the Malaysian market, both the new Subaru Forester and Mitsubishi Outlander get all-wheel-drive (AWD) system as standard, even on their base variants. The 2019 Forester comes with the Japanese marque’s famous Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System (with Active Torque Vectoring), while the Outlander is fitted with Mitsubishi’s Multi-Select 4WD system (which is technically an all-wheel-drive setup). In comparison, some of their competitors such as the Nissan X-Trail or the larger (and more expensive) Hyundai Santa Fe only come with front-wheel drive (FWD) in their lower trims.

 

In terms of outright performance, the Mitsubishi Outlander with its punchier engine is capable of hauling its 1.6-tonne mass from 0 to 100 kmph in less than 10.5 seconds and reaching a top speed of 198 kmph. Meanwhile, the 2019 Subaru Forester will hit a maximum velocity of 193 kmph, with the sprint from 0 to 100 kmph taking just over 10.5 seconds to accomplish. Neither of these three-row, seven-seater family crossovers feels particularly brisk or sporty to drive, but buyers in this segment aren’t usually known to be the ones to firewall the throttle, anyway.

Detailed prices:

2019 Subaru Forester	2019 Mitsubishi Outlander
2.0I-L - RM 139,788	2.0 L - RM 137,888
2.0I-S - RM 149,788	2.4 L - RM 152,888
2.0I-S ES - RM 159,788

Overall, the Mitsubishi Outlander price tag reads lesser than the Subaru Forester even though the former can be had with a large engine. On the other hand, the new Forester does boast better equipment in its higher trim options than the Outlander specs sheet. In terms of the ownership experience, Mitsubishi has been ranked the best (two years running) when it comes to their after-sales customer service.

• The 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander also comes with 5-years/unlimited kilometres warranty plus a free 2-year maintenance contract
•  Unlike the Outlander, the 2019 Subaru Forester comes with a standard 5-years/100,000-kilometre warranty plan.

Standard features:

	2019 Subaru Forester	2019 Mitsubishi Outlander
Airbags	7 airbags (front, side, curtain, and driver’s knee)	7 airbags (front, side, curtain, and driver’s knee)
ABS with EBD and BA	Y	Y
Vehicle Stability Control	Y	Y
Traction Control	Y	Y
Hill-Start Assist	Y	Y
Parking sensors & camera	All-round sensors with rearview camera	All-round sensors with surround-view cameras
ISOFIX	Y	Y
LED Headlamps	Y	Y
Wing mirrors	Power-operated & auto-closing	Power-operated & auto-closing
Keyless entry & push-button start	Y	Y
Sound system	6 speakers	6 speakers
Automatic climate control	Dual-zone	Dual-zone
Power tailgate	Y	Y
Leather upholstery	Y	Y
Touchscreen infotainment system	8-inch screen with AUX, USB, HDMI, and Bluetooth	7-inch screen with Air Gesture Control and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Adaptive cruise control	N	Y

 

Common and add-on features -

Apart from these features, both the cars also get automatic windshield wipers, electronic parking brake, power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, drive mode selector, and paddle shifters among several others.

What 2019 Forester offers over Outlander? 

However, the 2019 Subaru Forester adds rear-seat aircon vents, EyeSight Driver Assist suite, power-adjustable front passenger’s seat and LED front & rear fog lamps to the list.

What Outlander offers over 2019 Forester? 

Meanwhile, the Mitsubishi Outlander adds a power sunroof, automatic headlamps, and a digital video recorder.

Also Read:- Php 1.5 million can now get you a Subaru Forester