2026 Mitsubishi Outlander

midsize SUV / 4-door SUV

2026 Mitsubishi Outlander 4-door SUV
2025 Mitsubishi Outlander shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteriaRating
Small overlap front
G
Side: updated test
G
Whiplash prevention
A

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteriaRating
Headlights
G

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteriaRating
LATCH ease of use
G

Other available safety features

  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention
  • Standard rear automatic braking

Key

GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Superior
Advanced
Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front

The small overlap front evaluation consists of a driver-side and a passenger-side component. If the results of the two evaluations differ, then the combined small overlap rating is equal to the lower rating.

Driver-side

Tested vehicle: 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander SE 4-door 4wd
Rating applies to 2026 models

The Mitsubishi Outlander was redesigned for the 2022 model year after a one-year absence from the market. Beginning with 2025 models, changes to the driver-side airbags and seat belt were implemented to improve occupant safety in driver-side small overlap front crashes.

Beginning with the 2026 model year, the Outlander is only available as a mild-hybrid (MHEV) or plug-in hybrid. Driver-side small overlap front ratings are based on a test of a 2026 Outlander MHEV conducted by Mitsubishi. Ratings on this page do not apply to the plug-in hybrid variant.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall driver-side evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTN2604
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Footrest (cm) 6
Left toepan (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Parking brake (cm) 0
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 8
Upper dash (cm) 7
Lower instrument panel (cm) 7

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTN2604
Head
HIC-15 110
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm) 20
Femur (kN)
Left 1.3
Right 0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.40
Right 0.41
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.7
Right 0.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 53
Right 45

Passenger-side

Tested vehicle: 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander SE 4-door 4wd
Rating applies to 2026 models

The Mitsubishi Outlander was redesigned for the 2022 model year after a one-year absence from the market. Beginning with 2025 models, changes to the passenger-side airbags and seat belt were implemented to improve occupant safety in passenger-side small overlap front crashes.

Beginning with the 2026 model year, the Outlander is only available as a mild-hybrid (MHEV) or plug-in hybrid. Due to the increased weight of the vehicle, changes to the passenger-side knee airbag were implemented to improve occupant safety in passenger-side small overlap front crashes. Passenger-side small overlap front ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2026 Outlander MHEV conducted by Mitsubishi. Ratings on this page do not apply to the plug-in hybrid variant.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall passenger-side evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTP2604
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)
Footrest (cm)
Right toepan (cm)
Center toepan (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm)
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)
Upper dash (cm)
Right lower dash (cm)

Passenger injury measures

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTP2604
Head
HIC-15 no data
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) no data
Extension bending moment (Nm) no data
Maximum Nij 0.00
Chest maximum compression (mm) 0
Femur (kN)
Left 0.0
Right 0.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left no data
Right no data
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.00
Right 0.00
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.0
Right 0.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left no data
Right no data

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTP2604
Head
HIC-15 no data
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) no data
Extension bending moment (Nm) no data
Maximum Nij 0.00
Chest maximum compression (mm) 0
Femur (kN)
Left 0.0
Right 0.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left no data
Right no data
Maximum tibia index
Left no data
Right no data
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left no data
Right no data
Foot acceleration (g)
Left no data
Right no data

About the small overlap front test

Side: updated test

Tested vehicle: 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander SE 4-door 4wd
Rating applies to 2025-26 models

The Mitsubishi Outlander was redesigned for the 2025 model year after a one-year absence from the market. Beginning with 2025 models, changes to the side curtain airbags and B-pillar were implemented to improve occupant safety in side impact crashes. Side impact ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 Outlander conducted by Mitsubishi. Ratings on this page do not apply to the plug-in hybrid variant.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis
G
Driver head protection
G
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis
G
Rear passenger head protection
G
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID VTS2505
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -19.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID VTS2505
Head
HIC-15 107
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 17
Lateral force (kN) 0.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 34
Average deflection (mm) 27
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.90
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.42
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 2.8

Passenger injury measures

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID VTS2505
Head
HIC-15 233
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 15
Lateral force (kN) 0.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 24
Average deflection (mm) 21
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.00
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.15
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 2.4

About the side crash test

Whiplash prevention

Tested seat type: Power synthetic leather seat
Rating applies to 2025-26 models

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
A
Technical measurements for this test

16 km/h load case (simulated 32 km/h impact)

Injury metricDemerits
Group 1: Head and spine support
Head-pelvis relative velocity3.51
Head contact time71
Group 2: Upper neck load and moment management
Max Nkm0.312
Upper neck tension688
Group 3: Management of energy transferred to the occupant
T1 X maximum acceleration12.91
Pelvis displacement (min)-151
Total4

24 km/h load case (simulated 48 km/h impact)

Injury metricDemerits
Group 1: Head and spine support
Head-pelvis relative velocity4.21
Head contact time69
Group 2: Upper neck load and moment management
Max Nkm0.391
Upper neck tension371
Group 3: Management of energy transferred to the occupant
T1 X maximum acceleration11.70
Pelvis displacement (min)-193
Total2
Total demerits6

About the whiplash prevention test

Headlights

Trim level(s): All trims

Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
G
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual left and gradual right curves and fair on the sharp right and sharp left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the sharp left curve and on the sharp right curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Evaluation criteria Measurement
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2022-26 models
G
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 117.3 m None
Straightaway left edge 63.3 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 78.4 m 0.3%
250m radius left curve, right edge 71.9 m 68.9%
150m radius right curve, right edge 59.1 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 57.0 m 53.7%
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 172.2 m
Straightaway left edge 147.7 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 89.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 86.0 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 64.6 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 61.0 m

About the headlight evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2022-26 models

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
Vehicle trimSE
Seat type leather

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware. It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

1 2 3 6 4
Rating iconRating
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

PositionRating
1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 11
Clearance angle (degrees) 81
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 11
Clearance angle (degrees) 83
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 12
Clearance angle (degrees) 71
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 11
Clearance angle (degrees) 70
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation