The Highlander Limited's optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Outlander doesn't offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Highlander has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening 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.

The Toyota Highlander has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Outlander doesn't offer Daytime Running Lights.

The Highlander Limited/Platinum's blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert driver to objects in the vehicle's blind spots where the side view mirrors don't reveal them. The Outlander doesn't offer a system to reveal objects in the driver's blind spots.

To help make backing safer, the Highlander Limited/Platinum's cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Outlander doesn't offer a cross-path warning system.

The Highlander Limited offers optional Safety Connect™, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it's stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Outlander doesn't offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you're involved in an accident and you're incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Highlander and the Outlander have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The Toyota Highlander weighs 563 to 1223 pounds more than the Mitsubishi Outlander. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Mitsubishi Outlander:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Mitsubishi Outlander:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mitsubishi doesn't pay scheduled maintenance for the Outlander.

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

The camshafts in the Highlander's engine are driven by a hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs. The Outlander GT 3.0 SOHC V6's camshafts are driven by a rubber belt that needs periodic replacement. If the Outlander's cam drive belt breaks the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Mitsubishi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 9th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mitsubishi is ranked 26th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mitsubishi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota third in reliability, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mitsubishi is ranked 15th.

The Highlander LE's standard 2.7 DOHC 4 cyl. produces 19 more horsepower (185 vs. 166) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 162) than the Outlander ES/SE's standard 2.4 DOHC 4 cyl. The Highlander's optional 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 46 more horsepower (270 vs. 224) and 33 lbs.-ft. more torque (248 vs. 215) than the Outlander GT's standard 3.0 SOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Highlander V6 is faster than the Outlander GT V6:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Outlander GT requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Highlander has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Outlander AWD's standard fuel tank (19.2 vs. 15.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Highlander has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Outlander FWD's standard fuel tank (19.2 vs. 16.6 gallons).

For better stopping power the Highlander's brake rotors are larger than those on the Outlander:

The Highlander stops much shorter than the Outlander:

For better traction, the Highlander has larger tires than the Outlander (245/60R18 vs. 215/70R16). The Highlander's tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Outlander (245/60R18 vs. 225/55R18).

The Highlander's standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Outlander ES' standard 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Highlander has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Outlander ES. The Highlander Limited's 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Outlander SE/GT.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Highlander's wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than on the Outlander (109.8 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Highlander is 3.8 inches wider in the front and 3.6 inches wider in the rear than on the Outlander.

The Highlander's front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the Outlander's (56% to 44%). This gives the Highlander more stable handling and braking.

The Highlander XLE AWD handles at .81 G's, while the Outlander SE S-AWC pulls only .80 G's of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Highlander XLE AWD executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Outlander SE S-AWC (27.8 seconds @ .62 average G's vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G's).

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Outlander can only carry 7.

The Highlander has 16.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Outlander (144.9 vs. 128.2).

The Highlander has .1 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front legroom, 4.6 inches more front hip room, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom, 5.4 inches more rear hip room, 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room, .2 inches more third row headroom, 6.2 inches more third row hip room and 4.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Outlander.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Highlander's middle and third row seats recline. The Outlander's third row seats don't recline.

The Highlander's cargo area provides more volume than the Outlander.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Highlander. The Outlander doesn't offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Highlander's optional rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Outlander's rear cargo window doesn't open.

Maximum trailer towing in the Mitsubishi Outlander is limited to 3500 pounds. The Highlander offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

When different drivers share the Highlander Limited/Platinum, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver's seat position and outside mirror angle. The Outlander doesn't offer a memory system.

The Highlander's standard front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Outlander's passenger windows don't open or close automatically. The Highlander Limited/Platinum's front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches.

The Outlander's standard power locks don't automatically lock the doors. The Highlander's standard doors lock when the transmission is engaged. This is an important feature for occupant safety. Locked doors are proven to open less often in collisions, and they are also effective in preventing crime at traffic lights. (The power lock's automatic feature may have to be activated by your dealer.)

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Highlander has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Outlander only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn't as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Highlander's headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Outlander's headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Highlander has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Outlander only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Highlander Limited detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Outlander doesn't offer automatic dimming high beams.

To shield the driver and front passenger's vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Highlander has standard extendable sun visors. The Outlander doesn't offer extendable visors.

The Highlander XLE/Limited/Platinum's standard rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Outlander doesn't offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

Both the Highlander and the Outlander offer available heated front seats. The Highlander Platinum also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren't available in the Outlander.

Standard air conditioned seats in the Highlander Limited/Platinum keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Outlander doesn't offer air conditioned seats.

On extremely cold Winter days, the Highlander Platinum's standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Outlander doesn't offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Highlander and the Outlander offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Highlander has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Outlander doesn't offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Standard Entune App Suite for the Highlander XLE/Limited/Platinum allows the driver and passengers access to select programs on their smartphones, including reading text messages aloud, playing internet radio stations, tagging songs to buy them later, finding fuel prices at nearby service stations, searching the internet and other connected activities without taking their eyes off the road or their hands from the wheel. The Outlander doesn't offer factory integrated smartphone program access.

The Highlander XLE/Limited/Platinum has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Outlander doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Highlander owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander will cost $225 to $1605 less than the Outlander over a five-year period.

The Highlander will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. Kiplinger's estimates that the Highlander will retain a greater percentage of its original price after three and five years than the Outlander.

The Toyota Highlander has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Highlander second among midsize SUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner's expectations. The Outlander isn't in the top three.