Comparison of Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander

In the world of "parquet" SUVs, you can find a whole list of nationalities: Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, and so on. And they all try to take their rightful place in the sales ranking with their product. And this desire is perfectly explained by the increased popularity of this class of cars over the past few years. In this article, we will consider the opposition of two very popular models of well-known brands - Mitsubishi and Nissan, which fall not only into the favorites of motorists, but also in the same price range, and find out which is actually better: X-Trail or Outlander.

So different

Like any other means of transportation, these beauties differ in a number of parameters. Let's consider each of them in as much detail as possible. We hope that the information below will allow each reader to draw their own conclusions about the superiority of a particular model.

• Appearance.

  Nissan X-Trail is a car with a masculine character

If some technical characteristics of Mitsubishі Outlander and Nissan X-Trail can be called similar, then the fantasies of designers embodied in them differ radically. Nissan gives the impression of a car with a true masculine character. Straight body lines, high ground clearance, small overhangs and convex wheel arches - all this seems to insist that the car is able to guarantee the owner a little more than just confident driving on the highway.

Mitsubishі, on the other hand, is smoother in its own forms, as if smoothed, with narrow headlights and a protruding grille. This makes the car look more like a crossover than a SUV. However, from the very beginning, the manufacturers themselves did not hide this.

• Salon and trunk.

If we compare the Outlander and X-Trail in terms of the amount of free space inside, then the second of them is in the lead. There is plenty of space in it for both the front riders and their back row. The trunk volume is also larger on the Nissan. The spare wheel hidden under the bottom freed up a lot of space in the luggage compartment. And despite this location, it practically does not affect the volume and loading height of the model. Mitsubishі lags behind the competitor in the spaciousness of the cabin, even though the rear seats can be adjusted. The trunk leaves much to be desired for a higher loading level and a wider door.

But if you touch on the quality of the interior trim, then in the confrontation between X-Trail vs Outlander, the first one wins. Its interior is made of soft, but good-quality plastic and well-made leather. All this gives the car a certain "serious" look. The second copy is also partially trimmed with leather, but the plastic cannot boast of quality here. Maybe that's why Outlander's interior looks a little cheap.

The disadvantage of both one and the second test car can be called the inability to adjust the steering column for departure. But this flaw has been going on since previous versions of cars.

• Noise isolation.

The Mitsubishi Outlander boasts almost complete absence of extraneous noise. The Nissan X-Trail follows it at a decent distance in this matter. Here you have creaking skin details, aerodynamic noises, and even the sobbing of the suspension. In general, the kit is not for the faint of heart.

• Control.

Although the X-Trail accelerates to a hundred a little faster than its opponent, the Outlander is distinguished by the excellent operation of the automatic transmission. While in Nissan it is too "smooth", which indicates the likelihood of missing the desired mark. Mitsubishi also behaves more confidently and predictably on the road. Its stability, roll and steering response can be compared to that of a passenger car. Nissan behaves a little more adrenaline in this regard. Its decent roll at the rpm and soft suspension can make the heart beat faster. But the benefit of the steering response in it is instantaneous, so there is no need to worry about losing control of the car.

Also, those who are in the car will not feel discomfort when the road is uneven. Unless the holes on it will be measured in height - from the foot and above ... Outlander, for all its rigidity, is rather unpleasant even on a shallow scattering of shallow potholes.

When the roads end ...

Off-road, the clear leader can be called the X-Trail, which nevertheless has a C-grade bottom preparation. It has absolutely no protection for the engine and CVT crankcases, the exhaust system is low, and the brake pipes have no cover. But the stretcher seems to be obliged to preserve all this.

The Outlander has a low spare wheel position, which can play a cruel joke on slopes. And although in this case the crankcases of the engine and variator are reliably hidden behind a layer of metal, the brake cables and pipes are also vulnerable. Etc. In other words, both in one and in the second car there are off-road disadvantages, which are not so obvious on not too difficult routes. Therefore, it is quite difficult to say for sure who exactly wins on the off-road - X-Trail or Outlander. Although the overall advantage is definitely on the side of Nissan. Even outwardly.

Small weaknesses of the big Japanese

But no matter how ideal the car is when leaving the assembly line, during operation, sooner or later, a lot of questions arise about the repair. We will consider the most significant of them below.

• The body and its elements.

In terms of the body's resistance to corrosion and paint durability, the comparison between Outlander and X-Trail fails at all. And all because this point is absolutely the same for both cars - the metal of these cars is quite strong, but the paint coating in both the first and second cases leaves much to be desired, as it is too prone to chips. Parts with a chrome plated finish quickly peel off.

In the X-Trail, after winter swimming, the door handle mechanism may break down, and over time, the windows may start to jam. Outlander is guilty of distortion of the rear windows. Over time, of course.

• Chassis.

The support bearings of the front struts of Nissan let you know about their unsuitability with a creak of the steering wheel when cornering. In addition, the predecessors of the X-Trail often refused the electric power steering in cold weather. It was even changed at one time under warranty. There were also problems with shock absorbers. But in general, the modern model has no problems with the suspension.

Front dampers and wheel bearings were also problematic for the Outlander. But the struts, stabilizer bushings, rear suspension hub bearings and other parts are considered quite durable.

• Engine.

The risk group for Nissan at this point includes:

• engine mounts;
• spark plugs (or rather, the very process of replacing them).

The opponent can boast of long-term serviceability of the main elements of the motor. The only exception is the drive belt pulley of the units. It wears out pretty quickly.

• Transmission.

The X-Trail initially has a weak CVT, requiring careful attention from the driver to himself, including periodic oil changes, and not cheap. The bearings of the drive and driven shafts can also fail. But in general, careful driving helps to prolong the transmission days.

The Outlander variator is working smoothly today. Although a few years ago it was he who was one of the weak points of the models produced at that time. They did not even undertake to repair it, but simply changed it under warranty. The only complaint of modern Mitsubishi can be considered a rapidly overheating clutch during long slipping.

Advantages and disadvantages

On this, the list of the main and most costly breakdowns for both cars can be completed and the pros and cons of each model can be put on a separate line.

So, Mitsubishi Outlander has the following advantages:

• The operation of the automatic transmission is clearly and harmoniously delivered, and the connection with the engine is simply fraternal.
• The car is truly reliable and, with reasonable operation, allows you to forget about the road to the service station for a long time.
• Excellent handling.
• Sophisticated interior ergonomics.
• Reasonable off-road capability.
• Good insulation.

Disadvantages:

• Suspension stiffness.
• Not too spacious interior and luggage compartment.
• Not too high quality interior materials.

Nissan X-Trail and its benefits:

• High off-road traffic.
• Large interior and trunk.
• High-quality interior materials.
• Good interior fittings.
• Good handling and dynamics.

Disadvantages:

• Poor insulation.
• Sharp steering response with soft suspension and, as a result, decent roll when cornering.
• Insufficient underbody protection for off-road travel.

Well, that is, in fact, all that I would like to tell about these two SUVs. Conclusions are a purely personal matter. But making them on the basis of several articles read is probably the last thing. Personal experience of driving on a test drive will be much more informative, which will help to fully compare the X-Trail and Outlander and give preference to one of them for sure. The only thing that can be said for sure is that both of these handsome men have long found their audience. And it only grows every year.